Home Affordability Calculator (28/36 Rule)
Estimate the max home price you can afford using the 28/36 debt-to-income rule, with your income, debts, down payment, rate, and property taxes.
What this calculator does
- 100% free, no signup — calculations run instantly in your browser.
- Results include a plain-English interpretation of what the numbers mean for your situation.
- All math happens locally — your data never leaves your device.
Income & Debt Details
Home Affordability Estimate
How this calculation works
The 28/36 rule is a lender guideline, not a law. Your binding constraint is whichever is smaller: 28% of gross income for housing, or 36% minus your other required debt payments.
The estimate solves for the home price whose all-in P&I plus property taxes fits that budget, at your down payment and rate.
How this Home Affordability Calculator (28/36 Rule) works — 2026 guide
“How much house can I afford?” is the most important number in home buying — and the 28/36 rule is the standard lenders use to answer it. This affordability calculator takes your household income, existing debts, down payment, mortgage rate, and property tax rate, applies both the 28% housing cap and the 36% total-debt cap, and returns the maximum home price plus the all-in monthly payment (principal, interest, and taxes). It shows which constraint actually binds — usually your other debt payments, not the housing cap.
How to use it in 3 steps
- Enter your annual household income and minimum monthly debt payments.
- Add your down payment, expected rate, and local property-tax rate.
- Read your max affordable home price, allowed housing payment, and estimated PITI.
Who this is for
First-time buyers setting a budget, movers comparing price ranges, and anyone checking whether their target home is realistic. Pair with the [loan amortization calculator](/tools/loan-amortization-calculator/) to model the actual mortgage.
Data sources & authoritative references
This calculator is built on official U.S. rules and published statistics. Key sources:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data sources & methodology
- Standard formulas Amortization, compound interest, and retirement projection equations per finance practice.
- Public reference rates Savings/investment assumptions stated as planning estimates; no live market rates.
- Internal editorial Calculators reviewed by the AllMoneyCalc editorial team before publication.
Methodology and citations are maintained by the AllMoneyCalc editorial team. Where an official schedule is not yet loaded, results are shown as model estimates and the source is stated as a reference.