How Much House Can I Afford? Use the Ultimate Affordability Calculator

A tool that estimates the maximum home price and monthly mortgage payment you can comfortably afford based on your finances and preferences.

Annual income
Monthly debts (car loans, student loans, credit cards)
Down payment amount or percentage
Credit score range (affects interest rate)
Loan term (15, 20, 30 years)
Interest rate (current market rate or estimate)
Property tax rate and homeowners insurance estimate
HOA fees (if applicable)
Desired monthly housing ratio (e.g., 28% of gross income) or use standard DTI rules

Maximum home price you can target
Estimated monthly mortgage payment (principal + interest)
Estimated total monthly housing payment (mortgage + taxes + insurance + HOA)
Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratios: front-end (housing) and back-end (total debt)
Down payment needed and loan amount

Enter accurate gross income and monthly debt obligations.
Use a realistic down payment amount (3–20% depending on loan type).
Choose a conservative interest rate slightly above current advertised rates to allow breathing room.
Include estimated property taxes and insurance for the target area.
Check both front-end and back-end DTI; lenders often require back-end ≤43%.
Run scenarios changing down payment, term, or rate to see impact on price and payment.

Lender criteria focus on meeting DTI and credit requirements; may approve higher amounts.
Personal affordability should factor savings goals, emergency fund, retirement contributions, and lifestyle — many experts recommend housing costs ≤25–28% of gross income.

Multiply monthly take-home pay by 3–4 to estimate a comfortable house price (very rough). Better to rely on the calculator for accuracy.

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