How much house can I afford on $150,000 a year?

On a $150K salary, you can typically afford a home priced between $525,000 and $675,000 using the 28% rule, depending on down payment and interest rates. Your maximum monthly housing payment would be about $3,500.

How much house can I afford on $200,000 a year?

On a $200K salary, the 28% rule sets your max housing payment at $4,667/month, supporting a home price of roughly $700,000-$900,000 depending on down payment and rate. With 20% down at 6.5%, you could afford approximately $850,000.

How Much House Can I Afford on $150K, $200K, or $250K Salary? (2026)

At higher income levels, you can afford homes in virtually every market — but smart borrowing still matters. Here’s what $150K, $200K, and $250K salaries actually buy.

Maximum Home Price by Salary

Salary	Max Payment (28%)	Max Home (5% down)	Max Home (10% down)	Max Home (20% down)
$150,000	$3,500	$540,000	$575,000	$660,000
$175,000	$4,083	$635,000	$680,000	$780,000
$200,000	$4,667	$730,000	$780,000	$895,000
$225,000	$5,250	$825,000	$880,000	$1,010,000
$250,000	$5,833	$920,000	$980,000	$1,125,000

Assumes 6.5% rate, 30-year fixed, 1.1% property tax, $200/month insurance.

$150K Salary: Affordability by Market

Metro Area	Median Home Price	Affordable?
Oklahoma City	$220,000	✅ Very easy
Indianapolis	$235,000	✅ Very easy
Dallas	$350,000	✅ Easy
Atlanta	$370,000	✅ Comfortable
Phoenix	$420,000	✅ Comfortable
Denver	$530,000	✅ Yes
Portland	$510,000	✅ Yes
Seattle	$750,000	❌ Stretch with 5% down
Boston	$690,000	❌ Stretch
New York (metro)	$600,000	✅ Yes (suburbs)
San Francisco	$1,200,000	❌ No
San Jose	$1,450,000	❌ No

$200K Salary: Affordability by Market

Metro Area	Median Home Price	Affordable?
Dallas	$350,000	✅ Very easy
Phoenix	$420,000	✅ Easy
Denver	$530,000	✅ Comfortable
Seattle	$750,000	✅ Yes (with 10%+ down)
Boston	$690,000	✅ Yes
San Diego	$850,000	⚠️ Tight (needs 20% down)
Los Angeles	$950,000	❌ Stretch
San Francisco	$1,200,000	❌ No

$250K Salary: Affordability by Market

Metro Area	Median Home Price	Affordable?
Seattle	$750,000	✅ Comfortable
Boston	$690,000	✅ Comfortable
San Diego	$850,000	✅ Yes
Los Angeles	$950,000	✅ Yes (with 20% down)
New York City	$800,000	✅ Yes
San Francisco	$1,200,000	❌ Stretch
San Jose	$1,450,000	❌ No

Jumbo Loan Considerations

At these income levels, you may cross into jumbo loan territory:

Loan Type	2026 Limit	Rate Premium	Key Differences
Conforming	$806,500 (most areas)	Baseline	Easier qualification
High-balance conforming	Up to $1,209,750 (high-cost areas)	+0.125-0.25%	Available in 200+ counties
Jumbo	No limit	+0.25-0.50%	Requires 10-20% down, 700+ credit

How Much House Should You Buy?

Just because you can afford a $900K home on $200K salary doesn’t mean you should:

Affordability Level	Housing as % of Gross	Monthly at $200K	Savings Rate
Conservative	20%	$3,333	25-35%
Comfortable	25%	$4,167	20-25%
Maximum (28% rule)	28%	$4,667	15-20%
Stretched	33%	$5,500	10-15%

Key Takeaways

$150K affords a $540K-$660K home — comfortable in ~42 states and most metros outside the coasts
$200K affords a $730K-$895K home — opens up Seattle, Boston, and most of LA
$250K affords $920K-$1.1M+ — every market except the absolute peak of SF and SJ
A 20% down payment adds $100K-$200K to your range vs. 5% down at higher price points
Consider buying below your max — keeping housing at 20-25% of income accelerates wealth building
Jumbo loans above $806,500 may require higher down payments and credit scores

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