Disclaimer: Estimates only. Not financial advice. Not a lender or broker. Full Disclaimer →

How Much House Can I Afford?

Enter your income, debts, and down payment. We apply the 28/36 DTI rules used by most conventional lenders to find your realistic maximum home price.

Income & Loan Details
Before taxes — combined if applying jointly
National avg ~1.1%. Check your county.
Typically 0.25%–1% of home value/yr

Monthly Debt Payments (for back-end DTI)

Maximum Home Price

Max PITI / Month
Max Loan Amount
Front-End Max
Back-End Max
Monthly Income
Total Monthly Debts
Front-End DTI (Housing / Income)
Limit: 28% conventional
Back-End DTI (All Debts / Income)
Limit: 36% conventional (43% FHA)

Estimates only. Assumes conventional fixed-rate loan. Actual approval depends on credit score, lender guidelines, and full underwriting. FHA loans allow higher DTI. Consult a licensed mortgage professional for a formal pre-qualification.

The 28% Front-End Rule

Your total monthly housing cost (PITI) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. This is the standard conventional lender threshold for housing expense ratio.

The 36% Back-End Rule

All monthly debt payments combined — including housing, car loans, student loans, and credit cards — should stay below 36% of gross monthly income for conventional loans.

FHA Exception

FHA loans allow a back-end DTI up to 43%, and with compensating factors (strong credit, large reserves) even higher. If your DTI is above 36%, exploring FHA financing may expand your options.

The 20% Down Payment

Putting 20% down eliminates PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance), which can add $100–$300/month. Our calculator applies PMI automatically when your down payment is below 20%.