How much house can I afford in Austin?
Austin prices are high and so are the property taxes, so the sticker math lies. Enter your income, monthly debts, down payment, and your own rate, and this calculator finds the highest Austin home price that keeps your full payment, Travis County tax and insurance included, inside a comfortable debt-to-income range.
- P&I, principal and interest$0
- Property tax$0
- Home insurance$0
- PMI$0
- HOA dues$0
| Year | Principal | Interest | Balance |
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How this Austin affordability calculator works
Most affordability tools ask for a price and hand back a payment. This one runs the way a lender underwrites, in reverse. It starts with your gross monthly income, applies a debt-to-income target, subtracts the monthly debts you already carry, and turns what is left into the highest Austin home price whose full payment still fits. That payment is not just principal and interest. It folds in Travis County property tax, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, and any HOA dues, which in a high-tax metro like Austin is the difference between a number that looks affordable and one that actually is.
Because taxes, insurance, and mortgage insurance scale with the price, the calculator solves the loop and settles on a figure, then shows the payment breakdown, your loan amount, and the share of income it uses. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to me or saved, so you can be honest with the inputs and get an honest answer back.
Why Austin property taxes shrink your buying power
Texas has no state income tax and leans on property tax instead, and the Austin metro sits at the higher end. Effective rates land near 2.1 percent in Travis County and can run higher in fast-growing suburbs, so the same income buys noticeably less house here than in a low-tax state. Since taxes are escrowed into your monthly payment, that gap shows up every month. Here is roughly where the metro counties sit, so you can match the calculator to your area:
| County (metro area) | Effective property tax rate |
|---|---|
| Williamson (Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander) | ~2.25% |
| Travis (Austin) | ~2.10% |
| Hays (Kyle, Buda, San Marcos) | ~2.00% |
| Caldwell (Lockhart) | ~1.95% |
| Bastrop | ~1.80% |
Approximate effective rates, county appraisal districts. A primary residence with the homestead exemption typically pays less, so adjust the calculator to your actual tax bill.
Tech pay, RSUs, and how Austin income gets counted
A lot of Austin buying power comes from base salary plus bonus, commission, or restricted stock units. Lenders can count more than your base, but the rules are specific: variable and equity income usually needs a documented history, often around two years, and a reasonable expectation that it continues. RSU income in particular depends on vesting schedules and the stock, so two buyers with the same total comp can qualify for different amounts.
For the calculator, enter a figure you can defend. If a big share of your income is bonus or stock, start conservative, then let me look at your actual pay stubs, offer letter, and vesting to confirm what an underwriter will use. That conversation is often where Austin buyers find more room than they expected, or avoid a payment that leans too hard on income that will not count.
Your loan program changes the Austin answer
The same income buys different amounts of house depending on the program, because each treats mortgage insurance and upfront fees differently. Switch the loan type at the top of the calculator to compare:
- Conventional. PMI applies under 20 percent down and ends as you build equity, so a larger down payment stretches further. A common fit for Austin buyers with strong credit.
- FHA. A lower down payment option that carries upfront and monthly mortgage insurance, which trims how much home a given payment buys. See the Austin FHA first-time buyer guide.
- VA. For eligible veterans and service members, with zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance, so more of every payment buys house. The Austin VA loan page has the details.
- USDA. For eligible areas outside the urban core, like parts of the surrounding counties, with zero down and a financed guarantee fee.
Read the full breakdowns on my conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loan program pages, then send me your scenario so I can confirm what you qualify for.
What this estimate is, and what it is not
This tool estimates a comfortable price range from the numbers you enter. It is not an approval, a pre-qualification, or a commitment to lend, and it does not weigh your full credit profile, cash reserves, employment history, or the specific property. It also leaves out closing costs and the cash you keep in reserve, which a real pre-approval accounts for.
In an Austin market where sellers still weigh the strength of an offer, the figure that matters is a pre-approval tied to your actual file. Treat the calculator as the planning step that keeps you out of houses that do not fit, then let me put a letter in your hands when you are ready to shop.
Common questions
How much house can I afford in Austin on $150,000 a year?
It depends on your monthly debts, your down payment, your rate, and Travis County property tax and insurance, so enter your numbers for a real figure. As a rule of thumb, lenders want your full housing payment plus other debts within roughly 36 to 43 percent of gross monthly income. Austin's higher property tax, near 2.1 percent in Travis County, trims buying power, so the same salary buys less house here than the sticker math suggests.
Is property tax higher in Austin?
Austin-area property taxes run high because Texas has no state income tax. Effective rates land near 2.1 percent in Travis County and reach about 2.25 percent in parts of Williamson County, above the national average. Because taxes are escrowed into your monthly payment, a higher rate directly lowers how much home a given income supports. A primary residence with the homestead exemption pays less.
Can I use RSUs or bonus income to qualify for an Austin mortgage?
Often yes. Many Austin buyers in tech earn a base salary plus bonus, commission, or RSU income, and lenders can count income with a documented history and a reasonable expectation it continues, typically a two-year track record. The rules vary by income type and program, so enter a conservative figure in the calculator, then I can confirm exactly what counts for your file.
How much income do I need to buy a $600,000 house in Austin?
The income needed depends on your down payment, your rate, your other monthly debts, and Travis County property tax and insurance on the home. Rather than a single number, use the calculator: adjust your inputs until the affordable price reaches your Austin target, and you will see the income and debt mix that supports it. For a confirmed figure, I can pre-qualify you.
Is this affordability calculator the same as a pre-approval?
No. This is an estimate to help you plan, not an approval, a pre-qualification, or a commitment to lend. A real pre-approval reviews your credit, income documents, assets, and the loan program, and it carries weight with Austin sellers. When you are ready, I can pre-qualify you and put a letter in your hands. The calculator is the starting point, not the decision.
Know your Austin number, then make it real.
A calculator gets you a range. I price your actual Austin scenario, taxes and program details included, and pre-qualify you with a letter you can shop with.