After making a down payment on a home, it's crucial to have 6 to 9 months' worth of living expenses saved up.
It's a good idea to put away anywhere from 25% to 30% of your home's purchase price to account for your down payment, closing costs and other assorted expenses. Aiming to save 25% should cover the bare minimum – a 20% down payment, plus 5% in closing costs.
The 35/45 rule
With the 35/45 model, your total monthly debt, including your mortgage payment, shouldn't exceed 35% of your pre-tax income or 45% of your after-tax income. To estimate your affordable range, multiply your gross income before taxes by 0.35 and your net income after taxes by 0.45.
Location Matters. Location plays a significant role in the timeline to make a profit on a home purchase. In high-value metro areas like San Jose and San Francisco, California, the timeline is considerably shorter, with homeowners recouping their investment in around 7 years.
More time lets you build more equity (the difference between how much you owe on your mortgage and the home's value) and take advantage of potential home value growth. A guideline commonly cited by real estate experts is to stay at your house for at least five years.
A good number to shoot for when saving for a house is 25% of the sale price to cover your down payment, closing costs and moving expenses. (This amount is separate from saving up 3–6 months of your typical living expenses in a fully-funded emergency fund—which I recommend you do first, before saving up for a home.)
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
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.
Ideally, you want to have 20% of your take-home pay left over after paying all of your bills.
The standard deposit insurance coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. Deposits held in different ownership categories are separately insured, up to at least $250,000, even if held at the same bank.
The “hidden” costs of buying a home include loan costs, title costs, documentation costs, property costs, and third-party services. The “hidden” costs of owning a home include insurance, taxes, homeowners association fees, emergency repairs, exterior maintenance, landscaping, interior maintenance, and utilities.
Real Estate Is a Hedge Against Inflation
“Real estate assets are typically the best inflation hedge available,” he said. “Real estate will grow in value with inflation, cash in the bank will not. … Its buying power will actually be eaten away by inflation.”
"Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary has said the ideal age to be debt-free is 45, especially if you want to retire by age 60. Being debt-free — including paying off your mortgage — by your mid-40s puts you on the early path toward success, O'Leary argued.
While a 20 percent down payment is the traditional standard for purchasing a home, it is not mandatory and there are loan options that have much lower minimum requirements. Private mortgage insurance will likely be required with a down payment of less than 20 percent, which will add to your monthly payment.
The largest contributors to housing costs are consistently non-mortgage ongoing costs, which collectively are about half of total borrower costs over the ownership period. Indeed, the largest non-mortgage expenses for all borrowers are utilities, property taxes, and home improvement expenses.
You'll likely need an annual salary of at least $250,000 to finance a $1 million dollar home with a 30-year mortgage, assuming a 20% down payment and low escrow costs. The income required to purchase a million-dollar home varies based on your location, loan amount, mortgage rate and other affordability considerations.
When it comes to defining a “good” salary, there's no one magic number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary in the U.S. is $65,470, as of May 2023. Based on this data point, $70K a year is a good salary for a single person — one that puts you above the national average.
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.
While this figure can vary based on factors such as location, family size, and lifestyle preferences, a common range for a good monthly salary is between $6,000 and $8,333 for individuals.
It's best to start saving as early on in your career as you can, but no one has a time machine to go back and begin stashing away money earlier if they procrastinated a little longer than they should have.
At least 20% of your income should go towards savings. Meanwhile, another 50% (maximum) should go toward necessities, while 30% goes toward discretionary items. This is called the 50/30/20 rule of thumb, and it provides a quick and easy way for you to budget your money.
How much money should you have leftover after buying a house? After buying a home, the amount you have left will vary depending on your financial situation. However, it's a good idea to have at least three to six months of living expenses in reserve. That way, in case of an emergency, you can stay afloat financially.
Investing $500 a month can lead to significant long-term growth, thanks to the power of compounding returns. Whether you are just starting out or adding to an existing portfolio, consistently investing $500 each month can help you build substantial savings for future goals, like retirement or a down payment on a house.
The General Rule of Thumb: 2-3 Months of Living Expenses
The idea is to have enough to cover your bills and expenses but not so much that you're losing out on potential interest.