How Much House Can I Afford? Home Affordability Calculator

Affordability calculator

Find the home price you can comfortably afford based on your income, monthly debts, and down payment. This calculator uses the 28/36 rule that lenders rely on to size your budget.

  • Free to use
  • No sign-up
  • Based on the 28/36 rule

Your finances

Combine both incomes if buying together
Car, student, card minimums

How this calculator works

Lenders commonly use the 28/36 rule: your housing payment should stay near 28% of your gross monthly income, and your total debt — housing plus everything else — should stay under your chosen back-end limit (36% by default).

We take the lower of those two ceilings as your monthly housing budget, then solve for the highest home price whose full monthly payment (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance) fits inside it. Your down payment is added on top of the maximum loan to reach the home price.

A bigger down payment raises the price you can reach, because your budget caps the loan you can carry — the down payment sits on top of that maximum.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 28/36 rule?

A lending guideline: aim to spend no more than 28% of gross monthly income on housing, and no more than 36% on total debt including housing. Many programs allow higher back-end ratios (43–45%).

Does this guarantee loan approval?

No. It estimates comfortable affordability. Approval depends on your credit score, employment history, loan type, and the lender’s underwriting.

Should I borrow the maximum?

Not necessarily. This shows a ceiling, not a target. Leaving room in your budget for savings, maintenance, and emergencies is usually wise.

Estimates only. This tool does not provide financial advice and is not a lending decision. We are not a lender or financial advisor.