Finance guide
How Much House Can I Afford?
Use income, debt, rate, and ownership cost assumptions to estimate a realistic home-price ceiling.
Quick answer: Start with affordability constraints first, then back into home price after taxes, insurance, and HOA are included.
Intent: how much house can i afford with my salary
How to run the numbers
- Enter gross household income and monthly debt payments.
- Set your target DTI and housing ratio assumptions.
- Add tax, insurance, and HOA inputs before evaluating the estimated max home price.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring non-mortgage housing costs can overstate buying power.
- Using gross bonuses as guaranteed income can skew results.
- Not stress-testing rates at least 0.5% higher can understate risk.
Calculators to open now
Open primary calculatorPrimary
Home Affordability
Estimate max monthly housing payment and home price from DTI and income constraints.
Finance / Mortgage
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FAQs
Should I use net income instead of gross income?
The standard approach uses gross income for DTI, but compare against your take-home budget before committing.
Why does HOA lower my max home price?
HOA is part of monthly housing cost, so it reduces the remaining budget available for principal and interest.
Is 28/36 always the right ratio?
No. It is a common planning baseline, but lender programs and personal risk tolerance can differ.
This calculator provides planning estimates for educational purposes only. Verify all assumptions with licensed professionals before making financial, legal, tax, insurance, or construction decisions.
Want a sequence instead of a single tool? Open Start Here: Buying a Home.