To determine how much house you can afford, think about your monthly payments and upfront costs.
When buying a house, the general rule of thumb is that you should spend 28% or less of your gross monthly income on housing expenses.
To calculate 28% of your monthly income, multiply your gross monthly income (that's your income before taxes) by 0.28.
If you abide by the 28% rule, you can afford to spend up to $1,400 per month on your house, including your mortgage, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and homeowner's association dues.
Ways to boost your buying powerYour interest rate can make a big difference in how much house you can afford.