House Affordability Calculator

Find out how much house you can afford based on your annual income, monthly debts, down payment, and interest rate. Uses the 28/36 rule used by most lenders. Free and private.

Ad Space

How Home Affordability Is Calculated

Lenders use two key ratios to determine how much you can borrow. The "front-end ratio" (28% rule) says your housing costs should not exceed 28% of gross monthly income. The "back-end ratio" (36% rule) says total debts (housing + all other debts) should not exceed 36%. This calculator uses both rules and shows you the lower (more conservative) result.

Affordability Rules

Max Housing Payment = Gross Monthly Income × 0.28

Max Total Debt Payment = Gross Monthly Income × 0.36

Max Housing (back-end) = Max Total Debt − Existing Monthly Debts

Max Home Price = Max Loan Amount + Down Payment

Example

$85,000 income, $500/mo debts, 20% down, 6.5% rate, 30 years

  • Max home price: approximately $320,000-$350,000

The 28/36 Rule Explained

The 28/36 rule is a guideline, not a hard rule. Some lenders allow higher ratios (especially FHA loans at 43% back-end). However, staying within 28/36 gives you a comfortable margin and lower financial stress.

Tips for Getting Accurate Results

For the most accurate results, use up-to-date numbers from official sources. Double-check your inputs before calculating — small errors in the starting values can lead to significantly different outputs. If you are comparing scenarios, keep all variables the same except the one you are testing. Save or screenshot your results for future reference. This calculator uses standard formulas and is designed to give you a reliable quick estimate, though professional advice may be needed for complex situations.

Who Uses House Affordability Calculator

This tool is used by anyone who needs a quick, reliable way to get results without downloading software or creating accounts. Students, professionals, hobbyists, and curious minds all benefit from having instant access to specialized tools in their browser. The privacy-first approach — where no data leaves your device — makes it suitable for sensitive information. Bookmark this page and return whenever you need it.