House Affordability Calculator
House affordability calculator: the most expensive home your income supports under the 28/36 rule, with PITI and PMI. Free, no sign-up, and it runs in your browser.
Dedicated page: /en/house-affordability-calculator
Car loans, cards, student loans. Not rent.
Default checked 10 Nov 2026: 7.18% for a 30-year fixed mortgage (Freddie Mac survey, week of 5 Nov 2026). Check the current value here.
US average is about 0.9% to 1.1% a year, but it varies a lot by state.
Estimate only, not financial advice. This is a lender-style ceiling, not a target: many buyers are happier below the maximum. Credit score, reserves, closing costs (2% to 5% of the price) and maintenance are not in this calculation. FHA loans also carry an upfront premium of 1.75% and annual mortgage insurance of 0.55%, which this calculator does not add.
Quick answer
A house affordability calculator shows the most expensive home your income supports. Enter your income, debts, down payment and mortgage rate, pick a loan type, and it gives the maximum price and loan, the monthly payment, the PITI breakdown and the income a home price needs.
About this House Affordability Calculator
House affordability calculator: the most expensive home your income supports under the 28/36 rule, with PITI and PMI. It is one of the Money and Finance on ToolUstad, and like every tool here it runs entirely in your browser: nothing you type, paste or open is uploaded to a server, and there is no sign-up or usage limit.
What is a house affordability calculator?
A house affordability calculator turns your income into a price ceiling, before you fall in love with a home you cannot afford. On $100,000 a year with $500 of other monthly debts and $80,000 down at 7.18% over 30 years, the maximum house price is $342,888.56, with a $262,888.56 loan and a $2,223.80 payment at that price. The US median home price was about $429,100 in August 2026, which needs roughly $131,341.61 a year at these settings.
The 28/36 rule and the loan types
Lenders use two ratios. The front-end ratio caps housing costs, principal, interest, tax, insurance, HOA and PMI, at 28% of gross monthly income for a conventional loan. The back-end ratio caps all debts together, housing plus car loans, student loans and cards, at 36%. On $100,000 a year, that is $2,333.33 for housing and $3,000.00 for all debts, and the lower one wins. FHA loans allow 31% and 43%, and a 3.5% down payment, which lifts the maximum to $372,360.38 on the same income.
What PITI is and why it matters
PITI is principal, interest, taxes and insurance: the four parts of a mortgage payment. On the $342,888.56 maximum price, the $2,223.80 payment is $1,780.90 principal and interest, $314.31 property tax and $128.58 insurance. Property tax is about 1.1% of the home value a year in the calculator, and insurance about 0.45%, but both vary by state: New Jersey and Illinois tax over 2%, while Hawaii taxes under 0.3%. PMI applies below 20% down and costs about 0.5% of the loan a year.
Best practices
- Count the whole PITI, not just principal and interest: tax and insurance are about 20% of the payment on the example above.
- Put 20% down when you can: it avoids PMI and keeps the loan smaller.
- Use the conservative range for your budget: 25% housing and 33% total debt leaves room for savings and surprises.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ignoring the down payment: a 3% down payment means a bigger loan, a higher payment and PMI.
- Forgetting that property tax varies by state, from under 0.3% to over 2% a year.
Who is the house affordability calculator for?
First-time buyers working out what they can afford, movers checking a new city, and anyone comparing a conventional loan with FHA or VA. It is an estimate based on the 28/36 rule and the rates you enter, not a pre-approval, and the lender makes the final decision.
Learn: how to use the House Affordability Calculator
- Enter your gross annual income and your other monthly debts.
- Enter your down payment, or pick 3%, 3.5% FHA, 10% or 20%.
- Check the mortgage rate and term: the default is the Freddie Mac 30-year average, 7.18%.
- Pick a loan type: conventional 28/36, FHA 31/43, VA 41/41, or custom ratios.
- Read the maximum price, the maximum loan, the payment and the PITI breakdown.
Features
- Maximum house price from your income, debts and down payment
- 28/36 rule, with FHA 31/43, VA 41/41 and custom front and back ratios
- Reverse mode: the income a home price needs
- Mortgage rate field with the Freddie Mac 30-year average checked on 10 Nov 2026
- Rate scenario: the maximum price if the rate falls 1%
- PITI breakdown bar: principal and interest, tax and insurance
- PMI below 20% down, at the rate you set
- Max price by income table, from $50,000 to $200,000 a year
- Conservative range at 25% housing and 33% total debt
- US median home price check: $429,100 in August 2026
Worked example
On $100,000 a year with $500 of other monthly debts and $80,000 down at 7.18% over 30 years, the 28% housing rule allows $2,333.33 a month and the 36% total debt rule allows $2,500.00, so the lower one wins. The maximum house price is $342,888.56, with a $262,888.56 loan and a $2,223.80 payment at that price. At a 6.18% rate the maximum rises to $365,164.38. The US median home price of $429,100 needs about $131,341.61 a year at these settings. With an FHA loan, the maximum is $372,360.38 and a $400,000 home needs about $103,914.51 a year.
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford on $100,000 a year?
About $342,888.56 with $80,000 down and $500 of other monthly debts, at 7.18% over 30 years under the 28/36 rule. The payment at that price is $2,223.80 a month. With no down payment and no debts, it is lower.
What is the 28/36 rule?
Housing costs, principal, interest, tax, insurance, HOA and PMI, should be no more than 28% of gross monthly income, and all debts together no more than 36%. On $100,000 a year, that is $2,333.33 for housing and $3,000.00 for all debts.
How much house can I afford with an FHA loan?
FHA allows 31% for housing and 43% for all debts, and a 3.5% down payment. On $100,000 a year with $500 of debts and $80,000 down, the FHA maximum is $372,360.38, about $29,000 more than conventional.
What is PITI?
Principal, interest, taxes and insurance: the four parts of a mortgage payment. On the $342,888.56 maximum price, the $2,223.80 payment is $1,780.90 principal and interest, $314.31 property tax and $128.58 insurance. HOA fees and PMI sit on top of PITI.
How much income do I need to buy a $400,000 house?
About $103,914.51 a year with an FHA loan and $80,000 down at 7.18%, or more with a conventional loan. The US median home price of $429,100 needs about $131,341.61 a year at these settings. The reverse mode in the calculator works this out for any price.
How much down payment do I need to buy a house?
20% avoids PMI, but it is not required. Conventional loans allow 3% down, FHA allows 3.5%, and VA and USDA allow 0% for eligible buyers. A smaller down payment means a bigger loan, a higher payment and PMI, so 20% is the cheapest option when you can reach it.
What is PMI and when does it go away?
Private mortgage insurance protects the lender when the down payment is below 20%. It costs about 0.5% of the loan a year. On an FHA loan it usually lasts for the life of the loan.
Should I buy the most expensive house I can afford?
No. The maximum is a ceiling, not a target. The conservative range at 25% housing and 33% total debt, about $325,474.38 on $100,000 a year, leaves room for savings, maintenance and surprises. A home at the maximum leaves no room at all.
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