Affordability
Every guide, comparison, calculator, and mortgage term we've published on this topic — 17 in total, written for people who have never bought a home.
Read the Affordability topic hub overview →- Buying a home with 20% downGuide6 min20% down eliminates PMI and unlocks the best rate. Here's when it's worth it — and when it isn't.
- Buying a home with 3% downGuide6 minConventional 97, HomeReady, and Home Possible let first-time buyers put just 3% down. Here's how each works.
- Buying a home with 5% downGuide6 min5% down is the sweet spot for most buyers — better PMI than 3%, no depletion of savings like 20%. Here's the math.
- Can gift funds be used for a down payment?Guide6 minYes — but the documentation and source rules are strict. Here's exactly how to receive and document a gift.
- Can I afford a home making $100,000 a year?Guide8 minA $100K salary opens most of the market — here's the price range, monthly payment, and program pick that actually fits.
- Can I afford a home making $150,000 a year?Guide8 minAt $150K, the question shifts from 'can I' to 'should I' — here's how to size the right payment and pick the smartest program.
- Can I afford a home making $50,000 a year?Guide7 minA realistic look at the price range, monthly payment, and loan program a $50K salary actually supports in 2026.
- Can I afford a home making $75,000 a year?Guide7 minThe real 2026 answer on price range, monthly payment, and loan programs for a $75K household income.
- Closing Costs CalculatorCalculator3 minCash to close, itemized.
- Down payment assistance (DPA): what it is and how to use itGuide7 minThere are 2,000+ down-payment-assistance programs in the US. Most buyers who qualify never apply. Here's the map.
- DTI CalculatorCalculator3 minFront-end and back-end in one pass.
- DTI explained: front-end vs back-endGuide6 minThe ratio that decides your ceiling.
- How much down payment do I really need?Guide7 minThe 20% rule is a myth. Here's what each program actually requires — and what it costs you to put less down.
- How much house can I afford?Guide6 minThe full affordability framework.
- How much income do I need to buy a $400,000 house?Guide7 minWorking backwards from a $400K purchase price to the salary, monthly payment, and cash-to-close it actually requires.
- How much income do I need to buy a $600,000 house?Guide8 minThe salary, monthly payment, and cash reserves a $600K purchase actually requires in 2026.
- PMI vs a larger down payment: which wins?Guide6 minThe tradeoff is real — and depends on your credit, market, and alternative uses of cash. Here's the math.