For a $350k house, down payments range from $0 (VA/USDA loans) to $70,000 (20%), with common options being 3.5% ($12,250 for FHA) or 5% ($17,500), but putting 20% ($70k) helps avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) and lowers monthly costs, while smaller amounts (3-5%) require PMI but open doors for first-time buyers.
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 afford a $350k house, you generally need an income between $80,000 and $120,000 annually, though this varies; using the 28/36 rule, you'd aim for a gross income around $90,000-$100,000 to keep total housing costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance) under 28% of your gross monthly income and total debt under 36%. A lower income might work with a large down payment and minimal debt, while a higher income makes it more comfortable, but factors like interest rates, credit score, and other debts significantly impact the final required income.
Putting down 20% of the home's purchase price is a traditional down payment option. For a $400,000 home, a 20% down payment would be $80,000. This option may help you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) and can lead to more favorable loan terms.
The required credit score for a $350K loan will vary by loan type and lender. No matter what, though, you can expect a better interest rate the better your credit score. Most lenders require a minimum credit score of 620 to grant approval for a conventional loan.
With $10,000 down, you could potentially afford a home in the $285,000 to $330,000 range, depending heavily on your income, credit, debts, and loan type, with FHA loans requiring 3.5% ($10k on $285k) and conventional loans often needing 3% ($10k on ~$333k) or more, plus you must account for property taxes, insurance, and PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance).
How much would a £350,000 mortgage cost per month? At the time of writing (January 2026), the average monthly repayments on a £350,000 mortgage are £1,847. This is based on current interest rates being around 4%, a typical mortgage term of 25 years, and opting for a capital repayment mortgage.
While there's no universal answer to this question, many buyers who earn $100,000 a year can afford a home priced somewhere between $350,000 and $450,000. However, the exact number for you depends on your monthly debt, how much you've saved for a down payment, and what interest rate you can get on your mortgage loan.
However, most lenders still require your score to be at least 600 for an insured mortgage, even with a co-signer. How long does it take to raise my score enough to buy a home? Raising your credit score enough to buy a home (typically up to at least 600–680) can take anywhere from about 3 to 12 months.
How to negotiate mortgage rates
To afford a $350k mortgage, you generally need an annual income between $80,000 and $100,000, depending heavily on your existing debts, credit score, down payment, and current interest rates, with many lenders using the 28/36 rule (housing costs < 28% of gross income; total debt < 36%) as a guideline. A larger down payment or lower debts can lower the income needed.
If you plan to stay in the home for a long time, a larger down payment could save you money in the long run through lower interest payments. However, if you expect to move in a few years, a smaller down payment may be more practical.
A 20% down payment is often recommended, because it allows the borrower to avoid paying PMI — a type of insurance that protects the lender if you default on the loan.
The 3-7-3 Rule in mortgages isn't a loan type but a federal timeline from the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule, ensuring borrower protection by mandating disclosures within 3 business days of application, a 7-business-day wait between the initial Loan Estimate and closing, and another 3-day wait if significant changes (like APR) occur, giving borrowers time to review costs before committing to a loan.
Money down definitely helps and the more the better. Credit score is less of a factor since no matter what the bank is going to see you as "higher risk".
It's partly true: most negative items like late payments and collections are removed from your credit report after about seven years, but the underlying debt often still exists, and bankruptcies (Chapter 7) last 10 years, so your credit isn't entirely "clear" but mostly refreshed from old negatives. The 7-year clock starts from the date of the original delinquency, not when you paid it off or sent to collections, and the debt itself can still be pursued by collectors.
Lenders consider monthly housing expenses as a percentage of income and total monthly debt as a percentage of income. Both ratios are important factors in determining whether the lender will make the loan.