House Affordability Calculator
How much house can you actually afford? Lenders cap housing near 28% of gross income and total debt near 36%. Enter income and debts - we solve for the max price.
About this tool
Work out the maximum home price your income actually supports. The calculator applies the 28/36 debt-to-income rule lenders use, builds the full monthly payment including taxes, insurance and PMI, and charts how the answer moves as mortgage rates change.
The rate-sensitivity chart is the part worth staring at: each percentage point of mortgage rate cuts roughly 10% off the price the same monthly payment can carry. That is why affordability collapsed when rates jumped, and why what you can afford is a moving target tied to the bond market.
What is the 28/36 rule?
A lending guideline: housing costs should stay under 28% of gross monthly income, and all debt payments combined under 36%. Loans outside those bounds face tougher approval and worse pricing.
How much house can I afford per $100,000 of income?
As a rough guide at recent rates, the 28% rule supports something in the neighborhood of three to four times gross income in purchase price, heavily dependent on the rate, the down payment and your other debts. The calculator makes it exact for your numbers.
What is PMI?
Private mortgage insurance, charged when the down payment is below 20%. It protects the lender, not you, and typically drops off once your equity reaches 20-22%.