Mortgage › Affordability
How much house can I afford? (2026)
Lenders qualify you on two ratios: housing costs under about 28% of gross income and all debts under 36% (up to 43–50% on some loans). Enter income, debts and down payment and this works backwards from the smaller limit to the home price you can finance at today's 6.76% average rate.
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Result
Default rate: 6.76% on a 30-year fixed and 6.09% on a 15-year — the Freddie Mac PMMS national average as of 2026-09-10 (source). Updated automatically every Thursday. Your quote depends on credit score, points and lender.
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Frequently asked
What is the 28/36 rule?
Housing payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance) at most 28% of gross monthly income, and total debt payments including the mortgage at most 36%. FHA allows 31/43 and some conventional loans go to 45–50% back-end with strong credit — change the limits in “Lender limits”.
Does the calculator include taxes and insurance?
Yes — as a percentage of the home price per year (default 1.5%, tax plus insurance). Set it to your county's rate for a tighter answer.