How Much House Can You Afford?

An affordability calculator turns your income and existing debts into a realistic maximum housing budget. Lenders use a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio — typically your total monthly debt payments shouldn't exceed 36–43% of gross income, with housing alone capped around 28–33%. This calculator applies those guardrails so you know what you can sustain long-term, not just what a bank will lend you on a single afternoon.

Enter your gross monthly income, current debt payments (car loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments), and the housing ratio you want to target. The result is the maximum monthly rent or mortgage payment that fits within healthy DTI ranges. For mortgages, also factor in property tax, homeowner's insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance — these often add 25–40% on top of the principal-and-interest payment.

Banks approve loans based on income and credit score, not on what leaves you comfortable at month-end. A maxed-out approval often locks people into payments they technically can afford but hate paying, leaving no room for retirement contributions, vacations, or surprise expenses. Use this calculator to set your own ceiling — usually 10–20% below the bank's max — and shop in that range.