How Much Money Do I Need to Buy a House? (2024)

Wondering how much money you need to buy a house? You’ve come to the right place!

Buying a house can come with a lot of hidden expenses that are easy to overlook until closing day. So, to make sure you save up the right amount, we’ll show you how much money you need in the bank to make your home-buying process as smooth as Tennessee whiskey (hat tip to Chris Stapleton).

How Much Money Do You Need to Buy a House?

A good number to shoot for is saving 25% of the sale price, in addition to setting aside 3–6 months’ worth of your typical expenses for emergencies. So if you’re looking to buy a $300,000 house, you should save around $75,000 (on top of your emergency fund).

But it’s difficult to give a hard-and-fast answer for how much money you need to save for a home, since the right amount depends on a few different factors—like how big of a home you want to buy, whether you’re a first-time home buyer, and how far you’re planning to move.

So, to make sure you know exactly how much you should save for your individual situation, let’s talk through the three biggest home-buying costs: your down payment, closing costs and moving expenses.

How Much Money Do I Need for a Down Payment?

You should aim for a down payment of at least 20%. Why? For starters, a 20% down payment will keep you from having to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI). That will save you big-time money, since PMI is a yearly fee that runs about 1% of your loan balance. Plus, a bigger down payment means smaller monthly payments and less debt.

For first-time home buyers, a 5–10% down payment is okay, but be ready to pay for PMI. And any down payment amount less than 5% iswaytoo low. Some government-insured programs (like FHA, VA and USDA loans) make it easier to buy a house with little to nothing down. But going that route will have you paying so much extra in interest and fees, you’ll sink your overall financial plan.

No matter how much money you decide to put down, make sure you don’t wind up in a house you can’t afford. Your monthly payment (including taxes, homeowners insurance and HOA fees) on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage should be no more than 25% of your take-home pay.

Why? If you spend any more than that, you’ll risk not having enough money left over in your budget each month to put toward other important financial goals—like saving for retirement. And if you go with a 30-year mortgage, you’ll wind up paying tens of thousands in extra interest while staying in debt for an extra decade and a half.

But the best way to buy a home is paying for it in cash. Yep, a 100% down payment. Don’t believe it’s possible? Lots of folks go that route—28% of the existing homes sold in April 2023 were purchased without a loan.1 Think of all the money those buyers saved on interest!

Regardless of whether you go that route or use a mortgage, you should not buy a house or start saving for one if you’re already in debt. That’s a recipe for a big-time financial headache. So, pay off your debt and build up an emergency fund first. Then, you can start saving to buy a house. Think about how much easier that’ll be without all those payments.

How Much Money Do I Need for Closing Costs?

The termclosing costsrefers to fees for services that help to officially close the deal on a house. For buyers,closing costsusually include . . .

  • Home inspection
  • Appraisal
  • Origination fees
  • Title insurance
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Taxes

How much does all that cost? Home inspections average $341, and appraisals are typically around $354.2,3 Everything else on the list will be a lot pricier.

See how much house you can afford with our free mortgage calculator!

When you put all your closing costs together, they will probably add up to about 3–4% of the home’s sale price.4 That’s how much you should prepare to pay.

How Much Money Do I Need for Moving Expenses?

Now, if you’re able to bribe enough friends and family members with pizza to help you move all your stuff for free, then you can skip this part! But if not, you likely will be on the hook for some moving costs. While moving expenses aren’t nearly as pricey as the other costs we’ve gone over, you also won’t be able to cover them with the spare change in your couch cushions.

The amount you pay in moving costs will depend on how you decide to handle your move. If you choose to hire movers, plan to pay around $1,700.5 However, if you go the DIY route and simply rent a moving truck, your cost will go down.

If you’re looking for a super convenient way to manage your move, using PODS is a great option—whether you’re moving across town or across the country.

They’ll drop off one of their moving and storage containers at your current address and give you all the time you need to load it up with your stuff. Then, they’ll pick it back up and deliver it to your new place. Much better than trying to cram everything in Nana’s minivan or tie it all down to the bed of Grandpa’s truck.

