House Affordability Calculator (2026)
Find out how much house you can afford with 28/36 debt-to-income rules, state-specific property taxes, state income tax effects, and local affordability context.
Example: $100K Income, 20% Down, California
Max Home Price
$387,213.37
Monthly Housing
$2,300
Mortgage Payment
$1,957.96
Property Tax
$229.10
With $100,000 gross income, $700/mo in existing debt, 20% down, and 6.5% rate in California, you can afford up to $387,213.37 with total housing costs around $2,300/month.
Source: FinCalc server-rendered example using the same formulas as the interactive calculator.
Affordability inputs
Affordability result summary
Based on your income of $100,000 in California, you can afford a home up to $387,213.37 with a monthly housing payment of $2,300.
Max home price
$387,213.37
Max loan amount
$309,770.70
Down payment
$77,442.67
Adjusted mortgage rate
6.50%
Property tax rate
0.71%
Estimated take-home (monthly)
$6,145.17
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal + Interest
$1,957.96
Property tax
$229.10
Insurance
$112.94
HOA
$0
Total housing
$2,300
Comfortable vs Stretch vs Maximum
| Range | Monthly budget | Home price | Down payment needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortable | $1,840 | $309,770.70 | $61,954.14 |
| Stretch | $2,070 | $348,492.03 | $69,698.41 |
| Maximum | $2,300 | $387,213.37 | $77,442.67 |
AI explains your result
FinCalc AI
State tax impact comparison
In Texas vs California, the same inputs change max affordability by -$42,981.57, with monthly property tax changing by $229.87.
Texas vs California affordability gap with these inputs: -$42,981.57.
After-tax affordability check
Housing consumes 37.4% of estimated take-home pay, leaving $3,145.17/month after housing and existing debts.
State median home price benchmark: $820,000. Your max is -52.8% vs median.
Ask about this calculator
FinCalc AI
Suggested questions:
State pages
What's Next?
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford on $100,000 salary?
With the 28% front-end rule, $100,000 gross income typically supports a max monthly housing payment around $2,333. At 6.5% and 30 years with 20% down, that often corresponds to a home price of roughly $350,000–$400,000, depending on property tax and insurance. Higher property tax states reduce the affordable price.
What is the 28/36 rule for mortgages?
The 28/36 rule: housing costs should not exceed 28% of gross income (front-end ratio), and total debt (housing plus other loans) should not exceed 36% (back-end ratio). Lenders use these limits to assess affordability. Our calculator applies both rules to estimate max home price.
How does property tax affect how much house I can afford?
Higher property taxes reduce the loan amount you can support at a given income. For example, Texas and New Jersey have higher effective property tax rates than many states, so the same income supports a lower max home price there. The calculator uses state-level property tax assumptions.
Should I use gross or net income for house affordability?
Lenders typically use gross income for the 28/36 ratios. Net income is useful for budgeting actual cash flow. Our calculator uses gross income to align with lender practices, but you should verify your take-home pay with a salary calculator before committing.
How much house can I afford with $80,000 income?
At $80,000 gross income and 28% front-end ratio, max housing payment is about $1,867 per month. With 20% down at 6.5% for 30 years, that typically supports a home price of $280,000–$320,000 depending on property tax and insurance. Existing debt reduces the affordable amount via the 36% back-end rule.
How much do I need to make to afford a $400,000 house?
With 20% down ($80,000), a $320,000 loan at 6.5% for 30 years equals about $2,023 per month principal and interest. Adding 1.2% property tax and insurance, total housing is roughly $2,500/month. At 28% front-end ratio, you need about $107,000 annual gross income. Higher property tax states require more income.
Advertisement
What to calculate next
View all calculators →Mortgage Early Payoff
Calculate how extra payments reduce your mortgage term and total interest paid. Supports annuity and differentiated payment schedules.
Rent vs Buy
Should you rent or buy? Compare total costs including mortgage, taxes, appreciation, and opportunity cost over time.
Down Payment Savings Calculator
How long to save for a home down payment? Target, current savings, monthly contribution, expected return. Year-by-year projection.
HOA Cost Calculator
Total HOA cost over 10–30 years with growth and special assessments. See what condo dues really cost.
Roommate Rent Split Calculator
Fair rent division by room size and private bath. Split by sq ft with amenity premium.
Rent Budget Calculator
How much rent can you afford? 30% rule: max rent = 30% of gross income. 25% conservative, 35% stretch.