How Much House Can I Afford? - Home Affordability Calculator - HSH.com (2024)

For an example calculation, lets assume you are a first-time homebuyer, have a very good credit score, a $60,000 annual household income, $250 in monthly debt payments, $20,000 to use as a down payment, property taxes of 1.25% of the purchase price you can qualify for and annual homeowner's insurance premiums of about 0.5% of the home's value.

With a 4% mortgage interest rate and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage term, and using a 28% housing ratio, this means you can utilize $1,400 per month for Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance; with your down payment of just 8.89% of the home purchase price, Private Mortgage Insurance costs will also be included in that $1,400 figure.

$1,400 per month qualifies to borrow a loan amount of $204,913; add your $20,000 down payment to this, and you can purchase a home of $224,913. Of course, you’ll still need cash for reserves and to cover the loan’s closing costs.

Your debt-to-income ratio as a percentage of your income is low enough so that the back-end "cap" of 36% of your gross monthly income doesn't come into play. In fact, the 36% cap means you can carry as much as $400 per month in debts and still qualify for the amount above.

If your DTI is above 36%, don't worry. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now backing loans for borrowers with back-end debt ratios of as much as 50%. While less debt is better, more doesn't necessarily mean you can't qualify for a mortgage large enough to buy a great piece of real estate that you can call home.

How Much House Can I Afford? - Home Affordability Calculator - HSH.com (2024)

FAQs

Can I afford a 200k house on a 70K salary? ›

The house you can afford on a $70K income will likely be between $290,000 to $310,000. Aside from your gross monthly income, lenders look at your credit report, down payment, monthly debt payments (including car payments and personal loans), and your estimated mortgage rate, among other things.

How much house can I afford if I make $36,000 a year? ›

On a salary of $36,000 per year, you can afford a house priced around $100,000-$110,000 with a monthly payment of just over $1,000. This assumes you have no other debts you're paying off, but also that you haven't been able to save much for a down payment.

How much house can I afford if I make $135000 a year? ›

Applying the 28/36 rule, a $130,000 annual earner should keep housing costs below $3,033. However, there are many other factors besides just your income that shape how much house you can comfortably afford. Credit score: A strong credit score is important when you apply for a home loan.

Can I afford a 300k house on a 60k salary? ›

An individual earning $60,000 a year may buy a home worth ranging from $180,000 to over $300,000. That's because your wage isn't the only factor that affects your house purchase budget. Your credit score, existing debts, mortgage rates, and a variety of other considerations must all be taken into account.

Can I afford a 400k house with a 70K salary? ›

How much income you need to buy a house in a specific price range largely depends on the type of loan you're applying for, where you live and other factors. For example, at current mortgage rates, borrowers with an FHA loan and a 10% down payment would need to earn about $70,000 a year to afford a $400,000 house.

Can I afford a 200K house on 50K a year? ›

Assuming you have enough in savings to cover the down payment, closing costs and cost of regular upkeep, yes, you probably could afford a $200K home on a $50K annual salary. Using our example above, the monthly mortgage payment on a $200K home, including taxes and insurance, would be about $1,300.

What kind of house can I afford making 40k a year? ›

How much house can I afford on 40K a year?
Annual Salary$40,000
Home Purchase Budget (25% monthly income on mortgage payments)$103,800
Home Purchase Budget (28% monthly income)$109,500
Home Purchase Budget (36% monthly income)$141,100
Home Purchase Budget (40% of monthly income)$156,900
4 more rows
May 10, 2023

Can a single person live on $36,000 a year? ›

If you want to have a minimalist lifestyle, 36k/year is more then enough. If you want a home, family, car, insurance and some "toys", it's not going to be enough, at least in a majority of places in the U.S. But again, the term "decent" is pretty objective.

How much house for $3,500 a month? ›

A $3,500 per month mortgage in the United States, based on our calculations, will put you in an above-average price range in many cities, or let you at least get a foot in the door in high cost of living areas. That price point is $550,000.

Can you live off 50k a year? ›

What Can I Afford With $50,000 a Year? The answer depends on where you live. For the top 30 most populated cities in the U.S., you need between $20K and $35K a year to cover basic expenses, including food, medical costs, housing, transportation, taxes, and other expenses.

Is $170000 a good household income? ›

If you are making $170,000 a year, you are significantly more well off than the average American — the national median household income is $74,580 per year, according to U.S. Census data. However, buying a house can be difficult for anyone.

How much house can I buy with $75000 income? ›

“Assuming an average interest rate and reasonable debt-to-income ratio, someone with a $75,000 salary could potentially afford a home in the range of $225,000 to $275,000,” he said.

What credit score is needed to buy a $300K house? ›

What credit score is needed to buy a $300K house? The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of loan. For an FHA loan, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.

How much income do you need to qualify for a $300,000 mortgage? ›

How much do I need to make to buy a $300K house? To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific annual salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.

How much is $60,000 hourly? ›

$60,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour? If your annual income is $60,000, your approximate hourly wage would be $28.85. This calculation is based on a standard work schedule of 40 hours a week and 52 weeks a year.

What income is needed for a 200K mortgage? ›

What income is required for a 200k mortgage? To be approved for a $200,000 mortgage with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, you will need an approximate income of $62,000 annually.

How much car can I afford if I make 70K a year? ›

How much car can I afford with a 70k salary? Based on the 20/4/20 rule, with an average interest rate, you can afford a $19,000-20,000 car on your $70k salary.

Can you live comfortably on $70,000 a year? ›

You may be able to live comfortably off $70,000, depending on where you live and how many people are in your household. If you're single and live in an area where the cost of living is below average, you can likely live well on $70,000.

How much mortgage can I afford with a 75k salary? ›

“Individuals with a salary of $75,000 a year should aim for a home price ranging from $150,000 to $225,000, which would yield a mortgage payment of $998 to $1,497,” said Miles, who cautioned to budget for costs beyond the loan itself.

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