Example of How Much Money to Save for a House

Now that we’ve crunched all the numbers, let’s look at an example. If you were planning to buy a $250,000 house and put 20% down so you can avoid paying PMI, here’s how much you’d need to save up:

Home Price: $250,000

Cost

Percentage of Home Price

Down Payment

$50,000

20%

Closing Costs

$10,000

4%

Moving Expenses

$1,650

<1%

Total Buying Costs

$61,650

25%

Just keep those percentages in mind, apply them to your individual situation, and you’ll be in the clear!

The Best Way to Prepare for Buying a House

Once you’ve got the right amount of money saved up and you’re finally ready to buy a house, there’s one more step you can take to make sure you’re super prepared: getting a top-notch real estate agent on your side.

We make it easy for you to do just that with our RamseyTrusted program. Our RamseyTrusted agents are high performers in your area who will make it their mission to help you find a home while keeping all your other financial goals in balance.

Find a RamseyTrusted agent in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can stash your down payment in a simplemoney market accountorhigh-yield savings account. You won’t make tons on interest, but you won’t lose money either. Keep in mind: Saving a down payment is not the same as investing for retirement—you want to keep your savings liquid and in a place that’s easy to access.

As soon as you’re debt-free with a full emergency fund of 3–6 months’ worth of your typical expenses, you’reready to start saving for a house!

If you want to save for a house fast, you need to be debt-free and have an emergency fund of 3–6 months of expenses saved. With your income freed from debt payments and an emergency fund to protect you from life’s unexpected surprises, you can save for a house much faster. Here are some other ideas to help you save money fast.

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About the author

Ramsey Solutions

Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. Learn More.

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How Much Money Do I Need to Buy a House? (2024)

FAQs

How much money should I save before buying a house? ›

How Much Money Do You Need to Buy a House? A good number to shoot for is saving 25% of the sale price, in addition to setting aside 3–6 months' worth of your typical expenses for emergencies. So if you're looking to buy a $300,000 house, you should save around $75,000 (on top of your emergency fund).

Is $25,000 enough to buy a house? ›

Considering the median home sale price of $356,700, the average first-time buyer would spend $24,969 on a down payment. But you can buy a house without that $25,000. There are resources for down payment assistance that provide a clear path to homeownership.

Is $50 000 enough to buy a house? ›

What you can afford: With a $50k annual salary, you're earning $4,167 per month before tax. So, according to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than $1,167 on your mortgage payment per month, which is 28% of your monthly pre-tax income.

Is 20k enough for a down payment on a house? ›

To purchase a $200,000 house, you need a down payment of at least $40,000 (20% of the home price) to avoid PMI on a conventional mortgage. If you're a first-time home buyer, you could save a smaller down payment of $10,000–20,000 (5–10%). But remember, that will drive up your monthly payment with PMI fees.

How much is a downpayment on a 200k house? ›

Conventional mortgages, like the traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, usually require at least a 5% down payment. If you're buying a home for $200,000, in this case, you'll need $10,000 to secure a home loan.

Can I buy a house if I make 25K a year? ›

Mortgage experts recommend spending no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income on a housing payment. So if you make $25K per year, you can likely afford around $580 per month for a house payment.

Is $100 000 enough to buy a home? ›

How Much House Can I Afford With 100K Salary? Share: A 100K salary means you can afford a $350,000 to $500,000 house, assuming you stick with the 28% rule that most experts recommend. This would mean you would spend around $2,300 per month on your house and have a down payment of 5% to 20%.

Can I buy a house making $20 an hour? ›

With some planning, or should I rather say, with a structured plan, you can own your very own property. Yes it's possible to to afford a house making $12 an hour so if you make $20 an hour buying a house should be even easier.

Can I buy a house making 35k a year? ›

Home Affordability: Use this calculator to estimate your potential home price based on income and other factors. You may be able to afford a home worth $301,660, with a monthly payment of $2,079.

Can I afford a 300K house on a $70 K salary? ›

On a $70,000 income, you'll likely be able to afford a home that costs $280,000–380,000. The exact amount will depend on how much debt you have and where you live — as well as the type of home loan you get.

