How much house can I afford on $30,000 a year?
$96,975 home price with 10% down
$122,393 interest over 30 years
Principal $87,277 Interest $122,393. 58¢ of every dollar paid goes to interest.
Home price whose payment ($700.00 a month including estimated property tax and PMI) is 28% of $30,000 gross income, with 10% down and a 30-year loan at 7.03%, the Freddie Mac average for the week of September 24, 2026.
That is a $87,277 mortgage and a $9,697 down payment.
Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of September 24, 2026. An average, not an offer.
By down payment
| Down payment | Home price | Cash down | Loan | Principal and interest | PMI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | $90,565 | $2,717 | $87,848 | $586.23 | $54.91 |
| 5% | $92,308 | $4,615 | $87,693 | $585.19 | $54.81 |
| 10% | $96,975 | $9,697 | $87,277 | $582.42 | $54.55 |
| 20% | $116,890 | $23,378 | $93,512 | $624.02 | — |
28% and 36% of income
| Gross monthly income | $2,500.00 |
|---|---|
| 28% for housing | $700.00 |
| 36% for all debts, minus $0 other debts | $900.00 |
| Housing budget used (the lower) | $700.00 |
Stretching to the 36% line with no other debts would allow about $124,682. Property tax is 0.78% a year (Estimate: the median of the 32 state rates we have sourced); insurance is not included because no sourced average exists for this selection.
If rates move
| 30-year rate | Home price | Loan | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.03% | $105,647 | $95,082 | +$8,672 |
| 6.53% | $101,172 | $91,055 | +$4,198 |
| 7.03% this week's average | $96,975 | $87,277 | $0 |
| 7.53% | $93,036 | $83,733 | −$3,938 |
| 8.03% | $89,340 | $80,406 | −$7,635 |
Questions
How much house can I afford on $30,000 a year?
About $96,975 with 10% down at this week's 7.03% average, if the full payment stays at 28% of gross income ($700.00 a month). With 20% down, about $116,890.
What mortgage can I get with a $30,000 salary?
A $87,277 loan at 10% down under the 28% guideline. Lenders also check total debts: at 36% of income, all debt payments together should stay under $900.00 a month.
How much house can I afford on $30,000 with no down payment savings?
With 3% down, about $90,565. The smaller down payment adds PMI (estimated at 0.75% of the loan a year) until the balance reaches 78% of the price.
How does the rate change what I can afford?
Each point matters: at 6.03% the same budget buys about $105,647, and at 8.03% about $89,340.
Would a 15-year mortgage change the answer?
Yes. At the 6.42% 15-year average, the same payment supports about $77,666 because more of each payment goes to principal.
Sources
- 30-year fixed mortgage average: 7.03%. Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), series MORTGAGE30US, as of September 24, 2026; retrieved September 26, 2026.
- 15-year fixed mortgage average: 6.42%. Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), series MORTGAGE15US, as of September 24, 2026; retrieved September 26, 2026.
- Property tax (median effective rate by state). Tax Foundation, effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing (Census ACS), Property Taxes by State, 2026 edition (2024 data). States not yet sourced use 0.78%, the median of the 32 state rates we have sourced, marked as an estimate.
- Homeowners insurance (average premium). NAIC homeowners report, 2022 data, HO-3 policies. Only states with a sourced figure include insurance.
- PMI assumption: 0.75% of the loan a year below 20% down. Typical range 0.5–1.5% (Urban Institute, Freddie Mac); ends at 78% of the original value under the Homeowners Protection Act (CFPB).
- 28/36 debt-to-income guideline. Lender guideline (Chase, Bankrate); CFPB debt-to-income guidance.
Numbers on this page last changed September 26, 2026. How they are calculated: methodology.