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How much house can you comfortably afford?

Lenders will tell you the maximum they'll approve. That's not the same as what will feel comfortable every month. This works from your budget, not theirs.

We start with a conservative debt-to-income target rather than the loosest one a lender allows. Adjust anything below — including the target itself, if you want to see how the range shifts.

$

Before taxes, for everyone on the loan

$

Car loans, student loans, minimum card payments

$
%
yrs
Property state
%/yr
$

Per year

$

Per month — leave at 0 if there's no HOA

36%

You can comfortably afford around

$475,502

Estimated loan amount$395,502
Your down payment$80,000
Monthly income$10,000
Housing budget at 36% DTI$3,000
28% guideline (front-end)$2,800
Talk through your numbers→
Estimated monthly housing cost$3,000
Lenders often approve up to 43–50% debt-to-income. We default to a lower target because an approval isn't the same as a payment that feels easy every month.

Two ways lenders look at it

The 28% guideline

Housing costs stay under 28% of gross monthly income. This is the conservative reading, and it's usually the one people are happiest with a few years in.

The 36% back-end

Housing plus all other debt stays under 36%. This is the figure this calculator uses by default, because it accounts for the car payment and student loans a lender will also count.

This is an educational estimate — not a quote or an offer. Real numbers depend on your lender, taxes, insurance, and the specific property. Use this to understand your options, then let's talk through what fits your situation.

Have questions about your own numbers?

These tools are a starting point. When you're ready, we'll walk through what actually fits your situation — no pressure, no obligation.

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