How much house can I afford?

The details: what the numbers actually say

Lenders start with two main numbers. Your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, is your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Most lenders want it under 43%, and many prefer 36% or lower. Your total housing payment, what lenders call PITI, which is principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, should sit around 28% to 30% of your gross income.

• Your income and how stable it is
• Your monthly debts: car payments, student loans, credit cards
• Your down payment and the cash you can bring to closing
• The mortgage rate you lock in, which moves with the market
• Property taxes and insurance in the area you are shopping

Then there is price. In the Orlando area, the ORRA August 2026 median home price was $400,676. With 30-year fixed rates near 7.3% nationally as of October 2026, every half point of rate changes your monthly payment by a meaningful amount, which means the rate you lock in matters as much as the price you negotiate.

And you should get pre-approved before you shop. A pre-approval letter from a lender tells you exactly what your range is, so you can tour homes with confidence and make stronger offers when you find the right one.