How Salary Changes the House You Can Afford

Run your income, not a multiple you heard

Rules of thumb such as 'three times income' skip the interest rate. A 6.75% loan and a 3% loan support different prices on the same payment.

Put your salary in the affordability calculator and change only the income if you want to see the effect. Leave debts alone for that test.

A new car payment can consume the housing room a raise created. The back-end line is where that shows up.

If the result says debt is the tighter limit, paying down a monthly obligation can change the price more than a small raise.

What to change one at a time
Test	Hold constant
Income	Debts, rate, down payment
Debts	Income and rate

Only if you include it in the income field. Lenders may count variable pay differently from a salary. This page cannot make that underwriting choice.

Not if the extra income is matched by extra debt or by a higher tax and insurance bill.