Most people have no idea how much house they can actually afford. Banks are happy to keep it that way.
Think of the Rule of 28 like a speed limit. Nobody's stopping you from going faster — but blow past it and you're one bad month away from a financial wreck. The scary part? Most lenders will let you floor it without saying a word.
Here's the deal — banks will approve you for way more than you should actually borrow. Why? Because that's good for THEM. Not you. The Rule of 28 is the guardrail that keeps you from buying a house that slowly eats your entire life.
We'll break down:
✅ What the Rule of 28 actually is and why it exists
✅ How to calculate YOUR number before you ever talk to a lender
✅ Why getting pre-approved for $400k doesn't mean you should spend $400k
✅ How this rule works WITH your debt-to-income ratio
✅ The mistakes first time buyers make that turn a dream home into a financial nightmare ✅ How to use this rule to actually build wealth through homeownership
This isn't complicated math. It's the one number that stands between you and being house poor.
Know the rule before you sign the papers. Your future self will thank you.