How much house can I afford with a $90K salary?

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A $90,000 per year salary means you’re earning more than the national median household income, which was $83,730 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This should put you in a good position to purchase a home, but your income isn’t the only factor that determines what you can afford.

Given 2025 prices, even a salary of $90,000 could limit your home choices in some markets. In markets such as San Antonio or Kansas City, Missouri, $90,000 is a good salary to buy a single-family home. However, in markets with a higher cost of living, it may be a stretch to afford a house with a $90,000 salary.

If you’re wondering, “How much house can I afford with a $90,000 salary?” here’s what you need to know.

The answer: $300,000 – $370,000

If you have a $90,000 annual salary, you can generally afford a house price between $300,000 and $370,000. However, this budget also depends on other factors, including your credit score, debts, current interest rates, and market conditions.

According to the Rocket Mortgage affordability calculator, a person can comfortably afford a home of around $310,722¹ with the following variables:

• Annual income of $90,000
• $18,000 cash to buy
• $250 monthly debt
• Credit score over 720
• Interest rate of 5.99%

You may be able to afford more if you’re willing to stretch your budget. You can use the affordability calculator yourself to enter your own details and get a ballpark figure of how much home you can afford.

'I make $90K a year: How much house can I afford?'

Although income is a key factor in determining how much house you can afford, it’s not the only one lenders consider. You should also review your credit report and know how much debt you have when estimating a realistic mortgage payment.

The Rocket Mortgage Home Affordability Calculator can help you identify your budget and determine your price range based on your annual gross income, where you want to buy, the amount of cash you have for a down payment and closing costs, your monthly debt payments, and your credit. The calculator will give you an affordable range, one that may be stretching your budget, and one that’s at the upper limit of what you can afford.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when estimating an affordable mortgage payment.

The 28% rule

When determining home affordability, many lenders use the 28/36 rule, or the 28% rule, as a general guide to determine what percentage of your income should go to your mortgage.

This housing expense ratio rule says that you should spend no more than 28% of your gross income on housing – principal, interest, taxes, and insurance – and no more than 36% on all debt, such as housing, student loans, car loans, credit cards, etc. The 28% amount is sometimes called the front-end ratio, while the 36% amount is the back-end ratio.

With a $90,000 salary, your monthly income is $7,500. Multiplying your monthly gross income by 0.28 is $2,100, and by 0.36 is $2,700. These rules say that your mortgage payment should ideally be less than $2,100. Additionally, your total monthly debt payments should be under $2,700.

Mortgage breakdown with a $90K salary

Is $90K a good salary for buying a home? Even a slight difference in the interest rate or down payment can significantly affect your monthly payment. Here are a few examples of how these factors can affect your monthly payment, using a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and the middle of the affordability range ($335,000) as an example home price.

In these scenarios, each potential monthly payment exceeds the $2,100 recommended by the 28% rule. You can bring these payments down to $2,100 by buying mortgage points to reduce your interest rate, or by coming up with a higher down payment.

We recommend using the Rocket Mortgage calculator to play around with different interest rates and variables to see what a typical payment would look like. Make sure that you also factor in property taxes and any homeowners association fees you may need to pay to get a complete picture of your monthly housing expenses.

Determining 'how much house can I afford?'

Every situation is different. Each of these factors also contributes to home affordability.

• Credit history. Mortgage lenders will look at your credit history to assess your financial reliability. For a conventional mortgage, the better your credit, the lower your interest rate and monthly mortgage payment will be. You no longer need to meet a minimum credit score requirement for conventional loans. However, lenders will still review your credit to assess the risk of lending you money.
• Down payment. The down payment is the amount you pay up front for a home. It usually ranges from 3% – 20% of the purchase price. A larger down payment will reduce your monthly payment and save you money on interest. If you put down less than 20% on a conventional loan, you'll have to pay for private mortgage insurance until you have 20% equity.
• Closing costs. Closing costs include fees and expenses associated with getting a mortgage and transferring legal ownership of the property. Closing costs usually range from 3% – 6% of the loan amount. For a $350,000 home loan,  you can expect to pay closing costs of $10,500 to $21,000, in addition to your down payment.
• Debt-to-income ratio. Your DTI ratio is your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income and multiplied by 100. Your DTI ratio shows lenders how much of your income goes to paying debts. Most lenders accept a DTI ratio of 43% or less, but it’s better to aim for 36% or less. With a low DTI, you may be able to qualify for better interest rates and a larger loan.
• Current interest rates. A mortgage rate is how much you pay the lender to borrow money. When interest rates are higher, you’ll spend more money on interest. When rates are lower, you can afford more home than you could with higher rates. You’ll typically receive a lower interest rate if you have better credit and a larger down payment.
• Loan term. The loan term is the length of time you have to repay the mortgage. Most loan terms are 15 or 30 years. A longer term reduces the lower monthly payment, but you’ll pay more in interest. A shorter term comes with a higher monthly payment, but you’ll save on interest.
• Property taxes and homeowners insurance. Property taxes and homeowners insurance directly affect your monthly housing expenses. Most homeowners pay these expenses through an escrow account. Their lender sets up the account, estimates the annual expense, and adds the cost to your monthly mortgage payment. Your lender pays the bills as they come due on your behalf with funds from the escrow account. Tax rates and insurance premiums depend on factors like home size and ZIP code. Higher tax and insurance rates may reduce your home affordability.
• Location and amenities. There’s a reason “location, location, location” is a common mantra in real estate. If you look at two comparable homes in the same city, the one in a sought-after community with nearby amenities is likely to sell for more. The more desirable a location, the less affordable a home may be.

