How much house can I afford if I make $100,000 a year?

If you’re earning $100,000 per year, congratulations on entering six-figure salary territory. However, if you’re an aspiring homeowner, even this princely sum may not seem like enough.

A recent PYMNTS/LendingClub survey found that 49 percent of people who make $100,000 or more are still living paycheck-to-paycheck. That’s despite the fact that $100,000 is a good salary, significantly higher than the national median household income of $70,784, according to the most recent Census data.

Between recent high inflation and skyrocketing mortgage rates, buying a house can feel like a tough goal to reach, even on a $100,000 income. But it’s not impossible. Here are some considerations to help you determine how much house you can afford.

Start with the 28/36 rule

As a baseline for your budget, aim to follow the 28/36 rule. This commonly used guideline states that you should spend no more than 28 percent of your income on your housing expenses, and no more than 36 percent on your total debt payments.

If you’re earning $100,000 per year, your average monthly (gross) income is $8,333. So, your mortgage payment should be $2,333 or less. Then, the rest of your debts — car payment, student loans, credit cards and any other balances you’re working to pay off — shouldn’t be more than another $667 per month. So, the 36 percent in the equation should be no more than $3,000.

However, you’ll also need to consider a wide range of other variables, including how much money is in your savings account and how much you’ll pay for homeowners insurance and property taxes.

Can I afford a $400,000 or $500,000 house?

Let’s assume you make a 20 percent down payment on a $400,000 house and take out a 30-year fixed mortgage at an interest rate of 6.5 percent. According to Bankrate’s mortgage calculator, that would make your monthly principal and interest payments $2,022. That gives you a little bit of wiggle room to account for property taxes, insurance premiums and other monthly fees to stay under the 28 percent goal of $2,333. So yes, hypothetically you should be able to afford a $400,000 home. However, $500,000 would be pushing it — the same loan on a house of that price would equate to $2,528 in monthly principal and interest payments, which exceeds your limit of $2,333.

How to determine how much home you can afford

Your paycheck isn’t the only thing that decides your buying power. Make sure you think about these other major factors to get a sense of how much you’ll be able to borrow to buy a house.

Your credit situation and debt-to-income ratio

Your credit score is a crucial part of your mortgage application. Low credit scores translate to higher interest rates — which will eat into your buying power. Bankrate’s mortgage calculator shows that the monthly payment on a $320,000 loan at a 7 percent interest rate is more than $200 higher than the same loan at 6 percent. So, a higher credit score will equate to a more competitive interest rate on your loan, and thus a lower monthly mortgage bill.

“Before banks or other mortgage lenders extend a loan to you, they’ll look at that overall picture of your financial life,” says Wil Hendrix-Griffin, a Chicago-based senior vice president at PNC Bank. “Lenders want to see how well you manage your current debt. Are you paying your bills on time? Are you overspending on your credit card? It’s important for lenders to see that you’re not financially overextending yourself by adding a mortgage payment to your personal finances.”

Lenders will also evaluate your overall debt-to-income ratio — the 36 in the 28/36 rule. Some lenders will allow up to a 50 percent DTI, but they will look at higher levels of outstanding debt — especially high-interest credit cards — as a signal of a higher-risk borrower.

“In addition to a credit score and income, lenders will research your employment history,” Hendrix-Griffin adds. “It’s equally important to show that you have a steady, reliable, long-term employment history. This shows the lender that there’s a high likelihood that you’ll be employed well into the future.”

Your savings

How much of that $100,000 salary have you been able to squirrel away in savings? Shifting your money into a high-yield savings account can help accelerate your savings efforts.

Savings are highly important, because the more money you can put down upfront, the less money you’ll have to borrow. If you can afford to make a sizable down payment, that lowers your loan-to-value ratio, which is the size of your borrowed sum divided by the worth of property you want to buy. Lenders prefer to see an 80/20 LTV, which requires a 20 percent down payment. So, on a $400,000 home, you would need to put down $80,000 upfront, and still have enough left over to cover your closing costs.

If you can’t make a 20 percent down payment, it’s OK. Many types of loans can be had for much less. However, this will likely mean paying for private mortgage insurance, which will add to your monthly payments.

Your location and must-haves

Do you absolutely have to live in the big city, where the cost of living is high? Your dollars will go a lot further in less expensive markets than they will in, say, New York or San Francisco.

Additionally, remember that this home purchase doesn’t have to be your forever home. If you’re simply aiming to stop renting, think about a starter home that can serve you for at least the next five years. It may not be the exact property you eventually want, but you can start building equity right away.

Know your financing options

There are loads of different financing options for buying a home, including conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans. To get a sense of what kind of loan you can qualify for and how much you’ll be able to borrow, get preapproved for a mortgage. It’s a simple step that involves sharing your pay stubs, tax returns and other financial information with a lender. That will give you a solid idea of how much a lender is willing to loan you, which will help you set a realistic budget.

The lender that issues your preapproval doesn’t have to be the lender that actually loans you the money to buy the home. Be sure to compare multiple lenders to get a sense of where you’ll find a combination of the lowest fees and the best interest rates.

And if you’re buying your first home, there are many first-time homebuyer loans and programs that can help cover your down payment or closing costs, too. Your relatively high salary may make you ineligible for some of them, but it’s worth looking into, as several states have upped their income limits above the $100,000 mark.

Stay the course

If you crunch all the numbers and you’re still wondering whether you should buy a house now or wait, patience might prove to be a good route. Set yourself up for success by taking some time to boost your savings and improve your credit score before you dive into the market. Don’t do anything that might negatively alter your score, like open up new credit accounts or buy a new car, while you’re actively trying to raise it. And when you’re ready, make sure you have an experienced local real estate agent by your side. An agent who knows your market can help you find the right home at the right price for you.

FAQs

• How much income do you need to afford a $500K house?

  Assuming a 20 percent down payment, a 30-year mortgage and a 6.5 percent interest rate, Bankrate’s mortgage calculator shows that the monthly principal and interest payment would be $2,528. Let’s round that up to an even $3,000 to account for property taxes, insurance premiums and other fees. That monthly payment comes to $36,000 annually. Applying the 28/36 rule, which states that you shouldn’t spend more than around a third of your income on housing, multiply $36,000 by three and you get $108,000. So to afford a $500K house you’d have to make at least $108,000 per year.
  

• What other factors impact how much home I can afford?

  Beyond your salary, some of the other factors that impact your homebuying power include your credit score, your debt-to-income ratio, your employment history and your savings. The location where you’re shopping can also play a role in how much home you can afford, especially in a high-priced market.
  

• How can I afford a more expensive house?

  There are many ways to increase your buying power, the most obvious being to increase your income. But improving your credit score can also help you afford more house, in that it will help you qualify for a more competitive interest rate. And working to reduce your debt can improve your debt-to-income ratio, which lenders also look favorably on.