How much of your monthly net income should go to mortgage?
The 25% post-tax rule
The 25% rule allows borrowers to use their net income in calculations, which may be easier for borrowers who are unsure about their gross monthly income. This rule states that no more than 25% of your post-tax income should go toward housing costs. To follow this model, multiply your monthly income after taxes by 0.25.
Key takeaways. The traditional rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your monthly gross income or 25% of your net income should go to your mortgage payment.
Since lenders look at a variety of factors, the 28/36 rule isn't necessarily a hard-and-fast mandate. When you consider how much property values have increased in recent years, even wages have stagnated, the rule may feel unrealistic.
To calculate how much house you can afford based on your salary, use the 25% rule—never spend more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay (after tax) on monthly mortgage payments. That includes your mortgage principal, interest, property taxes, home insurance, PMI and HOA fees.
One rule of thumb is that the cost of your home should not exceed three times your income. On a salary of $70k, that would be $210,000. This is only one way to estimate your budget, however, and it assumes that you don't have a lot of other debts.
Most financial advisors agree that people should spend no more than 28 percent of their gross monthly income on housing expenses, and no more than 36 percent on total debt. The 28/36 percent rule is a tried-and-true home affordability rule of thumb that establishes a baseline for what you can afford to pay every month.
It's generally advisable to keep your housing costs to 30% of your income or less. Spending 50% of your income on housing could cause you to fall behind on mortgage payments or other bills. If your non-housing expenses are notably low, then it may be OK to spend half of your pay on housing.
While the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reports that banks will qualify mortgage amounts that are up to 43% of a borrower's monthly income, you might not want to take on that much debt. “You want to make sure that your monthly mortgage is no more than 28% of your gross monthly income,” says Reyes.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.
What is the golden rule of mortgage?
The 28/36 rule is a calculation that helps you know how large a mortgage you can afford. Lenders want your housing costs to be 28% or less of your income, and for all your expenses to be under 36% of your pay.
A $100K salary allows for a $350K to $500K house, following the 28% rule. Monthly home expenses would be around $2,300 with a down payment of 5% to 20%. The affordability of the house will vary based on financial factors and credit scores.
If you really want to keep your personal finances easy to manage don't buy a house for more than three times(3X) your income. If your household income is $120,000 then you shouldn't be buying a house for more than a $360,000 list price.
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.
If you bring the national average down payment of 6% to closing and have a 7.69% rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage, that's just shy of $1,700 a month in principal and interest. What does $1,500 buy with those same terms? About $225,000 worth of house, give or take.
| Monthly Pre-Tax Income | Remaining Income After Average Monthly Debt Payment | Estimated Home Value |
|---|---|---|
| $4,000 | $3,400 | $138,000 |
| $5,000 | $4,400 | $197,000 |
| $6,000 | $5,400 | $256,000 |
| $7,000 | $6,400 | $313,000 |
Your income plays a significant role in determining how much mortgage you can afford, but it's not the only factor. Lenders like your housing costs to be about 28-36% of your income, including mortgage, taxes, and insurance. A higher income can qualify you for a larger loan amount.
So, to estimate the salary you'll need to comfortably afford a $300,000 home purchase, multiply the annual total of $24,000 by three. That leaves us with a recommended income of $72,000. (Keep in mind that this does not include a down payment or closing costs.)
An individual earning $60,000 a year may buy a home worth ranging from $180,000 to over $300,000. That's because your wage isn't the only factor that affects your house purchase budget. Your credit score, existing debts, mortgage rates, and a variety of other considerations must all be taken into account.
The 30% rule for home buyers
If your annual salary is $100,000, the 30% rule means you should spend around $2,500 per month on your house payment. With a 10% down payment and a 6% fixed interest rate, you could likely afford a home worth around $350,000 to $400,000 (depending on the cost of taxes and home insurance).
How much can I borrow for a mortgage based on my income?
Using a percentage of your income can help determine how much house you can afford. For example, the 28/36 rule may help you decide how much to spend on a home. The rule states that your mortgage should be no more than 28 percent of your total monthly gross income and no more than 36 percent of your total debt.
Some of the asset allocation strategies and risk management techniques that you can use for your real estate allocation are: The rule of thumb: A common rule of thumb for real estate allocation is to invest no more than 25% to 40% of your net worth in real estate, including your home.
A house poor person is anyone whose housing expenses account for an exorbitant percentage of their monthly budget. Individuals in this situation are short of cash for discretionary items and tend to have trouble meeting other financial obligations, such as vehicle payments.
Is it bad to be house poor? Being house poor is a precarious situation that's certainly less than ideal. Paying too much for housing impacts your ability to save for retirement, pay down debt, cover the cost of emergencies or even simply pay your daily expenses.
If you can demonstrate an ability to repay the loan before you're 75 years old, they will consider your application no matter your age! For example, if you needed to borrow $300,000 and were 50 years old, the standard 30-year mortgage term could be reduced to 25 years and your loan would be approved.
