Conventional loans typically require 3-20% down for a $400,000 house.
Putting down 20% of the home's purchase price is a traditional and ideal 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.
Monthly payments for a $400,000 mortgage
On a $400,000 mortgage with an interest rate of 6%, your monthly payment would be $2,398 for a 30-year loan and $3,375 for a 15-year one.
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.
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.
You'll usually need a credit score of at least 640 for the zero-down USDA loan program. VA loans with no money down usually require a minimum credit score of 580 to 620. Low-down-payment mortgages, including conforming loans and FHA loans, also require FICO scores of 580 to 620.
What income is required for a 400k mortgage? To afford a $400,000 house, borrowers need $55,600 in cash to put 10 percent down. With a 30-year mortgage, your monthly income should be at least $8200 and your monthly payments on existing debt should not exceed $981.
For example, using nesto's current 5-year fixed rate of 5.39%, your monthly payment on a $400K mortgage with a 25-year amortization would total around $2,416, while a 30-year amortization would be approximately $2,229.
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 a $400,000 home, a 20% down payment comes to $80,000. That means your loan is for $320,000. You can start shopping for a mortgage right away.
Reduce your loan term
Making the equivalent of two extra mortgage payments per year, for example, will knock off 9 years and 4 months from the total term of your loan. A shorter mortgage term also means that you'll own your house outright sooner.
Even though interest rates are still high, it's a great time to buy a house. The higher interest rates have priced some buyers out of the market, which means you could face less competition when you make offers. Plus, if interest rates do eventually go down significantly, you can always refinance to get the lower rate.
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.
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.
Sticking with the example in the section above, a 30-year $400K mortgage at a 7% interest rate would have a monthly payment of $2,661. Meanwhile, the same 30-year $400K mortgage at a 7.5% interest rate would have a monthly payment of $2,797, taxes and insurance not included.
The primary factor is your income — a $400,000 purchase typically requires a salary of at least $106,000. Other important considerations include your credit score, the size of your down payment and the details of your mortgage loan, including the interest rate.
An FHA loan is a type of mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While the government insures these loans, they're underwritten and funded by FHA mortgage lenders. Many big banks and other types of lenders offer them.
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.
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.
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.
A conventional loan down payment could be as little as 3 percent. FHA loans require as little as 3.5 percent, and VA loans and USDA loans have no down payment requirement at all. Most homeowners don't put 20 percent down.