To qualify for most types of mortgages, you'll need a credit score of at least 620. Some loan types, such as FHA loans, accept lower scores, but a higher score will almost always get you a lower interest rate.
The monthly property tax and insurance you have to pay may be higher or lower, depending on where you live. However, if we add these numbers up, we get to $3,240 per month, or $38,880 per year, for housing costs. That means you'd need an annual salary of at least $116,640 to afford a $500,000 home.
You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with a score as low as 500.
The monthly mortgage payment on a $500,000 home typically ranges between $3,200 and $4,200. Market rates, loan programs, and down payment size significantly influence your payment structure.
Introduction to down payments
It's usually expressed as a percentage of the purchase price. So, if your mortgage requires that you put down, say, 3%, the down payment needed for a $500K house would be $500,000 x 3% = $15,000. And a 20% down payment would require $100,000 ($500,000 x 20% = $100,000).
The Takeaway. A 600k mortgage payment at 7% for 30 years would be $3992 per month. When you're budgeting for a mortgage, it's smart to consider all the costs, including the monthly payment and what a smaller monthly payment means for your long-term costs.
What Credit Score Do You Need for a No Down Payment Home Loan? If you're hoping to purchase a home without a down payment, you'll have to prove a specific income and have a credit score that's at least in the mid-600 range.
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.
670–740: Good credit – Borrowers are typically approved and offered good interest rates. 620–670: Acceptable credit – Borrowers are typically approved at higher interest rates.
That monthly payment comes to $36,000 annually. Applying the 28/36 rule, which states that you shouldn't spend more than around a third of your income on housing, multiply $36,000 by three and you get $108,000. So to afford a $500K house you'd have to make at least $108,000 per year.
To afford a $600,000 house, you typically need to know how much income is required, which generally falls between $150,000 to $200,000 annually, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions.
There are seven markets among the major metros where a household's income must be $200,000 or more to comfortably afford a typical home. The top four are in California: San Jose ($454,296), San Francisco ($339,864), Los Angeles ($279,250) and San Diego ($273,613).
An FHA loan will typically be the easiest mortgage to qualify for because it offers the lowest credit score requirement — far lower than for a conventional loan — and requires only a 3.5% down payment.
A perfect FICO credit score is 850, but experts tell CNBC Select you don't need to hit that target to qualify for the best credit cards, loans or interest rates.
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.
Even better, just over 1 in 5 people (21.2%) have an exceptional FICO credit score of 800 or above, all but guaranteeing access to the best products and interest rates.
The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.
Pros and Cons of No Down Payment Loans
You'll likely pay more interest over the life of the loan because you're borrowing more money. You may not be able to afford as much home as you could if you put money down. You'll have less equity in your home because you've put down less money.
You generally need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a conventional mortgage, though every lender is different. It's possible to qualify for an FHA loan, which is backed by the federal government, with a credit score as low as 500.
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.
Current mortgage interest rates in California. As of Sunday, January 12, 2025, current interest rates in California are 7.33% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.61% for a 15-year fixed mortgage.
For example, with a 4% mortgage interest rate, your $2,000 payment could get you a home loan for around $335,000. But if that rate jumps to 6%, the same payment might only stretch to about $270,000. So, the rate makes a huge difference.