Mortgage Guides

Can I Afford a House on a $50K Salary?

On a $50,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $150,000 to $215,000 range. Your max monthly housing payment is about $1,167 using the 28% DTI rule. Here's what to expect.

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Can I Afford a House on a $60K Salary?

On a $60,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $180,000 to $260,000 range with a max housing payment of about $1,400/month. Here's how loan type and down payment affect your budget.

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Can I Afford a House on a $65K Salary?

On a $65,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $195,000 to $280,000 range. Your max monthly payment is about $1,517 at the 28% DTI threshold. Here's how to stretch your budget.

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Can I Afford a House on a $75K Salary?

On a $75,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $225,000 to $325,000 range with a max housing payment of about $1,750/month. Here's the real cost including taxes, insurance, and PMI.

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Can I Afford a House on an $80K Salary?

On an $80,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $240,000 to $345,000 range. Your max housing payment is about $1,867/month. Here's what lenders look for and how to maximize your budget.

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Can I Afford a House on a $90K Salary?

On a $90,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $270,000 to $390,000 range with a max housing payment of about $2,100/month. Here's how to use that buying power wisely.

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Can I Afford a House on a $100K Salary?

On a $100,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $300,000 to $430,000 range with a max housing payment of about $2,333/month. Here's how to optimize your purchase.

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Can I Afford a House on a $120K Salary?

On a $120,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $360,000 to $515,000 range with a max housing payment of about $2,800/month. Here's where the line is between smart buy and overstretch.

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Can I Afford a House on a $125K Salary?

On a $125,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $375,000 to $540,000 range with a max housing payment of about $2,917/month. The gap between smart buy and overstretch is smaller than you think.

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Can I Afford a House on a $150K Salary?

On a $150,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $450,000 to $650,000 range with a max housing payment of about $3,500/month. High income doesn't guarantee easy approval — here's what to watch for.

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Can I Afford a House on a $175K Salary?

On a $175,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $525,000 to $755,000 range with a max housing payment of about $4,083/month. Here's how to avoid overbuying and build wealth instead.

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Can I Afford a House on a $200K Salary?

On a $200,000 salary, you can afford a home in the $600,000 to $860,000 range with a max housing payment of about $4,667/month. Here's how to maximize your position with jumbo loans, tax strategy, and smart budgeting.

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Decision Guides

Should I rent, buy, or refinance?

Decision

8 min

Should I Refinance My Mortgage?

Refinancing is worth it if you can lower your rate by at least 0.75%, plan to stay past the break-even point (typically 2-4 years), and the closing costs don't exceed your savings. Here's the full framework.

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Decision

9 min

Rent vs Buy: The Complete Guide

Buying beats renting if you'll stay at least 5-7 years. Below that, renting is usually cheaper after closing costs, selling costs, and opportunity cost. Here's the honest math.

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Decision

8 min

FHA vs Conventional: Which Loan Is Right for You?

FHA loans require 3.5% down with a 580 credit score; conventional loans require 3-5% down with a 620+ score. FHA has lifetime mortgage insurance; conventional PMI drops at 80% LTV. Here's the full comparison.

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Cost Guides

What does it really cost?

Cost

What Are Closing Costs? A Complete Breakdown

Closing costs are 2-5% of the purchase price and include lender fees, title insurance, appraisal, and prepaid taxes/insurance. On a $400K home, expect $8,000-$20,000. Here's every fee explained.

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Cost

How Much Is PMI and How to Avoid It

PMI costs $50-$450/month depending on your loan amount and credit score. It's required with less than 20% down and drops off at 80% LTV. Here are five strategies to eliminate it.

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Cost