House Affordability Calculator
A realistic price range from your income and debts, using the ratios lenders use.
The 28/36 rule
Lenders cap your housing payment at about 28% of gross monthly income (front-end) and all debt payments together at 36% (back-end); FHA-style underwriting stretches to roughly 31/43. This calculator takes the tighter of the two limits, sets aside your tax and insurance estimate, and converts the remaining payment capacity into a loan at your rate and term. Down payment is added on top to reach the price.
Why existing debts cost you house
Every dollar of monthly debt payment comes straight out of the back-end limit. At 6.5% over 30 years, a $400 car payment removes roughly $63,000 of mortgage capacity. Paying off a loan before applying often buys more house than saving the same cash for a bigger down payment.
Approved is not the same as comfortable
The ratios are ceilings measured on gross income; taxes, retirement savings, childcare and maintenance all live below them. Many buyers deliberately shop a price band below their approval, especially with variable incomes. Run the number with the conservative standard first and treat the moderate one as the absolute stop.