How much house can I afford with $125,000 income?

Using the 28/36 rule: conservative target $445,000 (28% of gross to housing only), aggressive ceiling $450,000 (36% to total debt). Recommended middle: $450,000 — leaves room for emergencies and lifestyle.

What's the monthly payment at this price?

At $450,000 home price with 20% down ($90,000) at 7% for 30 years: PITI is $2,958/month. Breakdown: P&I $2,395, taxes $375, insurance $188.

What's my debt-to-income (DTI) ratio?

Housing DTI: 28% (target <28%). Total DTI: 36% (target <36%). Most lenders cap DTI at 36-43% depending on loan type. FHA allows up to 50% in some cases; conventional is stricter.

Is this realistic in today's market?

In 2026, US median home price is ~$420K and 30-year mortgage rates hover 6.5-7.5%. The $450,000 target above assumes 7% rate. In high-cost-of-living markets (Bay Area, NYC, Boston), the same income buys ~30-40% less. In low-COL areas (Midwest, Sun Belt suburbs), the same income often buys MORE than the 28/36 rule suggests.

Affordability scenario · Verified 2026-05-27

How much house can I afford on $125K salary?

Recommended home price: $450,000 using the 28/36 rule. Conservative ceiling: $445,000. Aggressive ceiling: $450,000. Monthly PITI at recommended: $2,958 (28% of gross income).

Recommended price

$450,000

Monthly PITI

$2,958

Down payment

$90,000

Housing DTI

28%

Monthly cost breakdown at $450,000

Component	Monthly	Annual
Principal & interest	$2,395	$28,740
Property tax (1% assumed)	$375	$4,500
Homeowners insurance (0.5%)	$188	$2,256
Total PITI	$2,958	$35,496

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The 28/36 rule explained

Standard lender affordability rule used by most US mortgage underwriters:

28%: Housing payment (PITI) should not exceed 28% of gross monthly income. For $125,000 income, that's $2,917/month max.
36%: Total debt payments (housing + car loan + student loans + credit card minimums) should not exceed 36% of gross income. For your scenario: $3,750 − $800 existing debt = $2,950 available for housing.
Below 28%/36% gives you breathing room. Above signals stress.

Related affordability scenarios

How much house can I afford on $50K salary?

→ Recommended $155,000 · PITI $1,203/mo

How much house can I afford on $60K salary?

→ Recommended $180,000 · PITI $1,397/mo

How much house can I afford on $75K salary?

→ Recommended $235,000 · PITI $1,739/mo

How much house can I afford on $80K salary?

→ Recommended $290,000 · PITI $1,906/mo

Full interactive calculator

How much house can I afford

Plug in your specific income, debts, down payment, and rate to get a personalized recommendation. Includes opportunity cost analysis (buy vs invest the difference).

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Educational tool. Assumes property tax 1% and insurance 0.5% of home value annually (national averages — your state may differ). Math validated against Fannie Mae and Zillow affordability calculators. Verified 2026-05-27.