See the home price that actually fits your budget
Find the home price that truly fits your income, debts, and lifestyle — not just what a lender will rubber-stamp. Uses the same 28/36 DTI rule real lenders do, plus realistic taxes, insurance, and PMI.
Income, debts, and down payment
Conservative = 36%. Aggressive = up to 50% (what many lenders will approve).
What you can afford
Qualifying depends on credit, employment history, and reserves. Estimates only based on national averages. Always confirm with a licensed lender.
Your three affordability ranges
Based on $85,000/yr income, $450/mo in other debts, and $30,000 down.
| Scenario | Comfortable 28% DTI | Stretch 36% DTI | Lender-approval 43% DTI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max home price | $209,953 | $278,067 | $337,668 |
| Max monthly PITI | $1,533 | $2,100 | $2,596 |
| Loan amount | $179,953 | $248,067 | $307,668 |
Comfortable leaves real room for retirement, savings, and repairs. Stretch is the balanced 28/36 rule most planners recommend as a ceiling. Lender-approval is the maximum a conventional lender will likely sign off on — a number, not a goal.
What this means for your budget
At your current settings, your maximum home price is $278,067 with a monthly payment ceiling of $2,100. That’s 36.0% of your gross monthly income — above comfort but inside what most lenders will approve.
If you paid off $500/mo of existing debt, your max price would jump to $332,158 — that’s about $54,091 more house for the same monthly budget. Paying down existing debt is one of the fastest ways to increase affordability.
Ready to pressure-test a specific home? See your full monthly payment.
Example house prices in your range
Based on 6.750%, 30-year loan, and $30,000 down.
| Scenario | $160,000 Lower-end | $210,000 Target | $260,000 Reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total monthly payment | $1,118 | $1,534 | $1,950 |
| Principal & interest | $843 | $1,167 | $1,492 |
| Property tax + insurance | $193 | $254 | $314 |
| PMI Applies if down payment < 20% | $81 | $113 | $144 |
| % of gross income | 15.8% | 21.7% | 27.5% |
Rule of thumb: total housing under 28% of gross income is comfortable. 28–36% is a stretch. Over 36% starts crowding out retirement, savings, and surprise costs.
Common mistakes buyers make
Now see the true monthly payment for a real price
Prefilled with $209,953 — the comfortable end of your range — so you can see a full PITI payment and tweak from there.
See what fits your monthly budget
Use your income, debts, and down payment to estimate a home price range that feels realistic—not just technically possible.
Check today’s loan options
Your payment depends on more than home price. Compare loan structures and rates to see how your affordability changes.
How lenders think about affordability
28% front-end: total housing payment (PITI + PMI + HOA) shouldn’t exceed 28% of your gross monthly income.
36% back-end: housing plus all other debt (car loan, student loans, minimum credit card payments) shouldn’t exceed 36% of gross income.
Some lenders will stretch this to 43–50% DTI, but that doesn’t mean you should — you still have to live, save, and have fun.
Sanity-check your number
- Could you still save 10% of income after the new mortgage?
- Do you have 3–6 months of expenses in emergency savings?
- Are your debts trending down, not up, month over month?
- Have you accounted for maintenance — typically 1% of home value per year?
Related tools
Keep planning with our other free calculators and guides.
Mortgage calculator
Get an exact PITI payment for a specific price.
Down payment calculator
How long will it take to save 10% or 20%?
PMI calculator
Estimate PMI based on credit score and down payment.
Closing costs calculator
The other 2–5% you’ll owe at closing.
Property tax & insurance
Estimate escrow by state.
Guide: How much house can I afford?
Deeper dive into the 28/36 rule and DTI.
Local cost-of-living affects your number
Tap a state for local averages and tailored estimates.