Fixed mortgage rates are at their lowest point since February 2023, sitting at 6.2% for 30 years, and 15-year rates are down to 5.27%.
According to the August Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation is at its lowest since February 2021, which means rates may continue to drop if the Federal Reserve lowers the federal funds rate by 25 basis points, as they are expected to do.
If you’re planning to buy a new home, we’ve created this helpful guide to help you determine how much mortgage you can afford and what factors are essential to consider. We also provide tips for boosting your savings and other suggestions for coping with high rates.
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How much mortgage can you afford?
When determining how much mortgage you can afford, a good place to start is with the 28/36 rule. Under this widely accepted rule of thumb, homeowners should not spend more than 28% of their gross monthly income on housing costs and 36% on their total debt — including the mortgage, credit cards, car loans, student loans, and other monthly debt payments.
Lenders often consider the 28% and 36% figures to be in the acceptable range for borrowers. These figures are related to debt-to-income ratios , which we’ll discuss in a moment.
Let’s take a look at how to determine and apply the 28/36 rule: Say, your gross (before taxes) monthly income is $8,000. First, multiply 8,000 x 28, which is 224,000. Next, divide that number by 100, so 224,000 ÷ 100 = 2,240. This represents 28% of your gross income. In this example, an affordable total monthly mortgage payment would be $2,240.
To determine the 36% number, substitute “28” with “36” in the preceding formula, and you get $2,880. So your housing expenses plus all other recurring monthly debt payments would need to be less than $2,880 to satisfy the 36% portion of the 28/36 rule.
Use a mortgage calculator
Online calculators are another valuable tool to help you understand a mortgage amount that is doable with your budget. Many of the best mortgage lenders offer home affordability calculators, and you can also find them on real estate marketplaces like Zillow and Realtor.com .
With most home affordability calculators, you’ll enter your income, monthly debt, location, and a down payment amount. More extensive calculators may also ask for some of the following information:
- Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
- Interest rate
- Loan term
- Property tax
- Home insurance
- Homeowners association (HOA) dues
The 28/36 rule and home affordability calculators can provide you with a starting point to help determine how much mortgage payment you can afford. From there, you’ll need to factor in your own unique financial situation and your goals to figure out a number that makes sense for you.
What lenders consider when you apply for a mortgage
Underwriters generally consider your gross annual income, DTI ratio, credit profile, and assets when you apply for a mortgage loan.
1. Gross annual income
Your gross annual income is the total amount of money you earn each year before deductions are withdrawn from your paycheck. In other words, if your yearly salary is $70,000, that is your gross annual income, even though paycheck deductions leave you with less than $70,000 in take-home pay.
Your gross annual income includes your earnings from your job or business, but can also include disability benefits, Social Security benefits, alimony, and child support payments.
2. Debt-to-income-ratio
Another important thing loan underwriters consider is your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Your DTI ratio is the percentage of your gross household income that goes toward your monthly debts. Lenders place great importance on this metric to ensure that borrowers can afford their monthly mortgage payments.
Lenders consider two types of DTI ratios: front-end and back-end. Front-end DTI includes your housing-related expenses only. These align with the 28/36 rule. Lenders generally don’t want more than 28% of your monthly income to go toward your housing expenses, which include the principal, interest, property taxes, and insurance (PITI) on your property.
If your monthly gross monthly income is $6,000, that means your mortgage payment should be no more than $1,680. In this example, the front-end DTI is determined by multiplying your total monthly income by 28%: $6,000 x .28% = $1,680 in recommended monthly housing costs.
Unlike front-end DTI, which accounts for housing costs relative to your income, back-end DTI considers your total monthly debts, including the proposed mortgage payment. Generally, lenders require your long-term debt, including the mortgage, car loans, student loan payments, and other debts, to be less than 33% or 36% of your monthly gross income.
In this case, if your gross monthly income is $6,000, then the total of your mortgage and other outstanding debts should not be higher than $2,160 as $6,000 x .36% = $2,160.
3. Credit profile
Many mortgage lenders follow a formula to help them assess risk. These formulas vary by lender but often rely on the homebuyer’s credit score . Homebuyers with high credit scores typically receive loan offers with lower interest rates.
Since interest rates impact the amount of your monthly payment and the overall cost of the loan, it pays to have good credit. Before you apply for a mortgage, it’s a good idea to check your credit report from the three leading credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can get one free copy of your report each year from AnnualCreditReport.com .
Carefully review your reports, looking for errors and inaccuracies. If you spot mistakes, try to remove them by disputing credit report errors with the credit bureaus. The process to remove negative marks takes time, but cleaning up your credit could mean the difference to get approved for a loan or receive a better annual percentage rate (APR).
4. Your total assets
One way lenders consider their risk exposure is by reviewing your total assets. Along those lines, the lender generally wants to see your bank statements, investment accounts, and other sources to determine if you have enough cash reserves to make a down payment and pay for closing costs.
The more high-value assets you have, the less risky your application may appear to lenders. Having valuable assets indicates you’ll likely be able to make on-time mortgage payments each month and that you could sustain a major financial blow such as the loss of your job or a medical emergency.
Low down payment mortgage options
Although some banks and financial institutions have lower down payment requirements, many lenders require a 20% down payment for conventional loans.