Mortgage options with a $90,000 salary

Here are some financing options for buying a home with a $90,000 salary.

Loan types

There are different types of mortgages available with a $90K salary. Different types of loans have different requirements, and some may only be available to specific buyers. Here are some of the most common:

• Conventional loans. Conventional mortgages are not backed by a government agency. They are among the most common home loans, and you’ll generally qualify with good credit, a DTI ratio of less than 50% and at least 3% down.²
• FHA loans. Insured by the Federal Housing Administration, FHA loans allow you to purchase a home with a credit score of 500 with a 10% down payment or a credit score of 580 and a down payment of 3.5%.³ They are ideal for first-time buyers or people with imperfect credit. Rocket Mortgage requires a credit score of 580 and a down payment of 10% for FHA loans.
• VA loans. VA loans are backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and allow veterans, military personnel, and their surviving spouses to buy a home with no down payment. There’s no minimum credit score, but most lenders require a score of at least 620.
• USDA loans. USDA loans are backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and allow you to buy a home with no money down. There’s no minimum credit score requirement, but most lenders look for a score of 580 – 620. You must also meet income requirements and buy a home in an eligible suburban or rural area. Rocket Mortgage does not currently offer USDA loans.

First-time home buyer programs

Down payment assistance programs can make homeownership more affordable for moderate- to low-income borrowers. They offer grants, forgivable loans, and low-interest loans to help first-time home buyers cover down payments and closing costs.

First-time home buyers programs also may offer special loans with reduced interest rates and more favorable terms. Whether you qualify depends on the specific program. In many cases, you will need to meet specific income limits.

One+ by Rocket Mortgage is one such program to help first-time home buyers.⁴ It aims to make homeownership more affordable by allowing loans with as little as 1% down.

The bottom line: A salary of $90,000 is enough for a single-family home in many markets

Buying a home on a $90,000 salary is possible. However, income isn’t the only thing to consider when buying a home. Buyers also should consider their credit, interest rate, DTI ratio, down payment and closing costs, taxes and insurance, and more. Evaluating your finances and taking action to improve your creditworthiness and financial standing can help make homeownership more affordable.

Ready to start the home buying process? Start a mortgage application today with Rocket Mortgage and see what you qualify for.

¹ This is an estimate only and is not a substitute for the qualification process for credit. Results are based on a 30-Year Fixed conventional mortgage with an interest rate of 5.99% and closing costs that are 2.9% of the loan amount. Most mortgages require that your debt-to-income ratio doesn't exceed 43%. Property taxes are based on the tax rate of the location entered. If a rate isn't found, we've assumed a 1.25% tax rate. Homeowners insurance is based on average insurance costs of the location entered. If an average isn't found, we've assumed a payment of $67 a month. Results are not a commitment to lend and don't guarantee an approval or denial for credit.

²The 3% down payment option is only available on certain conventional loan products and is not available in all states. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

³To qualify for this offer, you must meet all standard FHA eligibility requirements. In addition, your total mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, cannot exceed 38% of your income, your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio cannot exceed 45%, and you must have 12 months of verifiable housing history immediately prior to your application, no late payments 30 days or greater in the last 12-months, and no derogatory marks on your credit report. Not available on jumbo loans. Asset statements may be needed, no more than 1 day of non-sufficient fund fees are allowed in the most recent 2 months prior to application. Additional restrictions/conditions may apply.

⁴Client will be required to pay a 1% down payment, with the ability to pay a maximum of 3%, and Rocket Mortgage will cover an additional 2% of the client’s purchase price as a down payment, or $2,000. Maximum grant amount is $7,000. Offer valid on primary residence, conventional loan products only. Maximum loan amount of $350,000. Cost of mortgage insurance premium passed through to client effective January 2, 2024. Offer valid only for home buyers when qualifying income is less than or equal to 80% area median income based on county where property is located. Not available with any other discounts or promotions and cannot be retroactively applied to previously closed loans or loans that have a locked rate. This is not a commitment to lend. Rocket Mortgage reserves the right to cancel/modify this offer at any time. Additional restrictions/conditions may apply.

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