How much house can I afford?

A comfortable budget usually keeps your total housing payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI) under 28–33% of gross monthly income, with total debt payments under 43–45%. In Texas the tax-and-insurance load is higher than most of the country, so the price you can afford is usually 10–15% lower than a national calculator suggests. The real answer comes from a full pre-approval — we look at income, credit, debts, and reserves together and give you a range you can shop confidently.