So that you’ve lastly cracked into the six-figures, and also you’re now dreaming of lastly proudly owning property. No extra landlords, lease will increase, and noisy upstairs neighbors in your condominium in Portland, OR. However earlier than you may browse properties for buy in Portland, OR after shifting out of your rental home in Beaverton, OR, you have to first work out how a lot home you may afford along with your $100k wage.
Utilizing Redfin’s mortgage calculator, on a $100k wage with zero present money owed, 20% down cost, and a 36% debt-to-income ratio, you’ll be properties valued at $425,000 and under. In fact, this can be a fast reply to a extra advanced query. How a lot home you may afford on a $100k wage relies on a wide range of elements that will likely be explored on this Redfin article.
Elements that have an effect on what you may afford:
What’s your credit score rating?
How giant of a down cost are you able to afford?
What’s your debt-to-income ratio?
What are the present rates of interest?
The place are you making an attempt to dwell?
How a lot work does the home want?
The underside line: know what you may afford

What’s your credit score rating?
Should you’re paying money for your own home, skip this part. Sellers don’t actually care about your credit score rating so long as you may pay for the home in full. Nevertheless, in case you’ll want financing to maneuver into your new dwelling – like most People – your credit score rating can play a big function in what you may afford.
- Distinctive (800+): You qualify for one of the best charges accessible and may have your decide of lenders.
- Excellent (740-799): These debtors additionally are likely to qualify for high-quality rates of interest
- Good (670-739): That is the place you’ll begin to see a slight enhance in rates of interest, however this vary is taken into account favorable.
- Honest (580-669): Rates of interest on this vary can begin to enhance extra.
- Poor (579 or decrease): Should you’re on this vary, you’ll pay considerably extra in curiosity, and securing a mortgage can turn into a lot tougher.
Don’t fear in case your credit score rating is towards the decrease finish of this vary, there’s nonetheless lots you are able to do to enhance it and save 1000’s in curiosity on your own home mortgage. If you wish to enhance your credit score rating, make certain to pay your loans on time, don’t get too near your credit score restrict, and reduce your excellent debt.
In a nutshell: The next credit score rating could qualify you for higher loans with decrease rates of interest, permitting you to afford a home with the next asking worth.

How giant of a down cost are you able to afford?
The scale of your down cost immediately impacts how a lot home you may afford with a $100k wage. Should you’re capable of save the coveted 20% down cost, you may keep away from paying non-public mortgage insurance coverage (PMI). With a down cost lower than 20%, most lenders would require you to buy PMI, which may run between 0.5 to 1.5% of your mortgage quantity per 12 months. PMI is designed to guard the lender’s funding, however reaching the 20% down cost threshold usually lets you forgo this further expense.
The bigger the down cost, you’ll usually be a inexpensive month-to-month cost in your mortgage. So, it’s usually a good suggestion to place down as a lot as you may with out tying all of your cash up in your property.
The underside line: Intention to pay a 20% down cost in case you can afford it and nonetheless have sufficient saved to cowl any emergency bills. The bigger the down cost, the smaller your month-to-month mortgage funds will likely be.
What’s your debt-to-income ratio?
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a strategy to evaluate your month-to-month debt funds along with your gross month-to-month revenue. Lenders will use this ratio as a strategy to decide your potential to repay your loans. The next DTI might lead to elevated mortgage charges, whereas a decrease DTI suggests a stronger potential to handle debt and is extra favorable to lenders. To calculate your DTI, observe the system under:
DTI = (Complete month-to-month debt funds / gross month-to-month revenue) x 100
Let’s say you spend $1,500 a month on bank card minimums, a automobile cost, and pupil loans. With an annual gross revenue of $100k, your month-to-month gross revenue can be $8,333. Due to this fact, your DTI would look one thing like this:
DTI = ($1,500 / $8,333) * 100 = 18%
Because of this 18% of your revenue goes to paying off month-to-month recurring debt funds. Most lenders favor a DTI that’s lower than 36%, however many lenders provide exceptions for ratios as much as 45% or 50% for an FHA mortgage.
Utilizing the 28/36 rule
Despite the fact that you might get authorized for a mortgage, it’s normally a good suggestion to observe the 28/36 rule. The 28/36 rule states that it’s best to spend a most of 28% of your gross month-to-month revenue on whole housing bills (mortgage funds, property taxes, householders insurance coverage premiums, and householders affiliation charges) and not more than 36% on whole debt service.
Following the 28/36 rule could enhance your probabilities of securing a mortgage at a positive charge with out risking defaulting in your money owed. When making an attempt to resolve how a lot home you may afford with $100k, it’s essential to remember your money owed. Lenders listen, and it could possibly have an effect on which forms of properties you may think about in your worth vary.
In abstract: Intention for a DTI that’s lower than 36%, that means 36% of your month-to-month gross revenue goes to paying money owed. Ideally, you’ll need solely 28% of your gross month-to-month revenue to be spent on whole housing bills, however this may be pushed in case you’re keen to finances somewhat extra.

What are the present rates of interest?
Even the slightest change in rates of interest can have you ever paying or saving 1000’s of {dollars} in curiosity. Larger charges will push down the ceiling of what you may afford, whereas decrease rates of interest can provide you somewhat further wiggle room to stretch to a house with a bigger asking worth.
There often is the temptation to attend and frequently ask your self, “Is now a great time to purchase a home?” Ready for rates of interest to drop is unpredictable and normally not advisable. The perfect time to purchase a home is when you may afford it. You’ll be able to all the time refinance later if charges drop and your credit score is in fine condition.
Key takeaways: Figuring out the present rates of interest might be useful, however watch out to not get paralyzed ready for a drop which will by no means come. The perfect time to purchase how home is when you may afford it.
The place are you making an attempt to dwell?
Location, location, location. Relying on the place you wish to dwell, your $100k might get you a three-bedroom home in Tulsa, OK, or a two-bedroom condominium in Portland, OR. In fact, your location choices might be impacted by the place you’re employed. With a distant job, you have got extra flexibility in case you’re shifting to a distinct state.
Nevertheless, you don’t want to maneuver to a distinct state to stretch your $100k somewhat additional. Generally dwelling only a few further minutes out of town can afford you the chance to stretch as much as an even bigger home with an additional bed room or some extra land. Location, location, location – there’s a cause actual property brokers say it a lot. It actually is a vital think about the place you select to dwell.
Details: Should you’re keen to dwell in a extra rural space, you could possibly afford somewhat extra home in your $100k wage.

How a lot work does the home want?
For these helpful with a toolbelt and YouTube, buying a home that wants some work may help you get somewhat bit extra bang on your buck. There’s a superb line, nevertheless, between a home that wants a brand new coat of paint and a home with important structural injury. Earlier than closing on a house, make certain to get a house inspector to take a look at the property and report their findings.
In a nutshell: You’ll be able to be capable of get extra home in your $100k when you’ve got the talents and time to place in some sweat fairness.
The underside line: know what you may afford
Now that you just’ve acquired a greater thought of all that goes into deciding how a lot home you may afford with a $100k wage, you’re higher ready to start out touring properties and making gives. To get a greater understanding of precisely how a lot you may afford, mess around with Redfin’s mortgage calculator to calculate a DTI that works for you and begin to have a look at properties in your worth vary the place you’re desirous to cool down.