How to afford a $200 000 dollar home? ›

What income is required for a 200k mortgage? To be approved for a $200,000 mortgage with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, you will need an approximate income of $62,000 annually.

Can I buy a 300K house with 60k salary? ›

To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.

How much can I borrow with a 700 credit score? ›

The average credit limit for those with a 700 credit score is right around $4,500. However, if you were to pull out a 700 credit score personal loan, you should be able to access more money than you would with just a credit card.

How much is a downpayment on a 100k house? ›

With a 20% down payment (or $20,000) on a 30-year $100,000 mortgage, you'd need to make at least $1,418 in minimum monthly income to afford it. That means your annual household income would have to be around $17,000 to afford a $100,000 home with 20% down.

How much is a downpayment on a 300K house? ›

How much is the down payment for a $300K house? You'll need a down payment of $9,000, or 3 percent, if you're buying a $300K house with a conventional loan. If you're using an FHA loan, you'll need a downpayment of $10,500, which is 3.5 percent of the purchase price.

Can I buy a house with a 557 credit score? ›

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires a credit score of at least 500 to buy a home with an FHA loan. A minimum of 580 is needed to make the minimum down payment of 3.5%. However, some lenders require a score of 620 to 640 to qualify.

How much is a 300 000 mortgage per month? ›

On a $300,000 mortgage with a 3% APR, you'd pay $2,071.74 per month on a 15-year loan and $1,264.81 on a 30-year loan, not including escrow. Escrow costs vary depending on your home's location, insurer, and other details.

Is 30k enough for a down payment on a house? ›

The average down payment for a house in California typically ranges between 15% to 20% of the purchase price, but can vary depending on your mortgage lender and financial situation. For example, if you purchase a $1,500,000 home in La Jolla, expect to make a down payment of at least $225,000 to $300,000 on average.

Is 30K a year middle class? ›

As of 2022, Pew identified a middle-income household as anywhere between $30,000 (for a single adult) to $67,000 (for a household of five).

What is considered a good credit score to buy a house? ›

It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.

Can I get a mortgage on 20k a year? ›

Yes, it's possible to get a mortgage on 20k a year. Assuming a loan term of 30 years with an interest rate of 5%, you may qualify for a home up to $74,066 and have a monthly payment of $467.

How to afford a $1000000 house? ›

To afford a 1 million dollar home, you need a minimum annual income of $200,000 to $225,000. You'll also need to have enough money saved for the down payment and closing costs, which can add up to over 20% of the purchase price. There are a variety of reasons someone might want a million-dollar home in the first place.

Can a family of 4 live on 100k a year? ›

100k a year is also considered a six figure salary, meaning that you are considered a high-earning salary. Is $100k a year good money for a married couple? $100,000 is a good salary for a married couple and a family of four. $100,000 a year is still an above average income for a family.

What car can I afford with a 100k salary? ›

How much car can I afford based on salary?
Annual salary (pre-tax)Estimated monthly car payment should not exceed
$50,000$416 per month
$75,000$625 per month
$100,000$833 per month
$125,000$1,042 per month
2 more rows
Apr 4, 2023

How much is $15 an hour annually? ›

Based on a standard work week of 40 hours, a full-time employee works 2,080 hours per year (40 hours a week x 52 weeks a year). So if an employee makes $15 an hour working 40 hours a week, they make about $31,200 (15 multiplied by 2,080).

What is the salary of 23 an hour? ›

$23 an hour is how much a year? If you make $23 an hour, your yearly salary would be $47,840.

Can I buy a house 4 times my salary? ›

Come up with an initial estimate

If less than 20% of your income goes to pay down debt, a home that is around 4 times your income may be suitable. If more than 20% of your monthly income goes to pay down existing debts in the household, dial the purchase price to 3 times.

How much is 18 dollars an hour annually? ›

Exactly how much is $18 an hour per year? If you're working full time, $18 an hour equals $37,440 per year. To get this number, multiply your hours per week — 40 for full time — by the number of weeks per year — 52.

