Realtor
If you are referring to my post when you say this …

“Thus if you create income brackets then assign a maximum mortgage payment based on that income. Don’t factor in size of the home, location, or desire.” ..You don’t understand what I said…

The strategy I described has the would be Buyer calculating what they are shopping with and then what they can shop for.I never suggested factoring in the size of the home, location, or desire except examples of realistic expectations.I would do that after I figure what I could afford and wouldn’t buy if my realistic parameters were left wanting.
Considering over all debt load is a no brainer but the income to purchase price estimates I gave were used during the old conservative debt/income ratios lenders used to use for average buyer’s. I don’t recommend more leverage on a personal home just because debt loads are low at the time of purchase.Do you? As far a stretching goes I agree with you. I was making a joke anyway.Lenders won’t give you more money because you are a non reproductive individual. Buying less than what one can afford fully employed seems prudent if cash isn’t laying around everywhere, especially in a falling market.
If you were answering someone else,excuse me.

Realtor

I just realized there are two realtors in here and you are probably answering the first poster. The other Realtor had already anwered him so thats where the confusion came from.