If I Make $65,000 A Year What Mortgage Can I Afford? - This Is Mortgage (2024)

If I Make $65,000 A Year What Mortgage Can I Afford?

You can afford a home up to $265,000 with a mortgage of $260,200.

This assumes a 3.5% down FHA loan at 7%, a base loan amount of $255,725 plus the FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium of 1.75%, low debts, good credit, and a total debt-to-income ratio of 50%.

Keep in mind that there are many factors that affect this number including property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, HOA dues, and more. Apply with a lender to find your personalized maximum home price.

Speak to our lending team to see what you can afford with a $65k salary.

Table Of Contents

  1. $65k income mortgage payment breakdown
  2. Home affordability by monthly debt payments
  3. Maximum home price by down payment
  4. Maximum home price by interest rate
  5. Maximum home price by desired debt-to-income level
  6. Ways to increase your buying power
  7. FAQ
  8. $65,000 income isn’t too low to buy a house.

$65k income mortgage payment breakdown

There’s more to your housing payment than just principal and interest. Lenders consider property taxes, homeowners insurance, and HOA dues as part of your payment when qualifying you.

Part of paymentAmount
Principal & interest$1,731
Monthly mortgage insurance$119
Taxes$250
Homeowner’s insurance$75
HOA dues$0
Total payment based on these assumptions (40% DTI)$2,175

See assumptions for all calculations at the bottom of this article.

Home affordability by monthly debt payments

Your debt level affects your buying power perhaps more than anything else.

For instance, say you have $500 in monthly debt such as student loans and credit card payments. This amount of debt isn’t hurting you much at a salary of $65,000 per year. But adding an additional $500-per-month auto payment would reduce your maximum home price to just $200,000 instead of $265,000.

Lenders can approve you to use up to about half your gross monthly income toward debt payments. That’s $2,708 for an annual salary of $65,000. About 40% of your gross income ($2,167) can be used for the house payment leaving about 10% for other debts.

Yearly income$65,000
Monthly income$5,417
Max house payment (40%)$2,167
Max total debt payments (50%)$2,708

In mortgage-speak, that’s a 40% front-end debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and a 50% back-end DTI. Borrowers with good credit can be approved with higher ratios, but to be safe we are using these numbers.

Following is what you might qualify for depending on your current debt load.

Annual IncomeMonthly DebtMax House PaymentMax Home Price
$65,000$0-$540$2,167$265,000
$65,000$750$1,950$240,000
$65,000$1,000$1,700$200,000
$65,000$1,250$1,450$165,000
$65,000$1,500$1,200$125,000

Related: Buying a Home With Zero Down Payment

Connect with a lender to see what you can afford.

Maximum home price by down payment

Your down payment dramatically affects affordability.

For one, your loan balance drops with a higher down payment, resulting in a lower payment. Additionally, you pay less mortgage insurance when you put more down.

Annual IncomeDown PaymentMonthly PaymentHome Price
$65,0003.5%$2,167$265,000
$65,0005%$2,167$270,000
$65,00010%$2,167$290,000
$65,00020%$2,167$340,000

No down payment? Speak to a lender now about down payment assistance programs.

Maximum home price by interest rate

Interest rate is another significant determiner of your maximum home price. If rates drop, it’s a great time to enter your home search.

Annual IncomeInterest RateMonthly PaymentHome Price
$65,0008%$2,167$245,000
$65,0007%$2,167$265,000
$65,0006%$2,167$295,000
$65,0005%$2,167$325,000

Maximum home price by desired debt-to-income level

While many financial gurus suggest you have a debt-to-income of 25% or less, it’s unrealistic in most markets. Pushing your front-end (housing) DTI from 25% to 40% increases your buying power by over $100,000 at an income of $65,000.

Annual IncomeDTIMax PaymentHome Price
$65,00025%$1,250$150,000
$65,00040%$2,167$265,000

Ways to increase your buying power

If you’re struggling to find a home that you can qualify for, there are ways to increase yourmaximum loan amount and purchase price.

Consider an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM): As seen above, reducing your rate from 7% to 6% can increase your buying power by $30,000 at your income level. An ARM rate eventually adjusts but starts off fixed for at least 3-5 years. That’s a lot of time to refinance or increase your income to afford a potentially higher payment later.

Avoid HOAs. Homeowner association dues can be hundreds of dollars per month. Dues add to your DTI which limits your buying power.

Make a bigger down payment or get gift funds. The lower your mortgage balance, the lower your payment will be. Try to find a down payment assistance program or get a gift from family to reduce your loan amount.

Use an FHA loan. These tend to be most lenient on debt-to-income ratios. Conventional loans limit you to about 45% DTI including all debts and housing payment (50% in select cases). FHA’s max is 46.9% front-end DTI and 56.9% back-end for well-qualified buyers.

Pay off debt: Paying off a $500 car payment can increase your buying power by $75,000.

Request a call from a lender to see what you can afford with a $65k salary.

FAQ

If I make $65,000 per year what mortgage can I afford?

You may be able to afford a $265,000 home with an FHA loan of $260,200. Your exact amount depends on your debts, interest rate, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, HOA dues, loan program, and payment comfort level.

Should I pay off debt before I buy a home?

Reducing your debt payments by $500 per month can increase your maximum home price by about $70,000 if you make $65,000 per year. Paying off debt will help you qualify for a better home that will suit your needs longer.

