Below roughly $500,000, the minimum down payment is 5 percent of the purchase price, so the smaller the target price, the smaller the cash hurdle, which is why a $100,000 income buyer often finds the down payment, not the monthly payment, is the harder part of qualifying.
The 44 percent total debt-service ceiling still applies, and at this income level even a modest car payment or student loan can meaningfully narrow what a lender will approve, so paying down smaller debts before applying can move the needle more than it would for a higher income.
The real number depends on your specific debts, credit score and down payment source, which is exactly what a lender's pre-approval, not a rule of thumb, is for. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.