Your costs on a $350,000 mortgage will depend on your rate, loan term, and other factors; your monthly payment on a 30-year loan could range from $2,098 to $2,568.
While there's no magic number, here's a general idea of what you'll need to afford a $350,000 home: Income: Aim for a combined gross annual income between $87,000 and $110,000. This is a starting point, and your actual needs may vary. Down Payment: A larger down payment means a smaller loan and lower monthly payments.
Down payment amounts for a $350,000 house can range from 0% to 20% or more. The required down payment depends on the type of mortgage you choose. Conventional loans typically require 3-20% down for a $350,000 house. Government-backed loans like FHA, VA, and USDA have different down payment requirements.
To make a 20% down payment on a property with a $350,000 mortgage, you would need $87,500. Many buyers make lower down payments, however. Some as low as 3%.
If your budget is under $400,000
For this budget, you could build a large three-bedroom home, which typically costs $300,000 to $600,000, for up to 3,000 square feet. You'll sacrifice a few amenities for square footage, but you can always add them in later when you have additional budget.
You can buy a $300,000 house with only $9,000 down when using a conventional mortgage, which is the lowest down payment permitted, unless you qualify for a zero-down-payment VA or USDA loan. Different lenders have different rules, but typically they require a 620 credit score for conventional loan approval.
If you want to avoid mortgage insurance by putting 20% down, your down payment should be $100,000. If you plan to put 8% down (the median for first-time homebuyers) it would be $40,000. If you're a first-time homebuyer with an FHA loan and a 3% down requirement, you would need $15,000.
The Bottom Line. On a $70,000 salary using a 50% DTI, you could potentially afford a house worth between $200,000 to $250,000, depending on your specific financial situation.
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.
Given all of these factors, most experts recommend having a minimum of 6-9 months' worth of living expenses after closing. Some advise having up to 20% of the home's value leftover in cash reserves, though this is not practical for every home buyer. Ultimately how much you need depends on your own financial situation.
Earning $350,000 a year is generally not considered middle class; it is well above the average middle-class income bracket. Similar to an income of $300,000, a $350,000 annual income is typically categorized as upper-middle class or affluent.
Following the 28/36 rule, a guideline many mortgage lenders use to gauge how much you can afford, you'd likely need to earn at least $90,000 per year to afford a $350,000 house without spreading yourself too thin. Keep in mind that figure does not include upfront payments, like your down payment and closing costs.
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.
Typical requirements for a conventional loan include not just a minimum 3% down payment, as mentioned earlier, but also a credit score of at least 620, a maximum debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of 50%, and an income that can support both your monthly mortgage payment and other life expenses and bills.
To afford a $400,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $100,000 to $125,000, which translates to a gross monthly income of approximately $8,333 to $10,417. However, this is a general range, and your specific circumstances will determine the exact income required.
Typically, mortgage lenders want you to put 20 percent down on a home purchase because it lowers their lending risk. It's also a rule that most programs charge mortgage insurance if you put less than 20 percent down (though some loans avoid this). But it's not a rule that you must put 20 percent down.
Even though interest rates are still high, it's a great time to buy a house. The higher interest rates have priced some buyers out of the market, which means you could face less competition when you make offers. Plus, if interest rates do eventually go down significantly, you can always refinance to get the lower rate.
Lenders like to see a front-end DTI of no more than 28%. For a $300,000 home with a house payment of $2,178, you'd need about $7,778 per month, or $93,336 per year, in income to stay within 28%. Back-end DTI is more important to lenders because it gives them a more complete and accurate picture of your finances.
If you're eyeing a $350,000 house, you should anticipate putting down up to 20% or $70,000. However, there are other expenses and factors to determine just how much cash you'll need to put down to secure your dream home. At Texas United Mortgage, we've helped thousands of customers secure home loans.
What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.
Here's what you can expect to pay monthly on a $350,000 loan at today's rates: 30-year mortgage at 6.43%: $1,756.92 per month. 15-year mortgage at 5.83%: $2,337.16 per month.
With VA and USDA loans, qualified borrowers can get a construction loan with 0% down. For FHA loans, the down payment could be as low as 3.5% down. Some lenders will issue traditional construction loans with 10% down.
A budget in the $400,000 range should get you a nice home with anywhere from 2,139 to 2,668 square feet. This could include four bedrooms, three baths, higher-end finishes, and larger or more elaborate outdoor features, such as a covered porch instead of a bare-bones open deck.