The bottom line
Qualified borrowers could see a monthly mortgage payment of principal and interest between $3,043.80 and $4,029.80 for a $600,000 mortgage loan right now.
What income is required for a 600k mortgage? To afford a house that costs $600,000 with a 20 percent down payment (equal to $120,000), you will need to earn just under $90,000 per year before tax. The monthly mortgage payment would be approximately $2,089 in this scenario. (This is an estimated example.)
At the time of writing (January 2025), the typical monthly repayments on a £600,000 mortgage would be £3,167. This is based on a capital repayment mortgage with a term length of 25 years and a 4% interest rate, which is representative of the current market.
This is known as the front-end ratio. Now, the down payment is typically somewhere between 5-20% of the total price of the house. So for this $600k house, you'd have to save somewhere from $30,000 to $120,000!
To comfortably afford a $600k mortgage, you'll likely need an annual income between $150,000 to $200,000, depending on your specific financial situation and the terms of your mortgage. Remember, just because you can qualify for a loan doesn't mean you should stretch your budget to the maximum.
To afford a $650,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $160,000 to $215,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this is a general range, and your specific circumstances will determine the exact income required.
The average monthly repayments on a £700,000 mortgage are roughly £3,695. This example figure is based on a capital repayment mortgage of this amount with a term length of 25 years and a rate of 4%, which is representative of the UK market in recent months.
For a $600,000 home, a 20% down payment would be $120,000. While some loan programs allow for lower down payments, providing at least 20% can help you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) and reduce your monthly payments.
So, what does a $500,000 mortgage payment look like if you're trying to budget for your first or next home? The mortgage on a $500,000 house is $2,952 per month toward your mortgage principal and mortgage interest, assuming a 6.86% interest rate and a 30-year fixed term with 10% down.
A common housing-affordability rule of thumb recommends that you avoid spending more than about a third of your income on housing. So, triple that $44,400 to estimate the annual income you'll need to comfortably afford a $600,000 purchase: $133,200.
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.
According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment. Homeowners Insurance. Private mortgage insurance.
Current mortgage interest rates in California. As of Monday, January 13, 2025, current interest rates in California are 7.33% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.61% for a 15-year fixed mortgage.
The bottom line. A mortgage payment on a $700,000 loan with a 20% down payment for qualified borrowers could cost between $3,517.51 per month and $4,683.35 for principal and interest. And if buyers wait, they could see substantial savings later in the year.
How much are monthly payments on a $550K house? According to Bankrate's mortgage calculator, assuming you bring a 20 percent down payment to the table and take out a 30-year loan at a 7 percent interest rate, your monthly principal and interest payments on a $550K home will be $2,927.
You expect to withdraw 4% each year, starting with a $24,000 withdrawal in Year One. Your money earns a 5% annual rate of return while inflation stays at 2.9%. Based on those numbers, $600,000 would be enough to last you 30 years in retirement.
So, for a $600,000 home, you would need to put between $21,000 (3.5 percent) and $120,000 (20 percent) down. Down payments of greater than 20 percent are also an option and would lead, of course, to smaller mortgage payments and most likely, a lower interest rate.
How much would a $600,000 mortgage cost per month? A monthly payment on a 600K mortgage at 7% APR would be $3,991.81. This is the amount of principal and interest and does not include the escrowed amounts.
While there's no one set income level that will automatically qualify you for a $700,000 mortgage, using the rule of thumb that your housing payment should be no more than a third of your gross monthly income, you'll likely need somewhere between $180,000 and $200,000 per year to qualify, depending on other factors ...
With $2,000 per month to spend on your mortgage payment, you are likely to qualify for a home with a purchase price between $250,000 to $300,000, said Matt Ward, a real estate agent in Nashville. Ward also points out that other financial factors will impact your home purchase budget.
This is especially true with higher-priced homes: A 20 percent down payment on a $700,000 home means $140,000 that you won't have to pay back, with interest.
The average cost of closing fees for homebuyers is $6,837. The higher the purchase price of your home, the higher your closing costs will be. While the average closing costs for a $150,000 house might be between $3,000 and $7,500, the average closing costs for a $600,000 are between $12,000 and $30,000.
To afford a $250,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $62,000 to $80,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions.
Putting down the standard 20% can help you avoid paying mortgage insurance and interest and could save you thousands of dollars. So you can expect to pay between $19,500 and $130,000 as a down payment on a $650,000 purchase. Keep in mind, besides the down payment amount, you will also have to factor in closing costs.