Affordability Calculator — How Much House Can I Afford? 2026
Use the 28/36 rule to find how much house you can afford. Your housing costs (principal and interest, taxes, insurance and HOA) should stay within 28% of your gross monthly income, and your total debts within 36%. Enter your income, existing debts and loan details to see your recommended housing budget, maximum home value and loan amount.
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Front-End vs. Back-End Ratio
How to Use the Affordability Calculator
Enter your gross annual income, your existing monthly debts and the details of the loan you expect to get — interest rate, term, down payment, property tax, home insurance and HOA fees. The calculator applies the 28/36 rule to your gross monthly income and shows two housing budgets: one capped at 28% of income (front-end) and one capped at 36% of income minus your existing debts (back-end). The lower of the two is your recommended budget, which is then converted into the maximum home value and loan amount you can realistically afford.
What Is the 28/36 Rule?
The 28/36 rule is a widely used lender guideline. The front-end ratio (28%) says your total monthly housing costs — principal and interest, property tax, home insurance and HOA fees — should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. The back-end ratio (36%) says all your monthly debts, including housing, credit cards, car loans and student loans, should not exceed 36% of your gross monthly income. Lenders use these numbers to judge how much mortgage you can safely carry.
Which Ratio Limits Your Budget?
When your existing debts are low, the front-end 28% limit is usually the decisive factor. When you already carry significant debt, the back-end 36% limit shrinks your housing budget first. This calculator highlights the recommended budget — the lower of the two — and tells you explicitly whether your housing costs or your existing debts are the limiting factor, so you know what to work on before you shop.
How to Afford More House
If the recommended budget feels too small, you can improve your affordability by lowering your existing debts, saving a larger down payment, extending the loan term, or shopping for a lower interest rate and lower property tax or insurance costs. The 28/36 rule is a starting point — a licensed lender can confirm what you qualify for with your specific credit profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much house can I afford?
A common guideline is the 28/36 rule: keep your total monthly housing costs at or below 28% of your gross monthly income, and all monthly debts including housing at or below 36%. The lower of the two limits is your recommended housing budget, which you can convert into a maximum home value using your interest rate, loan term and down payment.
What is the 28/36 rule?
The 28/36 rule is a lender guideline for how much debt you can carry. The front-end ratio caps housing costs at 28% of gross monthly income. The back-end ratio caps all monthly debts — housing plus credit cards, car loans, student loans and other obligations — at 36% of gross monthly income.
Does the back-end ratio include my existing debts?
Yes. The back-end ratio (36%) includes your housing costs plus all your existing monthly debt payments, such as credit cards, auto loans, student loans and personal loans. When those debts are high, they can become the limiting factor on how much house you can afford.