To buy an $800,000 home, you generally need an annual household income between $180,000 and $260,000, a credit score of 740+ for best rates, and a down payment of at least 10–20% ($80,000–$160,000), plus 2–5% for closing costs. A debt-to-income (DTI) ratio below 43% is typically required.
Based on this calculation, to afford a $750,000 house with a 20% down payment and a 30-year mortgage at 7% interest, you would need to earn at least $172,800 per year. However, this is just a rough estimate, and your individual circumstances may vary.
Here's what you can expect to pay for both 15- and 30-year mortgage loan payments on a $750,000 loan using today's mortgage rates: 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.15%: $3,655.37 per month. 15-year fixed mortgage at 5.65%: $4,950.39 per month.
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.
This usually includes any recurring debts that may impact your ability to repay a home loan. Although the specific criteria may vary by lender or loan type, the following liabilities are typically reviewed by the mortgage officer: Credit card payments (including minimum required monthly payments) Auto loans and leases.
For example, if you make $3,000 a month ($36,000 a year), you can afford a mortgage with a monthly payment no higher than $1,080 ($3,000 x 0.36). Your total household expense should not exceed $1,290 a month ($3,000 x 0.43).
It's often recommended to make a 20 percent down payment, but for an $800,000 home, that translates to a substantial $160,000. You can keep your upfront costs down by making a lower down payment — many loans require only as little as 3 or 3.5 percent.
A strong credit score could help you secure a lower mortgage rate. 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.
Many applicants make the mistake of not checking their credit score early in the process. How to Avoid It: Check your credit score at least six months before you plan to apply for a mortgage. This gives you time to address any discrepancies or improve your score if needed.
Closing costs are fees required to fund your mortgage and to transfer legal ownership of the home from the seller to the buyer. Closing costs typically include origination fees, home inspection and appraisal fees, title search and insurance fees, and recording fees.
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 repayment, you chip away at your principal amount. Because the interest charged on your home loan is based on your outstanding loan amount, the more principal you pay, the less you'll be charged in interest.
Lenders consider monthly housing expenses as a percentage of income and total monthly debt as a percentage of income. Both ratios are important factors in determining whether the lender will make the loan.
For most people, increasing a credit score by 100 points in a month isn't going to happen. But if you pay your bills on time, eliminate your consumer debt, don't run large balances on your cards and maintain a mix of both consumer and secured borrowing, an increase in your credit could happen within months.
It's partly true: most negative items like late payments and collections are removed from your credit report after about seven years, but the underlying debt often still exists, and bankruptcies (Chapter 7) last 10 years, so your credit isn't entirely "clear" but mostly refreshed from old negatives. The 7-year clock starts from the date of the original delinquency, not when you paid it off or sent to collections, and the debt itself can still be pursued by collectors.