How much house can I afford making $36,000 a year? ›

For example, if you make $3,000 a month ($36,000 a year), you can afford a mortgage with a monthly payment no higher than $1,080 ($3,000 x 0.36). Your total household expense should not exceed $1,290 a month ($3,000 x 0.43). How much house can I afford with an FHA loan?

How much house can I afford if I make 150 000 a year? ›

The lower your down payment, the higher your monthly mortgage payment. “With a $150,000 income, you could potentially save up to $100,000 – 20 percent – within a few years,” says Shri Ganeshram, CEO of real estate website Awning. “This would allow you to purchase a home in the $500,000 range.”

How much is 70k 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.

Is $75,000 a good salary? ›

While people have different qualifications and different ideas of what constitutes a good salary, most would consider $75,000 per year to be good pay. Luckily, whether a person is just starting out in a new role or already has some experience, there are indeed many opportunities in this pay range.

How to afford an expensive house? ›

Here are ten of the best strategies to afford more house in a high-rate environment.
  1. Apply for down payment assistance. ...
  2. Use a down payment gift. ...
  3. Get closing cost assistance. ...
  4. Find special mortgages in your career field. ...
  5. Consider an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) ...
  6. Negotiate a lower mortgage rate.
Jul 11, 2022

Can I afford a $2 million house? ›

What Salary Is Needed to Afford a $2 Million Home? Assuming you are financing the purchase and put at least 20% down, most lenders will require you to have a salary of at least $450,000 per year to qualify for a $2 million home loan. This could be household income if both you and your spouse are on the loan.

How much is a $800,000 dollar house payment? ›

Monthly payments on an $800,000 mortgage

At a 7.00% fixed interest rate, your monthly mortgage payment on a 30-year mortgage might total $5,322 a month, while a 15-year might cost $7,191 a month.

How much income do you need to qualify for a $600 000 mortgage? ›

Following this logic, you would need to earn at least $300,000 per year to buy a $600,000 home, which is twice your salary. “Other rules say you should aim to spend less than 28% of your pre-tax monthly income on a mortgage,” says Hill.

How much is 60k a year hourly? ›

If you make $60,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $28.85.

How much income do you need to buy a $400000 house? ›

Assuming a 30-year fixed conventional mortgage and a 20 percent down payment of $80,000, with a high 6.88 percent interest rate, borrowers must earn a minimum of $105,864 each year to afford a home priced at $400,000.

How much house can I get for $2 000 a month? ›

With $2,000 per month to spend on your mortgage payment, you are likely to qualify for a home with a purchase price between $250,000 to $300,000, said Matt Ward, a real estate agent in Nashville. Ward also points out that other financial factors will impact your home purchase budget.

What is the highest credit score? ›

The base FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850, and a good credit score is between 670 and 739 within that range.

How to go from 700 to 850 credit score? ›

Still, if a perfect credit score is your goal, you may want to consider these expert credit tips compiled from credit score perfectionists:
  1. Pay your credit card bills often. ...
  2. Keep a solid payment history. ...
  3. Consider your credit mix. ...
  4. Increase your credit limit. ...
  5. Don't close old accounts. ...
  6. Regularly monitor your credit report.

How big of a loan can I get with a 720 credit score? ›

You can borrow $50,000 - $100,000+ with a 720 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.

How much is a 200k mortgage per month? ›

On a $200,000, 30-year mortgage with a 4% fixed interest rate, your monthly payment would come out to $954.83 — not including taxes or insurance. But these can vary greatly depending on your insurance policy, loan type, down payment size, and more.

How much is a 30-year mortgage on $100 000? ›

Assuming principal and interest only, the monthly payment on a $100,000 loan with an APR of 3% would come out to $421.60 on a 30-year term and $690.58 on a 15-year one.

What's the lowest amount you can put down on a house? ›

Down Payment On Your Primary Residence

Some lenders might require you to put 5% down, while others may only require 3%. If you have a credit score above 620, your lender may give you access to lower down payment loan options. FHA loan: With an FHA loan, you'll need a down payment of at least 3.5%.

