How much house can I afford on a $50,000 salary? (2024)

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MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money

How much house can I afford on a $50,000 salary? (2)

If you're in the market for a new home, the price of the home is an important consideration. After all, you don't want to enter into a mortgage only to find out that you can't comfortably afford your payments. So, how much house can you afford?

It's common to use your salary to get a rough determination of how much house you can afford. So, what if you earn $50,000 per year? What's a reasonable price to look for as you shop for your new home? Well, that answer depends on a few factors.

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How much house can I afford on a $50,000 salary?

There are two general rules of thumb to help you determine how much house you can afford based on your salary. Those rules include:

The 2.5 times your income rule

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.

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The 28% of your income rule

The 28% of your income rule suggests that you shouldn't spend any more than 28% of your income on mortgage payments. If you earn $50,000 per year, you earn about $4,166.67 per month. At 28% of your income, your mortgage payment should be no more than $1,166.67 per month.

Considering a 20% down payment, a 6.89% mortgage rate and a 30-year term, that's about what you can expect to pay on a $185,900 home. If you only put 5% down and had a 6.89% mortgage rate and a 30-year term, you could likely afford a $159,300 home.

(TheBankratecalculator used to determine the monthly payments above accounts for private mortgage insurance (PMI), property taxes and basic homeowners insurance, which can vary based on numerous factors. Payments were based on values for the 32446 ZIP code.)

Other costs to consider when you purchase a home

There are other potential costs to consider when you purchase a home as well, including:

  • Homeowners association (HOA) fees: If you purchase a home in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, you can expect to pay HOA fees. These fees can easily cost hundreds of dollars per month.
  • Private mortgage insurance (PMI): If you purchase a home with less than 20% down, you may have to pay for PMI. If so, the cost could be hundreds of dollars per month.

How much home you can afford is unique to you

Both rules can help you get a general idea of how much home you can afford. However, rules of thumb are too general to be applied to every financial situation. After all, your budget is just as unique as the home you can comfortably afford to buy with it.

For example, say you earn $50,000 per year but you have significant credit card debtand other debt. In that case, you may not be able to comfortably afford a mortgage payment that's over $1,000 per month. On the other hand, if you earn $50,000 per year, your car is paid off and you don't have any other debts, you may be able to comfortably afford a more expensive home.

The mortgage provider also plays a role

You may be able to comfortably afford a $185,000 home, but if the mortgage company isn't willing to extend the loan amount necessary to purchase that home, you won't be able to buy it. Ultimately, the mortgage lender you use to buy the house will determine the maximum they're willing to allow you to borrow. Some factors that play a role in this decision include:

  • Your credit score: Lenders are typically more willing to lend large sums of money to those with competitive credit scores.
  • Your debt-to-income ratio: If you have a high debt-to-income ratio, you may not be approved for the mortgage amount you think you can afford to pay back.
  • Your assets: The more assets you have, the less risk you pose to mortgage companies. So, borrowers with more assets may be able to access higher loan amounts.
  • Type of loan: The loan type also plays a role. For example, conventional mortgages have higher borrowing limits thanFHA loans, which allows borrowers to access more money with a conventional loan.

The bottom line

The amount of home you can afford on a $50,000 salary, or any other salary for that matter, is unique to you. It depends on several factors, like your down payment, your credit score and your debt-to-income ratio, as well as other factors that might influence the loan values and rates available to you. Learn more about your mortgage loan options now.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he's not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids and two dogs.

How much house can I afford on a $50,000 salary? (2024)

FAQs

How much house can I afford on a $50,000 salary? ›

A simple way to estimate affordability is to multiply your annual income by 2.5. With a $50,000 salary, this rule suggests that you can afford a home worth up to $125,000. This is a general guideline that doesn't account for your specific financial situation or location.

How expensive of a house can I afford if I make 50k? ›

If you earn $50,000 per year, you earn about $4,166.67 per month. At 28% of your income, your mortgage payment should be no more than $1,166.67 per month. Considering a 20% down payment, a 6.89% mortgage rate and a 30-year term, that's about what you can expect to pay on a $185,900 home.

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.

What car can I afford with a 50k salary? ›

If you make a $50,000 gross salary, after taxes (depending on where you live) your monthly take-home pay is roughly $3,230. Based on the 10% rule, you could afford, at most, a $323 monthly car payment. If you take out a 60 month (5 year) auto loan at 8% interest, you can afford a $17,000 car.

How much house can I afford if I make $45000 a year? ›

On a salary of $45,000 per year, you can afford a house priced at around $120,000 with a monthly payment of $1,050 for a conventional home loan — that is, if you have no debt and can make a down payment. This number assumes a 6% interest rate.

Can I afford a 300K house on a 55k salary? ›

To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific annual salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.

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.

How much mortgage can I qualify for if I make $60,000 a year? ›

The 28/36 rule holds that if you earn $60k and don't pay too much to cover your debt each month, you can afford housing expenses of $1,400 a month. Another rule of thumb suggests you could afford a home worth $180,000, or three times your salary.

Can I buy a house making 40K a year? ›

Using the 28/36 rule to calculate your home purchase budget

A mortgage might be good debt, but it's still debt and must be treated as such for budgeting purposes. If we're following the 28/36 rule, your mortgage payment with a 40K salary tops out at $933 each month, and your other debts are capped at $267.

What credit score is needed to buy a house? ›

For a conventional mortgage in California, you typically need a minimum score of at least 600. If you qualify for certain government-backed loans, however, you may be able to buy a home with a score as low as 500.

What is the 20 4 10 rule? ›

To apply this rule of thumb, budget for the following: 20% down payment: Aim to make a 20% down payment on your new car. 4-year repayment term: Choose a repayment term of four years or less on your auto loan. 10% transportation costs: Spend less than 10% of your total monthly income on transportation costs.

What car can I afford with a 52k salary? ›

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is one of the midsize cars you can afford if you pull down a $50K salary. With good credit, the $390 monthly payments are affordable for those in that salary range.

How much should I spend on a car if I make 55k? ›

According to our research, you shouldn't spend more than 10% to 15% of your net monthly income on car payments. Your total vehicle costs, including loan payments and insurance, should total no more than 20%.

How much house can I afford with a 47k salary? ›

It's possible to afford a house worth anywhere from about $190,000–$260,000 on a $48,000 a year salary. But income isn't the only detail to consider when buying a home. Factors such as the location of your home, the size of your down payment, and your interest rate will determine what you can afford.

How much house can I afford if I make $65000 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%.

How much house can I afford if I make $35000 a year? ›

A person making $35,000 may be able to afford a mortgage around $170,000. The mortgage amount you'll qualify for ultimately depends on your credit score, debt and current interest rates.

How much income to afford a 1 million dollar house? ›

What annual salary do you need to afford a million-dollar house? To comfortably afford a home valued at $1 million, financial experts recommend an annual salary between $269,000 and $366,000.

Is $50,000 a year good for a single person? ›

Whether $50,000 a year is considered a good salary depends on your location and lifestyle. It's above the U.S. national average but below the median household income. Consider your budget and expenses to determine if it's sufficient for your needs.

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.

How much house can I afford with a 40k salary? ›

How much house can I afford on 40K a year?
Annual Salary$40,000
Home Purchase Budget (25% monthly income on mortgage payments)$103,800
Home Purchase Budget (28% monthly income)$109,500
Home Purchase Budget (36% monthly income)$141,100
Home Purchase Budget (40% of monthly income)$156,900
4 more rows
May 10, 2023

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