What is the 30 30 3 rule for home buying?

Asked by: Prof. Robert Steuber  |  Last update: May 6, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (60 votes)

Before buying a home, you should have at least 30% of the value of the home saved in cash. 20% is for the downpayment to avoid PMI insurance and get the lowest mortgage rate. The other 10% is for a healthy cash buffer just in case you run into financial trouble.

Can I afford a $300 k house on a $70 k salary?

If you're an aspiring homeowner, you may be asking yourself, “How much house can I afford a with $70K salary?” If you make $70K a year, you can likely afford a home between $290,000 and $360,000*. That's a monthly house payment between $2,000 and $2,500 a month, depending on your personal finances.

What income do you need for an $800000 mortgage?

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.

Can I afford a 250k house on a 40k salary?

To afford a $250,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $62,000 to $80,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions.

Can I afford a 300k house on a 60k salary?

60k could comfortably afford a 300k house with a 20% down-payment and sub 4% interest rate.

DO NOT Follow The "30/30/3" Rule For Home Buying (Financial Samurai Get's It Wrong)

16 related questions found

What credit score is needed to buy a $300k house?

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.

How much do you need to make a year to afford a $400,000 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 credit score do I need to buy a $250000 house?

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.

Can you buy a million dollar house with a 200k salary?

Income is one of the most critical factors considered by lenders. To purchase a $1 million home, typically, an annual income of at least $225,000 is required. However, this requirement can vary based on several other factors.

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.

How much would a $800000 house cost a month?

To start, here's what an $800,000 mortgage would cost at today's average rates, assuming the conventional 20% down payment ($160,000) for principal and interest only: 15-year mortgage at 5.78%: $5,324.91 per month. 30-year mortgage at 6.41%: $4,007.43 per month.

What is Jumbo debt?

A loan is considered jumbo if it exceeds the maximum loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conforming loans—currently $766,550 for single-family homes in most parts of the U.S. but up to $1,149,825 in certain more expensive areas.

How much house will $2000 a month buy?

With $2,000 per month to spend on your mortgage payment, you are likely to qualify for a home with a purchase price between $250,000 to $300,000, said Matt Ward, a real estate agent in Nashville. Ward also points out that other financial factors will impact your home purchase budget.

What is $70,000 a year hourly?

If you make $70,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $33.65.

What is a good monthly mortgage payment?

The 28% rule, 35/45 model and 25% rule are common ways of calculating how much a person can afford to pay toward their mortgage each month, according to Chase Bank. Under the first rule, a homeowner would aim to spend 28% or less of their monthly gross income on their mortgage payment.

Is 70K a year a good salary?

When it comes to defining a “good” salary, there's no one magic number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary in the U.S. is $65,470, as of May 2023. Based on this data point, $70K a year is a good salary for a single person — one that puts you above the national average.

What is the monthly income to afford a million dollar home?

However, this rule tells you what most people can comfortably afford. Here's the combined household income you need to afford a million-dollar home using the examples above and the 28/36 rule: For the low-end mortgage payment of $5,930, your gross monthly income would need to be at least $21,179.

Is 200k a year middle class?

The middle class is commonly defined as households earning between two-thirds and double the median income, which is $128,151 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California metro area, the Census Bureau reports. That means middle class households there earn between $85,434 and $256,302 a year.

Is a 900 credit score possible?

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.

Can I afford a 250k house on 50k salary?

A person who makes $50,000 a year might be able to afford a house worth anywhere from $180,000 to nearly $258,000. That's because your annual salary isn't the only variable that determines your home buying budget. You also have to consider your credit score, current debts, mortgage rates, and many other factors.

What credit score is needed to buy a house with no money down?

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.

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.

What is an FHA offer?

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.

What is the 20% down payment on a $400 000 house?

Putting down this amount generally means you won't have to worry about private mortgage insurance (PMI), which eliminates one cost of home ownership. 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.