If a 20% down payment is an obstacle preventing you from purchasing at home, here are a few alternatives that might have lower down payment requirements:
FHA loans
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are federally-backed mortgages with less stringent requirements than conventional loans. If you’re comparing FHA vs. conventional loans , consider that FHA loans might only require a 10% down payment if your credit score falls between 500 and 579. If your credit score is above 580, you could qualify for an FHA loan with as little as 3.5% down.
FHA loans include a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) that costs 1.75% of the loan amount, due at closing. Additionally, borrowers pay monthly mortgage insurance premiums totaling 0.45%-1.05% of the loan amount per year.
USDA loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers loans designed to help home buyers with low-to-average income for their area. These loans require the following:
- FICO credit score of 640 and higher (though it can vary depending on the lender)
- No down payment
- Mortgage insurance — a 1% upfront fee is added to your loan balance and paid with your monthly mortgage payment. Plus, an annual fee of 0.35% of your remaining principal balance each year.
- Home must be in a qualifying rural area
VA loans
For veterans and service members, VA loans provide an easier path to homeownership than many types of mortgages. That’s because veteran home loans typically don’t require a down payment or mortgage insurance.
Most VA lenders require a credit score of 620 or higher, while others may accept credit scores as low as 580 when considering your eligibility for a VA loan.
Things you can do
It can be daunting to see the change in these numbers and wonder if your dream home now is out of your grasp. But there are some things you can do to help limit the pain of buying a home with mortgage rates around 6.7%. They include the following:
1. Get a high-yield savings account
Higher interest rates may be a bad thing for your mortgage, but they can be a good thing for your savings. In fact, you can make some extra money with a high-yield savings account.
Remember, every extra dime counts when you are saving for a down payment so be sure you put your money in one of the best savings accounts with the highest interest rates.
2. Get homeowners insurance
Your lender will require you to purchase homeowners insurance to cover potential losses due to things like fires or natural catastrophes. The cost of homeowners insurance can vary depending on where you live. For instance, this insurance generally costs more in places where homeowners file more claims, such as in areas that experience frequent storms.
Speak with a local insurance agent to get an accurate homeowners insurance quote. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners lists the national average annual homeowners insurance premium at $1,249, roughly $104 per month, as a general reference.
3. Save for a bigger down payment
When rates are higher, coming up with a bigger down payment can make your monthly mortgage obligation more affordable.
Remember that a 20% down payment is just a rule of thumb. Nothing stops you from bringing a bigger down payment to the table. Finding ways to make extra cash on the side could be a great way to boost your down payment.
4. Relocate
If you’ve found that you can’t afford your home right now, here are a few things you can do to take some of the costs away. Moving is easier said than done, but it could help your budget.
If you have some flexibility regarding where you live, think about looking for homes in an area with a lower cost of living. Remember to factor in your lack of a commute if you’re now working from home, and consider the mortgage, property taxes, and other monthly expenses.
5. Consider a fixer-upper
A home may be more expensive if it has a high-end kitchen and remodeled bathrooms. So, consider a home that might be a little outdated. These types of homes tend to cost less.
You might have to take on the remodeling projects, but you should have a smaller mortgage.
6. Wait it out
If you don’t have to move just yet, it may be a good idea to wait out these interest rate hikes. Waiting it out means you can continue to save for a larger down payment without adding a mortgage to your monthly costs.
There are no guarantees, of course, but it’s possible that home prices may dip as the market adjusts to higher mortgage rates. That means you may be able to get a home for a lower cost at a later date.
7. Refinance
If costs are too high, check with some of the best mortgage lenders to see if they can offer you a better rate on your home loan. You may be able to save on your monthly payments with a lower interest rate. But if you decide to go the refinancing route, remember to ask about any potential processing fees.
FAQs
What mortgage can I afford with my salary?
A good guideline is that your total mortgage, including your principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI), should not exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income. You can determine this number by multiplying your income by 28 and dividing the resulting number by 100.
Can I get a mortgage that's five times my salary?
Income is just one of many factors mortgage loan underwriters consider when evaluating a loan application. When all the factors are considered, including the APR, debt, and down payment, it could be possible to get approved for a loan amount that’s several times your salary.
Is it worth it to get preapproved for a mortgage?
It can be worth it to get pre-approved for a mortgage . Not only will this help you determine how much you could get approved for, but it could also signal to real estate professionals and home sellers you’re a serious home buyer.
What is private mortgage insurance?
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is a type of insurance that protects the lender if you’re unable to make your monthly payments. Typically, if you’re making a down payment of less than 20% of a home’s purchase price, you’ll be on the hook for mortgage insurance.
PMI increases the cost of your loan. Depending on the lender, you may be required to pay the PMI as part of your total monthly payment, and you could be responsible for paying mortgage insurance costs at closing, too, in the case of FHA loans. More on those loans in a minute.
Bottom line
As mortgage rates increase, your ability to afford the type of home you want may decrease. Factor in rates, closing costs, and other fees into your budget, and then figure out the best way to move forward as a potential homebuyer.
If you cannot afford the home of your dreams today, stop living paycheck to paycheck for a while and start saving to buy the perfect home a little later on.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
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