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Mortgage Rule

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  • #31
    Below are some general guidelines.

    I think these guidelines are generally good, but a person's exact situation is also pretty important. I'm guessing unless you live in an ultra high cost of living area, $700K is excessive though. In my state, we're faced with relatively low income and very high housing cost. When I bought my first place, I think my Debt to Gross Income ratio was more like 45%. If you looked at debt to after tax income, it was even crazier, like 65%. lol

    Now, my DTI ratio is like 20% based on the formula below. Generally speaking, as long as your career keeps advancing, your debt cost on a fixed mortgage remains the same, while your income increases, reducing your ratio. Even if you start at a high ratio, as long as you don't incur unnecessary debt and budget well, it shouldn't be an issue.

    2 x $70,000 household income in my state = $140,000. You can't even buy a studio in the suburbs for that much. I also own a 360sq ft rental studio that was appraised last year at $180,000. $140k would get you a leasehold studio or a small 80 year old apartment in the ghettos. Bottom line is that in some situations, it calls for you to stretch a lot further if you wish to buy a home. In those situations, you better ensure that housing is your only form of debt.

    In my personal opinion, to buy a $700k house, even in my high housing area, you'd want to put 20% down payment and also have 2 people making 70k, not 1. Therefore your household income should be at least $140,000

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    Generally speaking, most prospective homeowners can afford to mortgage a property that costs between 2 and 2.5 times their gross income. Under this formula, a person earning $100,000 per year can afford to mortgage between $200,000 and $250,000. But this calculation is only a general guideline.

    Most lenders recommend that your DTI does not exceed 36% of your gross income. To calculate your maximum monthly debt based on this ratio, multiply your gross income by 0.36 and divide by 12. For example, if you earn $100,000 per year, your maximum monthly debt expenses should not exceed $3,000.
    Last edited by ~bs; 01-29-2016, 12:45 AM.

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    • #32
      $3000/month is a very hefty mortgage payment.
      LivingAlmostLarge Blog

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      • #33
        I would say part of the confidence might be because your friend is 25--and I would guess she's never owned a home before. All I can say about that is she doesn't know what she doesn't know (like furnishing and decorating costs, reserves for unexpected repairs, landscaping and utility costs, homeowner association fees et'c). She ought to be asking advice from you.

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        • #34
          It seems that your friend doesn't realize that there are property taxes to pay, plus a reserve if they are not paying the taxes themselves. I live in a HCOLA and just the taxes are about $1,000 per month. Never mind the emergency fund for when the furnace goes out in winter or the a/c in summer, and the new roof.

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