Home price by interest rate and monthly debts
Each cell is the highest price whose full monthly payment fits both ratios on $70,000 a year with 10% down. Monthly debts are payments on car loans, student loans and cards.
| Rate | No debts | $300/mo debts | $550/mo debts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5% | $231,707 | $231,707 | $218,690 |
| 6.5% | $212,503 | $212,503 | $200,565 |
| 7.5% | $195,572 | $195,572 | $184,585 |
At 6.5% with no other debts the housing ratio is the binding limit and the price is about 3.0 times income. Add $300 of monthly debts and the housing ratio still binds and the price becomes $212,503. A one-point change in rate moves the price by roughly $18,068 at this income.
Home price by down payment (6.5%, $300/mo debts)
| Down payment | Cash down | Home price | PMI / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | $6,999 | $199,958 | $80 |
| 5% | $10,136 | $202,720 | $80 |
| 10% | $21,250 | $212,503 | $80 |
| 20% | $49,666 | $248,331 | $0 |
Reaching 20% down removes private mortgage insurance, which is why the jump from 10% to 20% is larger than the extra cash alone would suggest: the PMI money goes back into the principal-and-interest budget.
How the $212,503 figure is built
Start from gross monthly income of $5,833. The 28% housing limit is $1,633; the 36% total-debt limit is $2,100, less any other debts. With no debts, the housing limit is lower, so it sets the budget. At a price of $212,503 with $21,250 down, the loan is $191,253. Principal and interest at 6.5% over 30 years come to $1,209 a month, property tax $195, insurance $150 and PMI $80, for a total of $1,633, right at the limit.
A 15-year loan at the same rate supports about $162,439, because the same budget has to repay principal twice as fast; it builds equity much sooner and costs far less interest over the life of the loan. See 15-year vs 30-year mortgages.
Comparing nearby incomes
- $60k a year: about $179,076 with the same assumptions.
- $70k a year: about $212,503.
- $75k a year: about $229,217.
Before you shop at this price
The ratios describe what a lender may approve, not what feels comfortable. They use gross pay and ignore retirement saving, childcare and commuting. Many buyers aim below the 28% line to keep room for repairs, which often run around 1% of a home's value a year. Check the payment on a specific listing with the mortgage calculator, weigh buying against renting with the rent vs buy calculator, and read the 28/36 rule guide for how lenders apply the ratios.