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How do you calculate what you can afford to buy?

By Christopher Ramos |

To calculate ‘how much house can I afford,’ a good rule of thumb is using the 28%/36% rule, which states that you shouldn’t spend more than 28% of your gross monthly income on home-related costs and 36% on total debts, including your mortgage, credit cards and other loans like auto and student loans.

How much house can I afford if I make $50000 a year?

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 salary isn’t the only variable that determines your home buying budget.

How to decide on a house buying budget?

You may decide you want to grow your deposit a little more to give you more options if there are not many properties in your price range and you want to up your budget. If you’re selling your existing home to buy another, what you can afford will depend not only on your income as above, but how much equity you have in your home.

What do you need to know before buying a house?

If you’re getting a mortgage, you’ll need the lender or bank to see you as a good option to receive that money. They need to know you’re likely (and able) to pay it back. Debts – if you’ve got significant debts, it’s worth clearing these up first.

How can I find out what my mortgage payment will be per month?

You can work out what your mortgage payment might be per month using a mortgage calculator, and bear in mind that the length of the mortgage term will have an impact. For example, getting a 30 year mortgage instead of a 20 year mortgage will lower your monthly payments, but you’ll pay more in interest over a longer term.

How much money do you need to buy a house?

If you earn £25,000 a year and your partner earns £19,000 a year, you have a combined annual income of £44,00. Multiply this by 4.5 and the lenders are likely to give you: £198,000.