How much house can I afford?

Turn your income, debts and down payment into a realistic home price — with property tax, insurance and HOA built in.

Free, no sign-up

Before you use it

Works well for

  • A realistic home price for your income in the US
  • Seeing how debts and rates change your budget
  • Comparing conservative and stretch budgets

Not the right tool for

  • Loan approval — lenders also check credit and savings
  • PMI, closing costs and maintenance (not included)
  • Mortgages outside the US

The 28/36 rule

Lenders commonly look at two ratios. Your total housing payment — principal, interest, property tax, insurance and HOA — should stay under about 28% of gross monthly income. All debt payments together, housing included, should stay under about 36%. The calculator uses whichever limit is lower.

The "stretch" option uses 36/43, closer to the maximum many lenders will approve. Being approved for a loan isn't the same as being comfortable paying it, so most people do better near the conservative number.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include PMI?

No. With less than 20% down, expect private mortgage insurance on top, which lowers what you can afford.

What property tax rate should I use?

Look up your county's effective rate; in the US it ranges from well under 1% to over 2% of the home's value per year.

Does it include closing costs?

No. Set aside a few percent of the price for closing costs, separate from your down payment.