How much should I make to afford a 500K house?

Asked by: Waylon Balistreri  |  Last update: February 16, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (65 votes)

To comfortably afford a $500,000 house, you'll likely need an annual income between $125,000 to $160,000, 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.

What income do you need for a 500K mortgage?

Monthly Debt Obligations

This includes your mortgage payment and other debts. To keep your housing costs below 28% of your monthly income, your gross monthly income should ideally be around $10,814. To maintain a 36% DTI ratio, your gross monthly income should be around $8,411.

Can I afford a 500K house if I make 100k a year?

At $100K income, you can get an $450K mortgage. You will need a bigger down payment. Work on a budget and see if you can keep up with all the payments. It would be very tight.

Can I afford a 400k house on 100k salary?

100k Salary How Much House Can I Afford: Example

Assuming a 20% down payment and a 4% interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, you could potentially afford a home priced around $400,000.

What house can you afford making $70,000 a year?

If you make $70,000 a year, you can likely afford a home that costs between $247,000–$302,000.

You Need To Make This Much To Buy A 500k Home

15 related questions found

Can I buy a million dollar home with a 70K salary?

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.

What salary do I need to afford a 700k house?

To afford a $700,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $175,000 to $235,000, 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.

Can a single person afford a 400k house?

Your payment should not be more than 28%. of your total gross monthly income. That means you'll need to make 11,500 dollars a month, or 138 k per year.

What is the 28/36 rule?

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.

Is 100k a year good for a family of four?

If you're raising a family of four in 2024, you'll need a six-figure income in 26 U.S. states. That's more than half of America where you'll need to earn $100,000 or more annually to budget for and comfortably raise a family.

How much is the monthly payment on a 500k house?

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.

What income is required for a 600k mortgage?

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.)

Can I afford a million dollar home if I make 100k?

And, here is the answer to the question: You need anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 in income to buy a $1 million dollar home right now. The reason there is so much variance is because there are so many factors that impact qualification, including: Size of down payment. Property tax rates.

How much house can I afford if I make $36,000 a year?

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.

Is 500k a lot of money?

Savings of $500,000 may sound like a lot of money. And it is. But if you retire at age 45 to live off of that amount alone, it may not last very long unless you live very frugally. Even then, those savings may get consumed while you're still living.

How much down payment for a 400K house first time buyer?

You'll need a down payment of $12,000, or 3 percent, if you're buying a $400K house with a conventional loan. Meanwhile, an FHA loan requires a slightly higher down payment of $14,000, equivalent to 3.5 percent of the purchase price.

What qualifies as house poor?

House Poor: What It Means And How To Avoid It. What is house poor? The expressions “house poor” and “house broke” refer to homeowners spending more than they can afford on housing costs, which can include mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintenance and utility costs.

What is the golden rule of mortgage?

The Rule of 28 – Your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. This is often considered the “Golden Rule,” and many lenders abide by it.

Is 50% of income too much for a mortgage?

Is 50% of take-home pay too much for a mortgage? Paying 50% of your take-home pay on a mortgage is often seen as too high. In general, keeping your housing costs, including your mortgage, below 28% of your gross income is recommended.

Can I afford a 400K house with 50k salary?

The Bottom Line. To comfortably afford a 400k mortgage, you'll likely need an annual income between $100,000 to $125,000, 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.

Can I buy a house with 40k down payment?

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.

Can I afford a 200k house on a 70k salary?

With a $70,000 annual salary and using a 50% DTI, your home buying budget could potentially afford a house priced between $180,000 to $280,000, depending on your financial situation, credit score, and current market conditions. This range is higher than what you might qualify for with more traditional DTI limits.

Can I afford a 500k house on 60k salary?

To afford a $500,000 house, you'll need to make a minimum of $91,008 a year — and probably more to make sure you're not house-poor and can afford day-to-day expenses, maintenance and other debt, like student loans or car payments.

How do people afford 800k homes?

To afford an $800,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $200,000 to $260,000, 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.

Is 700k a good salary?

Earning $700,000 a year would put your household in the top 1% nationwide — and well above the middle class — and in any state in the South or Midwest. But that still won't cut it in seven states. The Northeast dominates the rankings, with five of the 10 states with the highest 1% thresholds lying in this region.