 Let's say that at a fourth of your take-home pay, you can afford $250,000 on a 15-year at your then income, whatever you're making at that time, and she comes home and stays home. Obviously, $250,000 is the loan amount, but if you had $100,000 saved, that means you're at $350,000. If you got $200,000 saved, you're at $450,000.