With a FHA loan, your debt-to-income (DTI) limits are typically based on a rule of affordability. This means your monthly payments should be no more than 31% of your pre-tax income, and your monthly debts should be less than 43% of your pre-tax income. However, these limits can be higher under certain circumstances.
If you make $3,000 a month ($36,000 a year), your DTI with an FHA loan should be no more than $1,290 ($3,000 x 0.43) – which means you can afford a house with a monthly payment that is no more than $900 ($3,000 x 0.31).
FHA loans typically allow for a lower down payment and credit score if certain requirements are met. The lowest down payment is 3.5% for credit scores that are 580 or higher. If your credit score is between 500-579, you may still qualify for an FHA loan with a 10% down payment. Keep in mind that generally, the lower your credit score, the higher your interest rate will be, which may impact how much house you can afford.
FHA loans are restricted to a maximum loan size depending on the location of the property. Additionally, FHA loans require an upfront mortgage insurance premium to be paid as part of closing costs as well as an annual mortgage insurance premium included in your monthly mortgage payment – both of which may impact your affordability.
Veterans and active military may qualify for a VA loan, if certain criteria is met. While VA loans require a single upfront funding fee as part of the closing costs, the loan program offers attractive and flexible loan benefits, such as no private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums and no down payment requirements. VA loan benefits are what make house affordability possible for those who might otherwise not be able to afford a mortgage.
With VA loans, your monthly mortgage payment and recurring monthly debt combined should not exceed 41%. So if you make $3,000 a month ($36,000 a year), you can afford a house with monthly payments around $1,230 ($3,000 x 0.41).
How much should I spend on a house?
An affordability calculator is a great first step to determine how much house you can afford, but ultimately you have the final say in what you’re comfortable spending on your next home. When deciding how much to spend on a house, take into consideration your monthly spending habits and personal savings goals. You want to have some cash reserved in your savings account after purchasing a home. Typically, a cash reserve should include three month’s worth 
of house payments and enough money to cover other monthly debts. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to start planning out your housing budget:
- How much money do I want to save each month for retirement or travel?
- Do I have enough saved for closing costs or unexpected expenses?
- How much can I put toward a down payment without emptying my savings account?
- What is my total monthly debt?
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