The amount of house you can afford depends on various factors including your income, financial obligations, credit score, and down payment.

As a general rule of thumb, most lenders recommend that your monthly housing cost should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. This includes your mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, and homeowners insurance.

To determine how much house you can afford, you can use this Affordability Calculator Home Affordability Calculator

In addition to the front-end ratio, lenders also consider your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which includes all of your monthly debt payments, such as car loans and credit card bills, in addition to your housing expenses. Most lenders prefer a DTI of 36% or lower.

Another factor to consider is your down payment. In general, the more money you can put down on a house, the more house you can afford. A larger down payment also means a lower mortgage payment and potentially better loan terms and interest rates.

In addition to these general guidelines, it's important to also consider your individual financial situation and lifestyle. Make sure you are comfortable with the monthly housing expenses and have room in your budget for unexpected costs such as home repairs and maintenance.

Ultimately, it's important to work with a lender and budget carefully to determine a realistic amount for your housing budget.