There's no true “minimum” income to buy a house. However, lenders want to know you can afford the mortgage. That means you need to prove you have enough income to cover your future monthly payments. One way lenders determine affordability is by looking at your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).
To calculate 'how much house can I afford,' a good rule of thumb is using the 28%/36% rule, which states that you shouldn't spend more than 28% of your gross monthly income on home-related costs and 36% on total debts, including your mortgage, credit cards and other loans like auto and student loans.
The 28% rule
To determine how much you can afford using this rule, multiply your monthly gross income by 28%. For example, if you make $10,000 every month, multiply $10,000 by 0.28 to get $2,800. Using these figures, your monthly mortgage payment should be no more than $2,800.
What income is required for a 200k mortgage? To be approved for a $200,000 mortgage with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, you will need an approximate income of $62,000 annually. (This is an estimated example.)
Qualifying for a mortgage when you make $20,000 a year or $30,000 a year is absolutely possible. While your income plays a role in a mortgage lender's final decision, it isn't the only financial factor a lender looks at.
Buying a rental property with only a $20,000 down payment may sound impossible, but it can be very doable. On Roofstock there are single-family and small multifamily investment properties available that require an initial investment (i.e., down payment + closing costs + immediate repair costs) of $20,000 or less.
While it's hugely situational, it is definitely possible to purchase a home if you're making $30,000 a year. As long as you have enough savings to make a down payment, have a good credit score, and have a decent debt-to-income ratio, you should be good to go!
1. Multiply Your Annual Income by 2.5 or 3. This was the basic rule of thumb for many years. Simply take your gross income and multiply it by 2.5 or 3 to get the maximum value of the home you can afford.
It's definitely possible to buy a house on a $50K salary. For many borrowers, low-down-payment loans and down payment assistance programs are putting homeownership within reach. But everyone's budget is different. Even people who make the same annual salary can have different price ranges when they shop for a new home.
How much do I need to make for a $900,000 house? A $900,000 home, with a 5% interest rate for 30 years and $45,000 (5%) down requires an annual income of $218,403.
As a rule of thumb, you can borrow up to 4 and a half times your income – so combined earnings of around £55,500 should in theory enable you to get a £250,000 mortgage.
You need to make $55,505 a year to afford a 150k mortgage. We base the income you need on a 150k mortgage on a payment that is 24% of your monthly income. In your case, your monthly income should be about $4,625. The monthly payment on a 150k mortgage is $1,110.
How much you can borrow for a mortgage in the UK is generally between 3 and 4.5 times your income. Or 4 times your joint income, if you're applying for a mortgage with someone else (although some lenders may let you borrow more).
You need to make $92,508 a year to afford a 250k mortgage. We base the income you need on a 250k mortgage on a payment that is 24% of your monthly income. In your case, your monthly income should be about $7,709. The monthly payment on a 250k mortgage is $1,850.
You'll typically need at least 3 percent of the purchase price of the home as a down payment. Keep in mind that you'll need to put at least 20 percent down to avoid having to pay for mortgage insurance, however. Don't let the mortgage insurance cost scare you, though.
A Critical Number For Homebuyers
One way to decide how much of your income should go toward your mortgage is to use the 28/36 rule. According to this rule, your mortgage payment shouldn't be more than 28% of your monthly pre-tax income and 36% of your total debt. This is also known as the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.
An average person works about 40 hours per week, which means if they make $45,000 a year, they earn $21.63 per hour.
If you make $36,000 per year, you'll likely be able to afford a home that costs between $144,000 and $195,000. The exact amount you'll be able to afford will depend on your debts, credit score, location, down payment, and other variables.
Lenders want to use permanent, stable income to determine the mortgage you qualify for which makes relying on someone else's income is not feasible. You may have access to that income today but circumstances may change and you may not have access to those funds in the future.
Based on a standard work week of 40 hours, a full-time employee works 2,080 hours per year (40 hours a week x 52 weeks a year). So if an employee earns $40,000 annually working 40 hours a week, they make about $19.23 an hour (40,000 divided by 2,080).
If you're single and make $35,000 a year, then you can probably afford only about a $105,000 home.
So, if you're buying a home for $300,000 you'll need at least $60,000 to cover a 20% deposit.
One of the most common questions we get asked is if you can buy a house with less than a 20% deposit The answer is yes you can but you will have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance and may need to meet some further credit requirements such as genuine savings.
Putting 20 percent or more down on your home helps lenders see you as a less risky borrower, which could help you get a better interest rate. A bigger down payment can help lower your monthly mortgage payments. With 20 percent down, you likely won't have to pay PMI, or private mortgage insurance.