so, you want to buy a house. now what? if you are like most Americans, you are not buying it out-right with cold hard cash. you need a mortgage lender. that lender is going to establish how much home they believe you can afford and you want to make sure that you truly are able to swing all parts of your loan. here are some things to think about:

how much money do you bring in from your job and other investments?
how much money do you have to put down and cover closing costs?
how much are your monthly expenses and outstanding debt?
what does your credit report look like?

Generally, your monthly debt related expenses and your mortgage payment should not be more than 36% of your gross monthly income.

there are so many sites out there to give you a baseline for what you can afford, but most importantly, speak with a lender. Once you fill out an application and provide them with some required information, they will lay out what they believe you can afford. At times, our clients have found that though they are approved for a higher amount, they are more comfortable with a lower monthly payment. what works for you is what matters.

get started with this calculator:

https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/how-much-house-can-i-afford