How Much House Can I Afford?
Free · no sign-up · reviewed July 2026
Before you fall in love with a listing, find your number. This calculator uses the lender's classic 28/36 rule to estimate the maximum home price you can comfortably afford based on your income, debts and down payment.
Slide in your details and you'll see a realistic price ceiling plus the monthly payment that comes with it.
Drag to adjust
You can afford a home around
$311,278
About $2,100/mo · $271,278 mortgage
💡 This is capped by the standard 28% income rule. Lenders generally want your housing cost under 28% of gross income, which sets this ceiling.
$2,100
Max monthly payment
all-in (PITI)
13%
Down payment
$40,000
$271,278
Mortgage needed
over 30 yrs
- Down payment (cash)$40,000
- Mortgage (borrowed)$271,278
- Affordable monthly housing
- $2,100
- Estimated principal & interest
- $1,715
- Estimated taxes + insurance
- $385
- Max home price
- $311,278
⚠️ At this price your down payment is 13%, under 20% typically adds PMI, which would slightly lower the price you can afford.
The 2-minute guide
The 28/36 rule in plain English
Lenders like to see your total housing payment stay under about 28% of your gross monthly income, and all your debts (housing + car + student loans + credit cards) under about 36%. This calculator finds the biggest home price that keeps you inside both limits, the same math a loan officer runs.
'Can afford' vs 'should spend'
The max a lender approves is often more than you'll want to actually spend. Leave room for savings, emergencies and a life outside your mortgage. Many people aim a notch below their ceiling so a surprise bill doesn't become a crisis.
Your down payment does double duty
A bigger down payment raises the price you can afford and shrinks your monthly payment. Hitting 20% down also lets you skip PMI (private mortgage insurance), an extra monthly fee lenders charge when you put down less.
Pay down debt to buy more house
If your number feels low, look at your monthly debt payments. Because the 36% rule counts them against you, knocking out a car loan or credit-card balance can noticeably raise how much home you qualify for.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for a $400,000 house?
As a rough guide, many buyers target a home price around 3–4× their gross annual income, so a $400k home often fits an income of roughly $100k–130k, but it depends heavily on your down payment, debts and interest rate. Use the sliders above to see your own number.
What counts as 'monthly debt'?
Recurring required payments: car loans, student loans, minimum credit-card payments, personal loans and child support. Regular bills like groceries, utilities and streaming don't count toward the lender's ratio.
Does a higher interest rate lower what I can afford?
Yes. A higher rate makes each borrowed dollar cost more per month, so the same budget buys less house. Even a 1% rate change can move your ceiling by tens of thousands of dollars.
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