For example, let's say you earn $4,000 each month. That means your mortgage payment should be a maximum of $1,120 (28 percent of $4,000), and your other debts should add up to no more than $1,440 each month (36 percent of $4,000).
To calculate this, multiply your monthly income by 28 or 36 and then divide it by 100. For example, with a $4,500 monthly income, you should spend no more than $1,260 on monthly housing expenses.
Follow the 28/36 Rule
For example, say your household brings in $5,000 every month in gross income. Multiply your monthly gross income by . 28 to get a rough estimate of how much you can afford to spend a month on your mortgage. In this situation, you shouldn't spend more than $1,400 on your monthly mortgage payment.
By following the 28/36 rule, you can avoid finding yourself underwater with too much debt. So, let's say you make around $6,000 per month. Your monthly mortgage payment shouldn't be over $1,680 and your monthly debt including monthly mortgage shouldn't exceed $2,160.
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.
The rule of 2.5 times your income stipulates that you shouldn't purchase a house that costs more than two and a half times your annual income. So, if you have a $50,000 annual salary, you should be able to afford a $125,000 home. Explore what your mortgage payment might be with today's rates.
The monthly income rule
“You want to make sure that your monthly mortgage is no more than 28% of your gross monthly income,” says Reyes. So if you bring home $5,000 per month (before taxes), your monthly mortgage payment should be no more than $1,400.
Mandy Phillips, a mortgage loan originator at Vista Home Loans, ran the numbers with the average property taxes and homeowners' insurance for California to find that buyers with a $2,000 budget could afford a $301,000 purchase price.
If you make $3,000 a month ($36,000 a year), your DTI with an FHA loan should be no more than $1,290 ($3,000 x 0.43) — which means you can afford a house with a monthly payment that is no more than $900 ($3,000 x 0.31). FHA loans typically allow for a lower down payment and credit score if certain requirements are met.
To determine how much you can afford using this rule, multiply your monthly gross income by 28%. For example, if you make $10,000 every month, multiply $10,000 by 0.28 to get $2,800. Using these figures, your monthly mortgage payment should be no more than $2,800.
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.
Following the 28/36 rule, you should make roughly triple that amount to comfortably afford the home, which is $72,000 annually. Keep in mind that these calculations do not include the cash you'll need for a down payment and closing costs.
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.
28 percent of $5,833 equals $1,633, so that's the upper limit on how much you should spend on monthly housing costs. Assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year fixed-rate loan at an interest rate of 7 percent, you can afford the payments on a $240,000 home, according to Bankrate's mortgage calculator.
The 28/36 rule dictates that you spend no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income on housing costs and no more than 36 percent on all of your debt combined, including those housing costs.
The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).
According to one source, a couple with two kids managed to live on $2,000 per month by spending $750 on mortgage, $350 on food, $100 on car insurance and gas each, $100 on utilities, $450 on health insurance and $20 on entertainment.
You can generally afford a home for between $180,000 and $250,000 (perhaps nearly $300,000) on a $50K salary. But your specific home buying budget will depend on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and down payment size.
You may be able to qualify for a loan with an annual income of $30,000. However, you will likely need to provide a larger down payment and have a strong credit score to qualify. You may also need to consider a lower-priced home or an area with a lower cost of living.
According to the 28/36 rule, you or your household should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on total housing costs. You should also avoid paying more than 36% of your gross monthly income toward any debt (including your mortgage payment).
If I Make $65,000 A Year What Mortgage Can I Afford? You can afford a home up to $265,000 with a mortgage of $260,200. This assumes a 3.5% down FHA loan at 7%, a base loan amount of $255,725 plus the FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium of 1.75%, low debts, good credit, and a total debt-to-income ratio of 50%.
The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of mortgage. For an FHA loan, a popular choice among first-time homebuyers for its lower down payment requirement, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.
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.
With home prices just over $100,000, plus affordable property taxes and homeowner's insurance, you may be able to purchase a home making well under $40,000 per year.