How much house can I afford in Washington State?

A general rule: your total monthly debt payments (including mortgage, car, student loans) shouldn't exceed 43–50% of your gross monthly income, depending on the loan type. But buying power in Washington also depends on the county loan limit, which changes annually. In King and Snohomish counties, conforming loan limits run significantly higher than the national baseline. Run the actual numbers with a licensed lender — generic calculators skip too many variables.