Want to buy a house in Texas’ metro areas? Here’s how much you need to earn to afford one (2024)

FAQs

How much do you need to make to afford a house in Texas? ›

DALLAS — Home buyers need to earn an income of $121,398 to comfortably afford a mortgage in North Texas, about $53,000 more than they needed in 2020, according to new data from Zillow. The data looked at the nationwide trend of home prices outpacing income gains over the last four years.

You must have a minimum credit score of 620. There areTDHCA income limits (ranging from $74,500 to $101,600 for one or two people, then a range from $85,675 to $115,920 for three or more people). There are also purchase price limits (ranging from $294,600 to $359,460 in most areas).

The house you can afford on a $70K income will likely be between $290,000 to $310,000. Aside from your gross monthly income, lenders look at your credit report, down payment, monthly debt payments (including car payments and personal loans), and your estimated mortgage rate, among other things.

What's considered a “good” salary in Texas depends on your household size and lifestyle, but most Texans make between $45,000 and $100,000 annually. Texas cities have differing costs of living, of course — Austin is much pricier than Amarillo — so where you live in the Lone Star State also matters.

Individuals need roughly $100,000 to live comfortably on their own, and families of four need about $224,000.

Texas first-time homebuyer qualifications

In general, you need to fall into the low-to-moderate-income category and have a credit score of at least 620. According to Experian, the average credit score of Texas was 695 as of 2023, so many residents can qualify.

In order to be approved for a USDA loan, you and the property must qualify. The property must be located in a rural area. This means the area must have a population of less than 20,000. In order to meet the income qualifications, you must make less than 15% above the average income for the area.

PHAs use income limits developed by HUD. HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low-income limits at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area, so you may be eligible at one PHA but not at another.

When obtaining an FHA-backed loan in Texas, borrowers must put down a minimum of at least 3.5% of the home's value upfront. Individuals with credit scores from 500-579 will be required to make 10% down payments. However, putting less than 10% down on an FHA loan can cost homebuyers more money in the long run.

What is the lowest income to buy a house? ›

Even though a lender takes a look at your income stream when you buy a home, there's no set income requirement to buy a home. A mortgage preapproval is a good first step to learn how much you can afford to spend on a home.

The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of loan. For an FHA loan, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.

The rule of 2.5 times your income stipulates that you shouldn't purchase a house that costs more than two and a half times your annual income. So, if you have a $50,000 annual salary, you should be able to afford a $125,000 home.

How much income you need to buy a house in a specific price range largely depends on the type of loan you're applying for, where you live and other factors. For example, at current mortgage rates, borrowers with an FHA loan and a 10% down payment would need to earn about $70,000 a year to afford a $400,000 house.

The rule of 2.5 times your income stipulates that you shouldn't purchase a house that costs more than two and a half times your annual income. So, if you have a $50,000 annual salary, you should be able to afford a $125,000 home. Explore what your mortgage payment might be with today's rates.

How much do I need to make to buy a $300K house? 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.

To finance a 300K mortgage, your income needed is roughly $90,000 – $95,000 each year. We calculated the amount of money you'll need for a 300K mortgage based on 20% down payment and a monthly payment of 25% of your monthly income. Your monthly income should be around $7592 in your instance.

Your payment should not be more than 28%. of your total gross monthly income. That means you'll need to make 11,500 dollars a month, or 138 k per year. in order to comfortably afford this 400,000 dollar home.