To determine how much house you can afford, many experts agree that people should spend no more than 28 percent of their gross monthly income on housing expenses and no more than 36 percent on total debt — that includes housing as well as things like student loans, car expenses, and credit card payments.
There are many types of home loans offering different terms and rates, some requiring lower down payments than others. Use this simple mortgage loan amortization calculator to find out what your payments would be and help determine the maximum home price you feel comfortable with.