Key takeaways. The traditional rule of thumb is that no more than 28 percent of your monthly gross income or 25 percent of your net income should go to your mortgage payment.
"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.
Quick Answer. 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.
Lenders call this the “front-end” ratio. In other words, if your monthly gross income is $10,000 or $120,000 annually, your mortgage payment should be $2,800 or less. Lenders usually require housing expenses plus long-term debt to less than or equal to 33% or 36% of monthly gross income.
The 28/36 rule
It suggests limiting your mortgage costs to 28% of your gross monthly income and keeping your total debt payments, including your mortgage, car loans, student loans, credit card debt and any other debts, below 36%.
The Bottom Line. On a $70,000 salary using a 50% DTI, you could potentially afford a house worth between $200,000 to $250,000, depending on your specific financial situation.
With a $120,000 annual salary, you could potentially afford a house priced between $450,000 and $500,000, depending on your financial situation, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this is a broad range; your specific circumstances will determine where you fall.
Monthly payments on a $1,000,000 mortgage by interest rate
At a 7.00% fixed interest rate, your monthly mortgage payment on a 30-year mortgage might total $6,653 a month, while a 15-year might cost $8,988 a month.
The amount of a mortgage you can afford based on your salary often comes down to a rule of thumb. For example, some experts say you should spend no more than 2x to 2.5x your gross annual income on a mortgage (so if you earn $60,000 per year, the mortgage size should be at most $150,000).
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.
Monthly housing payment (PITI)
This includes your principal, interest, real estate taxes, hazard insurance, association dues or fees and principal mortgage insurance (PMI). Maximum monthly payment (PITI) is calculated by taking the lower of these two calculations: Monthly Income X 28% = monthly PITI.
Making an extra payment to your mortgage each year will reduce the length of your repayment by several years — generally between four and six years. It will also lower the amount you pay in interest over time and help you build home equity more quickly.
High-cost mortgages include closed- and open-end consumer credit transactions secured by the consumer's principal dwelling with an annual percentage rate that exceeds the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction as of the date the interest rate is set by the specified amount.
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. in order to comfortably afford this 400,000 dollar home.
On a $300,000 mortgage with a 6% annual percentage rate (APR), you'd pay $2,531.57 per month on a 15-year loan and $1,798.65 on a 30-year loan, not including escrow. Escrow costs vary depending on your home's location, insurer, and other details.
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.
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.
Generally speaking, yes. An annual salary of $50,000 is considered a middle-class income, and can be a comfortable wage for a recent graduate or a person starting a new career. A single person may not be able to live large in some areas of the country, but that doesn't mean they can't live comfortably elsewhere.
You can buy a $300,000 house with only $9,000 down when using a conventional mortgage, which is the lowest down payment permitted, unless you qualify for a zero-down-payment VA or USDA loan. Different lenders have different rules, but typically they require a 620 credit score for conventional loan approval.
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.
Nationally, $70,000 is above the average salary, but personal financial goals and living costs are key to determining its sufficiency. For single individuals in regions with a lower cost of living, $70,000 can offer a comfortable lifestyle and savings potential.
If you make $70,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $33.65.