How Big a Mortgage Can I Afford?
Not only does owning a home give you a haven for yourself and your family, it makes great financial sense, too.
This calculation assumes a 28 percent income tax bracket. If your bracket is higher, your savings will be, too.
Rent: _____
Multiplier: X 1.32
Mortgage payment: ______
Because of tax deductions, you can make a mortgage payment—including taxes and insurance—that is approximately one-third larger than your current rent payment and end up with the same amount of income.
For more help, use Fannie Mae’s online mortgage calculators at
http://www.fanniemae.com/homebuyers/calculators/index.jhtml?p=Resources&s=Calculators
8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order
- Develop a family budget. Instead of budgeting what you’d like to spend, use receipts/bank statements to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months. One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable costs such as rent.
- Reduce your debt. Generally speaking, lenders look for a total debt load of no more than 36 percent of income. Since this figure includes your mortgage, which typically ranges between 25 percent and 28 percent of income, you need to get the rest of installment debt—car loans, student loans, revolving balances on credit cards—down to between 8 percent and 10 percent of your total income.
- Get a handle on expenses. You probably know how much you spend on rent and utilities, but little expenses add up. Try writing down everything you spend for one month. You’ll probably see some great ways to save.
- Increase your income. It may be necessary to take on a second, part-time job to get your income at a high-enough level to qualify for the home you want.
- Save for a downpayment. Although it’s possible to get a mortgage with only 5 percent down—or even less in some cases—you can usually get a better rate and a lower overall cost if you put down more. Shoot for saving a 20 percent downpayment.
- Create a house fund. Don’t just plan on saving whatever’s left toward a downpayment. Instead decide on a certain amount a month you want to save, then put it away as you pay your monthly bills.
- Keep your job. While you don’t need to be in the same job forever to qualify, having a job for less than two years may mean you have to pay a higher interest rate.
- Establish a good credit history. Get a credit card and make payments by the due date. Do the same for all your other bills. Pay off the entire balance promptly.
Budget Basics Work Sheet
- After completing your actual budget, my suggestion is to figure a goal of where you can cut expenses and then for six months, practice the discipline of staying within these goals. Put the "leftover" money that you are expecting to save (or use towards your mortgage) into a savings account that you do not touch. This money can be later used as your "Home Fund" when you are ready to purchase your first home.
The Worksheet
Complete this worksheet for 3 years worth of monthly itemized bank statements and use the average over 3 years. Many banks offer statements online and some even categorize for you and give you a year average. My bank, Wells Fargo, even lets me export to Excel for easy manipulation. If you don't have the time or energy (though it will be well spent!) to do 3 years, then do a minimum of 12 months. Three years, however, should wash out any oddball emergencies/trips/etc.
Income
Take-Home Pay/All Family Members
Child Support/Alimony
Pension/Social Security
Disability/Other Insurance
Interest/Dividends
Other
_____
(A) Total Income
Expenses
Rent/Mortgage
Life Insurance
Health/Disability Insurance
Vehicle Insurance
Homeowners or Other Insurance
Car Payments
Other Loan Payments
Savings/Pension Contribution
Utilities
Credit Card Payments
Car Upkeep
Clothing
Personal Care Products
Groceries
Food Prepared Outside the Home
Medical/Dental/Prescriptions
Household Goods
Recreation/Entertainment
Child Care
Education
Charitable Donations
Miscellaneous
______
(B) Total Expenses
Remaining Income After Expenses = (A-B)
10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership
1. Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
2. Develop a wish list of what you’d like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.
3. Select three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
4. Determine if you have enough saved to cover your downpayment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees average between 2 percent and 7 percent of the home price.
5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.
6. Determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Also explore different loans options and decide what’s best for you.
7. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan.
8. Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or downpayment-assistance programs.
9. Calculate the costs of homeownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable.
10. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help you through the process.
10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
1. Be picky, but don’t be unrealistic. There is no perfect home.
2. Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you.
3. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your downpayment and your closing costs.
4. Don’t wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage before you start looking.
5. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion.
6. Decide when you could move. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area?
7. Think long-term. Are you looking for a starter house with the idea of moving up in a few years or do you hope to stay in this home longer? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that suit you best.
8. Don’t let yourself be “house poor”. If you max yourself out to buy the biggest home you can afford, you’ll have no money left for maintenance or decoration or to save money for other financial goals.
9. Don’t be naïve. Insist on a home inspection and, if possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year.
10. Get help. Consider hiring a REALTOR as a buyer’s representative. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. And often, buyer’s reps are paid out of the seller’s commission payment.
Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. www.REALTOR.org/realtormag
