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How much house can you really afford on $100,000?

Banks approve $500,000+ on a $100,000 salary - but you should probably spend $300,000 – $380,000. Here's the real math.

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Bank Approves

$500,000+

Comfortable Range

$300,000 – $380,000

Take-Home Pay

~$6,400

At $100k, your gross monthly income is $8,333. Lenders will approve you for $500k or more, but a 28% DTI guideline means keeping your housing payment under $2,333/month. That translates to a $300,000–$380,000 home depending on your other debts, down payment, and local taxes.

Your Finances

Car, student loans, credit cards

Comfort Level

28% - Conservative

Most financial advisors recommend staying under 28%. Banks will approve up to 43%.

You can afford

$275,549

at 28% DTI (Conservative)

Debt-to-Income Gauge

ConservativeModerateStretched
0%25%28%36%43%50%

Your actual DTI: 28% (housing: 21.8%)

Conservative (25%)

$242,387

Comfortable buffer

Recommended (28%)

$275,549

Standard guideline

Bank Maximum (43%)

$441,355

Highest approval

Monthly Payment Breakdown

Total Monthly$1,740
Principal & Interest
$1,362
Property Tax
$253
Insurance
$125
How Much House Can I Afford?
whatbankshide.com
You can afford
$275,549
Monthly payment$1,740/mo
DTI ratio28%
Comfort levelConservative
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much house can I afford on a $100,000 salary?
On a $100,000 salary, banks will approve you for $500,000+. However, a comfortable range based on the 28% DTI rule is $300,000 – $380,000. Your monthly take-home is approximately ~$6,400.
What is the 28/36 rule?
The 28/36 rule says spend no more than 28% of gross income on housing costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance) and no more than 36% on all debts combined. Most banks will approve you well beyond this - that's how people end up house-poor.
Why does the bank approve me for more than I should spend?
Banks calculate the maximum they can safely lend based on default risk - not your lifestyle. A 43% DTI means nearly half your gross income goes to debt, leaving little for savings, emergencies, or life after taxes.