So that you’ve lastly cracked into the six-figures, and also you’re now dreaming of lastly proudly owning property. No extra landlords, hire will increase, and noisy upstairs neighbors in your house in Portland, OR. However earlier than you’ll be able to browse houses for buy in Portland, OR after transferring out of your rental home in Beaverton, ORit’s essential to first determine how a lot home you’ll be able to afford along with your $100k wage.
Utilizing Redfin’s mortgage calculatoron a $100k wage with zero present money owed, 20% down fee, and a 36% debt-to-income ratio, you’ll be houses valued at $425,000 and under. After all, it is a fast reply to a extra advanced query. How a lot home you’ll be able to afford on a $100k wage is determined by a wide range of components that will probably be explored on this Redfin article.
Elements that have an effect on what you’ll be able to afford:
What’s your credit score rating?
How giant of a down fee 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 stay?
How a lot work does the home want?
The underside line: know what you’ll be able to afford

What’s your credit score rating?
In the event you’re paying money for your home, skip this part. Sellers don’t actually care about your credit score rating so long as you’ll be able to pay for the home in full. Nevertheless, in the event you’ll want financing to maneuver into your new dwelling – like most Individuals – your credit score rating can play a big function in what you’ll be able to afford.
- Distinctive (800+): You qualify for the perfect charges obtainable and might have your decide of lenders.
- Excellent (740-799): These debtors additionally are inclined 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): In the event you’re on this vary, you’ll pay considerably extra in curiosity, and securing a mortgage can change into a lot tougher.
Don’t fear in case your credit score rating is towards the decrease finish of this vary, there’s nonetheless a lot you are able to do to enhance it and save hundreds in curiosity on your own home mortgage. If you wish to enhance your credit score ratingensure to pay your loans on time, don’t get too near your credit score restrict, and reduce your excellent debt.
In a nutshell: A better credit score rating might 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 fee are you able to afford?
The scale of your down fee instantly impacts how a lot home you’ll be able to afford with a $100k wage. In the event you’re capable of save the coveted 20% down fee, you’ll be able to keep away from paying non-public mortgage insurance coverage (PMI). With a down fee 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 yr. PMI is designed to guard the lender’s funding, however reaching the 20% down fee threshold typically permits you to forgo this additional expense.
The bigger the down fee, you’ll typically be a cheaper month-to-month fee in your mortgage. So, it’s typically a good suggestion to place down as a lot as you’ll be able to with out tying all of your cash up in your property.
The underside line: Purpose to pay a 20% down fee in the event you can afford it and nonetheless have sufficient saved to cowl any emergency bills. The bigger the down fee, the smaller your month-to-month mortgage funds will probably be.
What’s your debt-to-income ratio?
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a approach to examine your month-to-month debt funds along with your gross month-to-month revenue. Lenders will use this ratio as a approach to decide your skill to repay your loans. A better DTI may lead to elevated mortgage charges, whereas a decrease DTI suggests a stronger skill to handle debt and is extra favorable to lenders. To calculate your DTI, comply with the components 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 fee, 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%
Which means that 18% of your revenue goes to paying off month-to-month recurring debt funds. Most lenders want a DTI that’s lower than 36%, however many lenders supply exceptions for ratios as much as 45% or 50% for an FHA mortgage.
Utilizing the 28/36 rule
Regardless that you may get authorised for a mortgage, it’s normally a good suggestion to comply with 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 might enhance your possibilities of securing a mortgage at a positive price with out risking defaulting in your money owed. When making an attempt to resolve how a lot home you’ll be able to afford with $100k, it’s essential to bear in mind your money owed. Lenders concentrate, and it might have an effect on which kinds of properties you’ll be able to contemplate in your worth vary.
In abstract: Purpose for a DTI that’s lower than 36%, which 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 the event you’re keen to funds a bit extra.

What are the present rates of interest?
Even the slightest change in rates of interest can have you ever paying or saving hundreds of {dollars} in curiosity. Increased charges will push down the ceiling of what you’ll be able to afford, whereas decrease rates of interest can provide you a bit additional wiggle room to stretch to a house with a bigger asking worth.
There could be the temptation to attend and regularly 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. One of the best time to purchase a home is when you’ll be able to 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 will be useful, however watch out to not get paralyzed ready for a drop which will by no means come. One of the best time to purchase how home is when you’ll be able to afford it.
The place are you making an attempt to stay?
Location, location, location. Relying on the place you need to stay, your $100k may get you a three-bedroom home in Tulsa, OKor a two-bedroom apartment in Portland, OR. After all, your location choices will be impacted by the place you’re employed. With a distant job, you’ve got extra flexibility in the event you’re transferring to a unique state.
Nevertheless, you don’t want to maneuver to a unique state to stretch your $100k a bit additional. Typically dwelling just some additional minutes out of the 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 crucial consider the place you select to stay.
Details: In the event you’re keen to stay in a extra rural space, you could possibly afford a bit 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 can assist you get a bit bit extra bang to your buck. There’s a effective 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, ensure 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 you probably have the talents and time to place in some sweat fairness.
The underside line: know what you’ll be able to afford
Now that you just’ve received a greater thought of all that goes into deciding how a lot home you’ll be able to afford with a $100k wage, you’re higher ready to start out touring houses and making affords. To get a greater understanding of precisely how a lot you’ll be able to afford, mess around with Redfin’s mortgage calculator to calculate a DTI that works for you and begin to take a look at houses in your worth vary the place you’re desirous to cool down.