A $60,000 annual salary in Texas, equating to $5,000 in gross monthly income, supports a target monthly housing payment of $1,400 under the standard 28/36 rule. At a 30-year fixed rate around 6.8%, ChatGPT calculated that a 3.5% down payment ($6,300) allows for a home priced around $180,000 at roughly $1,420 a month; a 10% down payment ($19,500) supports a $195,000 home at about $1,390 a month; and a 20% down payment ($43,000) allows for a $215,000 home at around $1,380 a month. The overall range landed on $175,000 to $210,000, depending on down payment and existing debt. Texas property taxes, typically running between 1.6% and 2.3% of assessed value annually, add $3,200 to $4,600 a year on a $200,000 home, or $260 to $380 every month. Homeowners insurance premiums, driven by Texas weather, range from roughly $1,800 to $2,500 annually, or $150 to $200 a month. Combined, taxes and insurance can consume $400 to $580 of the $1,400 monthly budget. With $400 a month in existing debt payments, the housing budget drops to $1,000 to $1,100 a