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Further Reading

Determining an Affordable Mortgage


One of the first steps to buying a home — a step that should be done long before you start looking at real estate — is assessing your budget. “What can I truly afford?” is a question that needs to be answered earnestly. Some key factors to weigh are your gross monthly income, your existing debt and monthly expenses, your credit profile, and the funds you have available to put down on a house and cover necessary costs.

A common rule of thumb is that your total debts, including your mortgage, should not exceed 36% of your monthly income. Housing expenses alone should not exceed 28%. So if you make $40,000 a year divided by 12 months, that’s $3,333 a month, which multiplied by 28% is roughly $933. Therefore, your monthly mortgage payment — including principal, interest, taxes, insurance and/or homeowner dues —­­ shouldn’t be more than $933. That number will give you a good idea of what homes are potentially in your price range and narrow your focus. Here are some additional considerations:

* Courtesy, Bankrate.com, April 17, 2017