Skip to content
Honest Figures

Buying a home

How Much House Can You Afford?

On $90,000 a year with $40,000 down and about $400 of other monthly debt, a comfortable home price is around $289,000. That keeps the full housing payment near 28% of your income, which is the line most lenders and budgets are happy with. Enter your income, debts, down payment and rate below. This is a comfortable target, not the absolute most a bank might approve.
Home Price You Can Afford
$289,000
a comfortable target
$400
6.50%
Comfortable housing payment$2,100
Supported loan$249,182
Home price$289,000

The most you can borrow is not the most you should

Lenders often approve people for more than feels good to live with. This tool aims for the comfortable line, keeping the full payment near 28% of income and total debts near 36%. It reserves about a quarter of the payment for property tax and insurance, which the loan-only calculators skip. Play with the sliders and you will see how much a bigger down payment or a lower rate stretches your range. Leave yourself room for savings and the surprises a home always brings.

Uses the 28% and 36% guidelines and estimates tax and insurance. A real budget beats any rule. Not financial advice.

IRS · 2026
37%
top federal rate, from $640,600 (single)

The first dollars are taxed at 10%. Only income above each cutoff moves up a rate.

See your effective rate

Common questions

How much house can I afford on $90,000?

Keeping housing near 28% of income is about $2,100 a month, which supports a home in the mid-$300,000s with a typical down payment. Your comfort matters more than the maximum.

Related calculators

MortgageThe real monthly cost of a home, including tax, insurance and PMI.Mortgage Extra PaymentHow much a little extra each month saves, and how many years it cuts.Rent vs BuyThe crossover year where buying overtakes renting, at real 2026 rates. Guide · Buying a Home & MortgagesThe real monthly cost of a home, and the big decisions around it.