Do you need good credit to buy a home at $65k salary?

You don’t need a high credit score. An FHA loan requires just a 580 score and allows for high debt-to-income ratios. However, a higher credit score will help you qualify for a larger loan.

$65,000 income isn’t too low to buy a house.

You may have been told that you can’t afford a home on $65,000 per year. But if you’re creative and committed to becoming a homeowner, you can very likely make it happen.

Speak to a lending professional to see if you are eligible to buy a home.

All calculations assume a 3.5% down FHA loan at 7%, $250/mo property taxes and $75/mo insurance, FHA mortgage insurance, conventional mortgage insurance for 5% & 10% down scenarios, 740 credit score, no HOA, $500 or less in monthly debt payments. Your rate and costs will vary.

  • If I Make $65,000 A Year What Mortgage Can I Afford? - This Is Mortgage (1)

    Tim Lucas

    Tim Lucas (NMLS 118763) has 20 years of hands-on mortgage industry experience helping everyone from first-time buyers to experienced investors. He purchased his first home at 26 with just $1,100 out-of-pocket and now owns real estate worth $2.4 million. Tim was the managing editor at national websites TheMortgageReports.com and MyMortgageInsider.com and has been featured in publications such as Time, U.S. News, MSN, and more. He is a licensed loan originator (NMLS 118763). Connect with Tim on LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok.

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If I Make $65,000 A Year What Mortgage Can I Afford? - This Is Mortgage (2024)

FAQs

If I Make $65,000 A Year What Mortgage Can I Afford? - This Is Mortgage? ›

On a salary of $65,000 per year, as long as you have very little debt, you can afford a house priced at around $175,000 with a monthly payment of $1,517 with no down payment. This number assumes a 6% interest rate and a standard debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 36%.

How much mortgage can I get with a 65k salary? ›

First, let's calculate the maximum mortgage payment that you can afford using the 28% DTI rule. If you make $65,000, then your gross monthly income is roughly $5,417. Based on the 28% rule, the maximum mortgage payment you can afford is $1,517.

How much house can I afford with a 64k salary? ›

With a 6% interest rate, the biggest loan you could get based on the 28% rule is $249,075, and the most house you could afford is $311,344. To buy this house with a 20% down payment, you would need a down payment of $62,269.

How much mortgage can I afford with $60,000 salary? ›

If you earn $60K a year, that means you can afford to spend around $180,000 on a house, maybe a bit more if you have little or no other debts. However, depending on where you want to live, interest rates, and how much debt you're carrying, that figure could change significantly.

What mortgage can I afford if I make $70,000 a year? ›

Breaking down the math to apply the 28 percent rule, here's how much you can afford in housing payments on your salary: $70,000 per year is about $5,833 per month. 28 percent of $5,833 equals $1,633, so that's the upper limit on how much you should spend on monthly housing costs.

Can I buy a home making 65k a year? ›

On a salary of $65,000 per year, as long as you have very little debt, you can afford a house priced at around $175,000 with a monthly payment of $1,517 with no down payment. This number assumes a 6% interest rate and a standard debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 36%.

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

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.

How much house can I afford if I make $36,000 a year? ›

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.

Can I afford a 400k house making 70k a year? ›

How much income you need to buy a house in a specific price range largely depends on the type of loan you're applying for, where you live and other factors. For example, at current mortgage rates, borrowers with an FHA loan and a 10% down payment would need to earn about $70,000 a year to afford a $400,000 house.

How much house can $3,500 a month buy? ›

A $3,500 per month mortgage in the United States, based on our calculations, will put you in an above-average price range in many cities, or let you at least get a foot in the door in high cost of living areas. That price point is $550,000.

Can I afford a 300k house on a 50k salary? ›

A person who makes $50,000 a year might be able to afford a house worth anywhere from $180,000 to nearly $300,000. 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.

Is $60,000 a good salary for a single person? ›

The data used in the study analyzed the cost of living in each city as of 2022. For California cities like Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Diego, a single person must make more than $76,000 to “live comfortably,” the data shows.

Can I afford a house on 50k a year? ›

The rule of 2.5 times your income stipulates that you shouldn't purchase a house that costs more than two and a half times your annual income. So, if you have a $50,000 annual salary, you should be able to afford a $125,000 home.

Can I afford a 300K house on a 70K salary? ›

If you make $70K a year, you can likely afford a new home between $290,000 and $310,000*. That translates to a monthly house payment between $2,000 and $2,500, which includes your monthly mortgage payment, taxes, and home insurance.

Can I buy a house making $70000 a year? ›

Your DTI, interest rate, down payment, and other factors all play a role as well. The good news is that at $70,000, your income is slightly higher than the median annual household income of $67,521. Depending on the rest of your financial situation, you may already be well on your way to affording your dream home.

Is 70K a good salary for a single person? ›

If you are a single person in Los Angeles making around $70,000 a year, you are still considered low-income, according to a new statewide study. The California Department of Housing and Community Development released the report in June and found that income limits have increased in most counties across California.

Can I afford a 300k house on a 70K salary? ›

If you make $70K a year, you can likely afford a new home between $290,000 and $310,000*. That translates to a monthly house payment between $2,000 and $2,500, which includes your monthly mortgage payment, taxes, and home insurance.

What income do you need for a 400k mortgage? ›

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. in order to comfortably afford this 400,000 dollar home.

What income do you need 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.)

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