Interest rates are the key factor in home affordability, not the home sales price. Home buyers mistakenly think that high real estate prices are keeping them from affording a mortgage payment, however, the biggest variable in home buyers affording a home are mortgage interest rates. (See chart below)
Given an annual income of $70,000 between a husband and wife, at the industry standard of 38% debt-to-income (DTI) ratio a couple could afford a mortgage loan of $525,700 at a rate of 3%. For every 1% increase in mortgage rates the borrower’s affordability drops another 10%. If rates were to merely raise 3% a borrower could not afford more than a home loan of $369,700.
Please call me for a free consultation to see what size home loan you qualify for.