What is the 28% affordability rule?

Asked by: Prof. Bernie Runolfsdottir DVM  |  Last update: March 1, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (63 votes)

The rule says you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing (your monthly mortgage payment) and a maximum of 36% on all your debts. This would include your mortgage payment, student loan payment, car payment, credit card minimums, and any other debt you pay off monthly.

What is the 28% rule for mortgage payments?

According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment.

Can I afford a $300 k house on a $70 k salary?

Can I afford a $300K house on a $70K salary? If you have minimal debts then a $70,000 salary might be enough to afford a $300,000 house. The size of your down payment and your mortgage interest rate will be important variables.

What is a 28% debt to income rule?

The 28/36 rule refers to a common-sense approach used to calculate the amount of debt an individual or household should assume. A household should spend a maximum of 28% of its gross monthly income on total housing expenses according to this rule, and no more than 36% on total debt service.

Does the 28% rule include hoa?

According to the rule, you should only spend 28% or less of your gross monthly income on housing expenses, which include your mortgage payment, property taxes and insurance, and homeowners association fees.

Use the 28/36 rule to find out how much house you can afford by Chris Menard

43 related questions found

Does the HOA own my property?

Well, in most cases, the answer is no. An HOA cannot legally trespass on your property without your consent unless they have a valid reason.

Does the 28% rule include taxes and insurance?

The 28% mortgage rule states that you should spend 28% or less of your monthly gross income on your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance). To gauge how much you can afford using this rule, multiply your monthly gross income by 28%.

How much house can I afford if I make $70,000 a year?

The house you can afford on a $70,000 income will likely be between $290,000 to $360,000. However, your home-buying budget depends on quite a few financial factors — not just your salary.

What is considered house poor?

A house poor person is anyone whose housing expenses account for an exorbitant percentage of their monthly budget. Individuals in this situation are short of cash for discretionary items and tend to have trouble meeting other financial obligations, such as vehicle payments.

How much debt does the average American have?

According to Experian, average total consumer household debt in 2023 is $104,215. That's up 11% from 2020, when average total consumer debt was $92,727.

Can I afford a 500k house if I make 100k a year?

To comfortably afford a $500,000 house, you'll likely need an annual income between $125,000 to $160,000, depending on your specific financial situation and the terms of your mortgage. Remember, just because you can qualify for a loan doesn't mean you should stretch your budget to the maximum.

Is 70K a year a good salary?

When it comes to defining a “good” salary, there's no one magic number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary in the U.S. is $65,470, as of May 2023. Based on this data point, $70K a year is a good salary for a single person — one that puts you above the national average.

What credit score is needed to buy a $300k house?

You can buy a $300,000 house with only $9,000 down when using a conventional mortgage, which is the lowest down payment permitted, unless you qualify for a zero-down-payment VA or USDA loan. Different lenders have different rules, but typically they require a 620 credit score for conventional loan approval.

What is the 50 30 20 rule?

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals. Let's take a closer look at each category.

What is the 3 7 3 rule in mortgage?

Timing Requirements – The “3/7/3 Rule”

The initial Truth in Lending Statement must be delivered to the consumer within 3 business days of the receipt of the loan application by the lender. The TILA statement is presumed to be delivered to the consumer 3 business days after it is mailed.

What is the 50% rule for mortgages?

If you know the expected gross rent the property should generate, then you can quickly calculate 50% of that amount to estimate net operating income. From there, you can deduct other expenses, such as mortgage payments or HOA fees, to find your projected cash flow.

What household income is considered rich?

According to a 2024 study from SmartAsset, you need $787,712 to be in the top 1% of earners nationwide. Based on that figure, an annual income of roughly $800,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%.

Is 50% of income on a mortgage too much?

Lenders prefer that no more than 28% of your gross monthly income (the amount you earn before taxes) should be spent on your monthly mortgage payment, including your mortgage principal, interest, homeowners insurance, property taxes, and homeowners' association fees.

What is a poor house called?

WHAT WERE POORHOUSES? (often also called Poor Farms -- and several similar terms -- or referred to with the older term -- Almshouses) Poorhouses were tax-supported residential institutions to which people were required to go if they could not support themselves.

What salary do you need for a 700k house?

To afford a $700,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $175,000 to $235,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this is a general range, and your specific circumstances will determine the exact income required.

What is $70,000 a year hourly?

$70,000 a year is how much an hour? If you make $70,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $33.65.

What rent can I afford on 70k?

If you make $30,000 a year, you can afford to spend $750 a month on rent. If you make $40,000 a year, you can afford to spend $1,000 a month on rent. If you make $50,000 a year, you can afford to spend $1,250 a month on rent. If you make $75,000 a year, you can afford to spend $1,875 a month on rent.

What percent of income should go to rent?

Generally, experts recommend spending no more than 30% of monthly pre-tax income on housing. However, it's not always that simple. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2017 and 2021, over 40% of renter households (19 million) spent more than 30% of their income on rent.

What percent of income is house poor?

What house poor looks like will vary by homeowner. But, generally speaking, those who spend more than 30% of their monthly income on housing costs (including their mortgage and other expenses like insurance and utilities) are housing cost-burdened.

What is a good debt to income ratio?

Read our editorial guidelines here . Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is how much money you earn versus what you spend. It's calculated by dividing your monthly debts by your gross monthly income. Generally, it's a good idea to keep your DTI ratio below 43%, though 35% or less is considered “good.”