How much does a couple need to make to buy a $400 K house? ›

The annual salary needed to afford a $400,000 home is about $165,000. Over the past two years, home prices have skyrocketed amid the combined impacts of a global pandemic and housing inventory shortages. Between 2020 and 2022, home prices soared 30%, according to Freddie Mac.

How much house can I afford if I make $40000 a year? ›

How much house can I afford with 40,000 a year? With a $40,000 annual salary, you should be able to afford a home that is between $100,000 and $160,000. The final amount that a bank is willing to offer will depend on your financial history and current credit score.

How much should you make to buy a 500k house? ›

To afford a $500,000 home, a person would typically need to make about $140,000 a year, said Realtor.com economic data analyst Hannah Jones. The principal and interest payments would total $2,791 per month, and with taxes and insurance, that number comes up to $3,508.

How much should I save for a $300000 house? ›

Most lenders are looking for 20% down payments. That's $60,000 on a $300,000 home. With 20% down, you'll have a better chance of getting approved for a loan. And you'll earn a better mortgage rate.

How much money should I have saved to buy a 300K house? ›

Down payment options for a $300K house

While some may require no down payment at all, most will need at least 3% of the purchase price ($9,000) or 3.5% ($10,500). However, if you have a down payment of 20% ($60,000), you could potentially save a substantial amount on mortgage insurance and interest charges.

How much should I save for a $300 K house? ›

If you want to buy a home for around $300,000 and you can't qualify for a loan program that requires no down payment, you'll need at least $10,500 to $15,000. You'll also need closing costs and other fees, which typically run between 2 and 5% of the purchase price.

How much do I need to save to buy a 400k house? ›

What income is required for a 400k mortgage? To afford a $400,000 house, borrowers need $55,600 in cash to put 10 percent down. With a 30-year mortgage, your monthly income should be at least $8200 and your monthly payments on existing debt should not exceed $981.

Can I afford a 300K house on a 70K salary? ›

On a $70,000 income, you'll likely be able to afford a home that costs $280,000–380,000. The exact amount will depend on how much debt you have and where you live — as well as the type of home loan you get.

Can I buy a 300K house with a 100K salary? ›

A $100K salary puts you in a good position to buy a home

With a $100,000 salary, you have a shot at a great home buying budget — likely in the high-$300,000 to $400,000 range or above.

What is the average monthly payment on a $300000 house? ›

On a $300,000 mortgage with a 3% APR, you'd pay $2,071.74 per month on a 15-year loan and $1,264.81 on a 30-year loan, not including escrow. Escrow costs vary depending on your home's location, insurer, and other details.

What credit score is needed to buy a house with no money down? ›

What credit score do I need to buy a house with no money down? No-down-payment lenders usually set 620 as the lowest credit score to buy a house. You can boost your credit score by keeping your revolving charge card balances to a minimum and paying all your bills on time.

What house can I afford with a $100 K salary? ›

It means you should spend no more than 28 percent of your income on your housing expenses and no more than 36 percent of your income on your total debt payments. If you're earning $100,000 per year, your average monthly (gross) income is $8,333. So, your mortgage payment should be $2,333 or less.

What is a typical down payment on a house? ›

How Much Is An Average Down Payment On A House? The average first-time buyer pays about 6% of the home price for their down payment, while repeat buyers put down 13%, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®.

What salary do I need to afford a 500k house? ›

The principal and interest payments would total $5,582 per month, and with taxes and insurance, that number comes out to $7,015. By making sure only 30% of income is being allocated toward that amount, a person would have to make $280,625, Jones said.

Who can afford a 500k house? ›

To finance a 500k mortgage, you'll need to earn roughly $150,000 – $155,000 each year. We calculated the amount of money you'll need for a 500k mortgage based on 20% down payment and a monthly payment of 25% of your monthly income.

How long can you live off 400k? ›

Using our portfolio of $400,000 and the 4% withdrawal rate, you could withdraw $16,000 annually from your retirement accounts and expect your money to last for at least 30 years.

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