Start from the payment, not the price

The big idea

How much house can you afford? Start from the payment

Start from the payment, not the price.

Pick a monthly payment you're comfortable with.
Your price range comes from that, not from the biggest loan you could get.

See it in an example

Example

Same buyer, two ways.

Approved up to $400,000 → about $2,900 a month (Stretch)

Comfortable at about $2,200 a month → about $300,000 (Comfortable)

Approval is a ceiling, not a target.