How Much House Can I Afford on $120,000
Last updated June 2026
On a $120,000 annual salary, you can afford approximately $395,000 using conventional loan guidelines (28% DTI ratio) or up to $435,000 with an FHA loan (31% DTI ratio). These estimates assume a 6.875% interest rate, 30-year fixed mortgage, 1.2% property tax, and $1,400/year homeowners insurance. Use the calculator below with your actual debts, down payment, and local tax rates for a personalized estimate.
Your Finances
Loan Terms
Monthly Leftover Cash
Just because you qualify doesn't mean it's comfortable. Check what's left after housing + debts.
Conventional
$6,609
Comfortable
FHA
$6,306
Comfortable
VA
$5,928
Comfortable
Conventional
DTI: 28%/36%$395,000
max home price
FHA
DTI: 31%/43%$435,000
max home price
VA
DTI: None/41%$485,000
max home price
What This Means
Home affordability is primarily determined by the 28% front-end debt-to-income (DTI) ratio used by conventional lenders — meaning your total monthly housing costs (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. On a $120,000 salary, that's $2,800/month for housing. FHA loans use a more generous 31% DTI limit, which is why the FHA maximum of $435,000 is higher than the conventional limit of $395,000. These calculations assume a 6.875% fixed rate, 30-year term, 1.2% annual property tax, and $1,400/year homeowners insurance. Keep in mind that other monthly debts — car payments, student loans, credit cards — reduce the amount you can borrow, as lenders also consider your total (back-end) DTI ratio, typically capped at 36–43%.