How much house can you afford? Enter your income and debts for an instant verdict.
Lenders cap your loan by your income and existing debts — this tool applies the same rules.
Calculator
Most mortgage affordability tools give you one big number and leave you guessing. This calculator applies the standard underwriting rules that lenders actually use — the 28/36 rule in the US and a 4.5× income multiple in the UK — then converts the qualifying monthly payment into a maximum home price, including property tax and insurance.
The front-end ratio limits your total housing cost (mortgage, tax, insurance — known as PITI) to 28% of gross monthly income. The back-end ratio limits all monthly debt combined to 36%. The lower of the two caps, after subtracting your existing debts, sets your maximum payment. The calculator runs this instantly every time you change a field.
UK lenders cap the mortgage at around 4 to 4.5 times your salary, with an affordability stress-test layered on top. Switch to UK mode and the calculator uses a 4.5× cap reduced by debt, then adds your deposit.
| Scenario | Income | Other debt | Max home price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortable buyer | $120,000 | $0/mo | ~$440,000 | Comfortable |
| Tight but doable | $75,000 | $500/mo | ~$260,000 | Tight |
| Over-stretched | $60,000 | $700/mo | ~$170,000 | Stretch |
Estimates at 6.5%, 30yr, 1.5% tax+insurance. Your result will differ based on inputs.
Pay down debt first. Every $100/month of debt cleared frees roughly $15,000–$20,000 of additional home price under the back-end ratio. Shop the rate. Half a percentage point off can add tens of thousands to the loan you qualify for. Grow the deposit. It won't increase your loan cap, but it raises the price you can reach.
A common rule of thumb is 3–4 times gross annual income, but the accurate answer depends on your debts, rate and down payment. This calculator applies the 28/36 rule (US) or a 4.5× income multiple (UK) and converts the qualifying payment into a home price.
Your total housing cost should stay at or under 28% of gross monthly income, and all monthly debt combined should stay at or under 36%. The lower of the two limits sets your maximum payment.
Yes. The monthly figure is PITI — principal, interest, taxes and insurance. You can set the tax-and-insurance percentage to match your area; 1.5% is a reasonable US default.
Your loan is capped by what your income can repay each month. A larger deposit lets you buy a more expensive home (price = loan + deposit), but the loan itself only grows if you lower the rate, clear debt, extend the term or earn more.
No. It's an estimate to help you set a realistic budget before talking to a lender. Actual approval also depends on your credit score, employment history and the lender's own rules.
UK lenders cap the mortgage at around 4–4.5 times your salary and apply a stress test, rather than using the US 28/36 ratios. Switch the toggle to UK to use a 4.5× income multiple reduced by your debts.