Home Affordability Calculator
How much house can you afford? Based on the 28/36 DTI rule.
Find out how much house you can afford based on your income, debts, and down payment — using the lender-standard 28/36 debt-to-income rule. See your maximum home price, loan amount, and monthly payment.
Adjust the DTI ratios, property tax, and insurance under Advanced. Everything is calculated privately in your browser.
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Formula
Front-end ratio
housing (PITI) ≤ 28% × gross monthly income
Caps your total housing payment as a share of pre-tax income.
Back-end ratio
housing + all debts ≤ 36% × gross monthly income
Caps your total monthly debt load, including the new mortgage.
How to use the home affordability calculator
- 1Enter your annual household income, total monthly debt payments, and planned down payment.
- 2Set the interest rate and loan term.
- 3Open Advanced to fine-tune property tax, insurance, and the 28/36 ratios, then read your maximum affordable home price.
Examples
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| $100k income | $500 debts, $50k down | ≈ $348k home |
| High debts | $2,500/mo debts | back-end limits you |
| No debts | $100k income | front-end limits you |
The 28/36 rule explained
Lenders gauge affordability with two debt-to-income (DTI) limits. The front-end ratio says your total monthly housing cost (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. The back-end ratio says all your monthly debt — housing plus car loans, student loans, credit cards, and the like — should not exceed 36%. This calculator applies both and reports the lower of the two as your ceiling.
Front-end vs. back-end: which one limits you
If you carry little debt, the front-end ratio usually sets your limit — you're capped purely by income. If you have significant monthly obligations, the back-end ratio binds first, because those debts eat into the 36% allowance before any mortgage is counted. The result tells you which factor is binding so you know whether paying down debt or increasing income would move the needle.
Why your down payment and rate matter
A larger down payment doesn't raise your monthly budget, but it does increase the home price you can reach (the loan is smaller for the same payment) and can help you avoid PMI. The interest rate works the other way: a higher rate means more of your capped payment goes to interest, lowering the price you can afford. Small rate changes move your maximum price more than most people expect.
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial advice or a loan pre-approval. Lenders weigh credit, employment history, and other factors. Consult a licensed mortgage professional for an accurate assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford on a $100k salary?
With modest monthly debts and a typical down payment at current rates, roughly $300,000–$360,000 using the 28/36 rule. The exact figure depends heavily on your existing debts, down payment, interest rate, and local taxes — enter your numbers above for a personalized estimate.
What is the 28/36 rule?
It's a lender guideline for affordability: your housing costs should stay at or below 28% of gross monthly income (the front-end ratio), and your total debt including housing should stay at or below 36% (the back-end ratio).
How does my debt affect how much house I can afford?
Monthly debts count against the 36% back-end limit before any mortgage is added. High debt payments shrink the room left for housing, so reducing debt can directly increase the home price you qualify for.
What is DTI (debt-to-income ratio)?
DTI is the share of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Lenders use it to judge how much additional debt (a mortgage) you can responsibly take on; lower is better.
How much down payment do I need?
Conventional loans often allow as little as 3–5% down, but putting down 20% lets you avoid PMI and reduces your loan size. A bigger down payment raises the home price you can afford for the same monthly budget.
Does the calculator account for property taxes and insurance?
Yes. It back-solves your maximum home price from a full PITI budget, including estimated monthly property tax (a percentage of home value) and homeowner's insurance — both adjustable under Advanced.
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