How much house can I afford with $100k salary?

With a $100,000 salary, you can typically afford a home between $300,000-$450,000 depending on your debts, down payment, and interest rate. The 28% rule suggests a maximum monthly housing cost of $2,333.

What is the 28/36 rule for mortgages?

The 28/36 rule says housing costs should be ≤28% of gross monthly income, and total debt payments should be ≤36%.

How much do I need for a down payment?

Conventional loans require 3-20% down. FHA loans require 3.5%. VA and USDA loans may require 0% down. 20% down avoids PMI.

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Home Affordability Calculator

Find out how much house you can afford based on your income, debts, and down payment. Uses the 28/36 rule and Dave Ramsey guidelines.

Your Financial Details

Annual Gross Income ($)

Monthly Debt Payments ($)

Car loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.

Down Payment ($)

Interest Rate (%)

Loan Term

Max Debt-to-Income Ratio (%)

Most lenders use 36% (conservative) to 43% (FHA max)

You Can Afford

$445,527

Monthly Payment

$2,500

Loan Amount

$395,527

Total Interest

$504,473

LTV Ratio

88.8%

28/36 Rule Gauge

30.0%

of income

Caution - Above 28% Rule

<28% Safe

28-36% Caution

>36% Risky

28% Max

$2,333

36% Max

$3,000

Your Payment

$2,500

See what home price different salaries can afford with your current settings

$60,000/year$255,674

$80,000/year$350,601

$100,000/year$445,527

$150,000/year$682,843

$200,000/year$920,160

How to Use the Affordability Calculator

Step 1: Enter your annual gross income — this is your total pre-tax income from all sources. The calculator uses this to determine your maximum affordable monthly payment.
Step 2: Enter your monthly debt payments — include car loans, student loans, credit card minimums, and any other recurring obligations. This helps calculate your true borrowing capacity.
Step 3: Enter your down payment and desired interest rate — a larger down payment reduces your loan amount, while the rate directly affects your monthly payment.
Step 4: Adjust the loan term and max debt-to-income ratio — choose between 15, 20, or 30 years, and set your DTI target (36% is standard, 43% is FHA max).
Step 5: Review your results — check the max home price, monthly payment, and the 28/36 rule gauge to see how your housing expense compares to lender guidelines.

What Is Home Affordability?

Home affordability measures how much house you can buy based on your income, debts, down payment, and current interest rates. Lenders use the 28/36 rule to determine the maximum home price you can qualify for.

How Does the Home Affordability Calculator Work?

Our calculator uses your income, monthly debts, down payment, and desired interest rate to compute the maximum home price you can afford. It applies the standard 28/36 debt-to-income rule and Dave Ramsey guidelines to give you a conservative estimate.

Why Use Our Home Affordability Calculator?

Get an instant, accurate affordability estimate based on your financial situation
See how different down payments and interest rates affect your buying power
Understand the 28/36 rule and Dave Ramsey guidelines with clear visual feedback

How Much House Can I Afford? The Rules Explained

📏

The 28% Rule

Your total monthly housing cost (PITI) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. For a $100k salary, that's about $2,333/month max.

📊

The 36% Rule

Your total debt payments (housing + car + student loans + credit cards) should stay below 36% of gross monthly income.

💰

Dave Ramsey Rule

Keep housing costs below 25% of take-home pay (after tax). This is the most conservative approach and builds wealth faster.