An 80-15-5 (or 80/15/5) represents a type of "piggyback" mortgage structure used to buy a home with only a 5% down payment while avoiding private mortgage insurance (PMI). It consists of:
An 80/15/5 loan (with a 15% junior mortgage and 5% down payment) or a 75/15/10 loan (with a 15% junior mortgage and a 10% down payment) are also options. The numerical spread may continue to vary for individual lending situations depending on the borrower's finances and lender's terms.
80/20 piggyback loan: With this structure, the first mortgage finances 80% of the home price, and the second mortgage covers 20%, meaning you finance the entire purchase without making a down payment. 80/20 mortgages were popular in the early to mid-2000s, but are less common today.
Key features: Put down as little as 10% of purchase price. Take out 80% of your purchase price in a first mortgage. Take out 10% of your purchase price in a second mortgage.
80-10-10 loan example
Take out a first mortgage for $280,000 (80% of the purchase price) Take out a second mortgage (a HELOC, for example) for $35,000 (10%) Make a $35,000 down payment (10%)
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.
The "2-2-2 Rule" in mortgages isn't a single standard but refers to common guidelines lenders use, often involving two years of stable employment/income, two months of bank statements, two years of tax returns/W-2s, and sometimes two active, well-managed credit accounts, all to prove financial stability and reduce risk for a loan. Another "2-2-2" idea suggests refinancing if the rate drop is 2%, you'll stay >2 years, and closing costs <$2,000, while the "2% rule" for investors means rental income is 2% of the property's cost.
When you make an extra payment or a payment that's larger than the required payment, you can designate that the extra funds be applied to principal. Because interest is calculated against the principal balance, paying down the principal in less time on your mortgage reduces the interest you'll pay.
Suze Orman strongly advocates paying off your mortgage by retirement for financial freedom and peace of mind, but her advice on how varies by situation, often prioritizing a solid emergency fund and retirement savings first, especially if interest rates are low. While she pushes for paying down debt aggressively (even reducing retirement savings beyond the 401(k) match), she cautions against draining savings for low-interest mortgages if it leaves you vulnerable to job loss or emergencies, suggesting you should have a strong safety net before using savings to pay it off.
The house you can afford on a $70,000 income will probably be between $290,000 and $360,000. However, your home-buying budget depends on several financial factors, not just your salary.
To afford a $400k mortgage, you generally need an annual income between $90,000 and $135,000, but this varies significantly; with a larger down payment and less debt, you might qualify with around $100k, while higher interest rates or no down payment could push the need closer to $130k-$160k, with lenders focusing on keeping total monthly debts (housing + other loans) under 36-43% of your gross income.
The most you can borrow is usually capped at four-and-a-half times your annual income, but this isn't guaranteed. Use our Mortgage repayment calculator to get an idea of how much you could borrow based on your salary.
You generally need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a conventional mortgage, though every lender is different. FHA loans, which are backed by the federal government, may be an option for individuals with credit scores as low as 500.
For a $400,000 house, your down payment can range from $0 to $80,000, depending on the loan type and your financial situation, with 3.5% ($14,000) for FHA loans, 3% ($12,000) for conventional loans for some first-timers, or 20% ($80,000) to avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) on conventional loans, while VA and USDA loans can offer 0% down for eligible buyers.
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.