Your monthly mortgage payment will be made up of four parts: principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI). For purposes of our calculations, we’ll be focusing on principal and interest, but keep this in mind: The total amount you’ll pay in principal and interest each month can vary significantly depending on your interest rate and the length of your loan term. It’s time now to delve into how both of these factors, along with other factors, impact a $400,000 mortgage payment.
How Term Length Impacts A $400K Mortgage
Simply put, the shorter your mortgage term length, the higher your mortgage payment will be each month. That’s because you’ll have less time to pay off the total principal balance and you’ll have to do so in significantly fewer payments. For example, on a $400K mortgage with a 7% fixed rate, the monthly payment on a 15-year loan is $3,595. The payment on a 30-year loan, by comparison, is $2,661. Just keep in mind that neither amount factors in the cost of insurance or property taxes, which will both be included in your monthly payment.
Consider, too, that although you’ll pay more each month with a 15-year mortgage than you’d pay monthly with a 30-year mortgage, you’re likely to have a lower interest rate on the 15-year plan since rates tend to be lower on shorter-term mortgages. For example, with all other factors being equal, the interest rate on a 30-year $400,000 loan might be 7.9%, while the rate on a 15-year loan for the same amount might be 6.9%.
How Interest Rate Impacts A $400K Mortgage
As already noted, another factor that will impact your monthly mortgage payment on a $400K loan is the interest rate you qualify for. The higher the interest rate, the higher your monthly payment. Sticking with the example in the section above, a 30-year $400K mortgage at a 7% interest rate would have a monthly payment of $2,661. Meanwhile, the same 30-year $400K mortgage at a 7.5% interest rate would have a monthly payment of $2,797, taxes and insurance not included.
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
While the aforementioned examples use a fixed-rate mortgage for simplicity, it’s possible that you could choose an adjustable-rate mortgage. With this option, home buyers have an introductory rate for an agreed-upon time period after which their interest rate can go up, down or both, depending on how the market fluctuates over time.
What Determines Your Mortgage Rate?
Your interest rate is determined not only by your term length, but by other factors that include market interest rates, your credit score, your loan-to-value ratio, your down payment and the loan program of your choosing. Your interest rate will also be affected by your individual lender, so be sure to compare rate quotes from different lenders to see who’ll provide you with your best option.
Additional Costs To Consider
As mentioned, in addition to the principal and interest associated with your mortgage, you’ll have to factor some other costs into your monthly mortgage payment. Specifically, many lenders require that you pay into an escrow account every month to cover the cost of homeowners insurance and property taxes. And, if you’re taking out a conventional loan but putting down less than 20%, you’ll need to pay private mortgage insurance – leading to an even higher monthly payment.
If you live in a home connected to a homeowners association (HOA), you’ll also have to pay monthly or yearly HOA dues for various amenities that the HOA provides to residents of the neighborhood. Like interest rate, loan term, insurance costs and property taxes, HOA dues can affect the affordability of a $400K mortgage.
FAQs
Monthly payments for a $400,000 mortgage
| Annual Percentage Rate (APR) | Monthly payment (15 year) | Monthly payment (30 year) |
|---|
| 6.50% | $3,484.43 | $2,528.27 |
| 6.75% | $3,539.64 | $2,594.39 |
| 7.00% | $3,595.31 | $2,661.21 |
| 7.25% | $3,651.45 | $2,728.71 |
3 more rowsWhat income is required for a 400k mortgage? To afford a $400,000 house, borrowers need $55,600 in cash to put 10 percent down. With a 30-year mortgage, your monthly income should be at least $8200 and your monthly payments on existing debt should not exceed $981. (This is an estimated example.)
Can I afford a 400k house on 100k salary? ›
Assuming you have a 5% down payment (which is what would be required for an FHA loan) and less than 6% in other debts per month (~$500) you could afford a $400,000 home on a $100,000 salary. This number could change substantially, however, depending on if you have a bigger down payment or less debt.
How much do you need to make to get approved for a 200K mortgage? ›
Expect to need at least $70K of income
A yearly income of about $70,000 is generally needed for approval on a 200K mortgage. Remember, though, that this is just a rough estimation, and it hinges on certain assumptions about the buyer's financial circ*mstances.
How much is a $400 000 mortgage for 30 years? ›
As of January 9, 2024, the national average mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.06%. With these terms, if you bought a $400,000 house and put 20% down, your monthly mortgage payment would be $2,141. With these numbers, though, your total interest payment would be $451,844 throughout the loan.
What income is needed for a 500K mortgage? ›
In today's climate, the income required to purchase a $500,000 home varies greatly based on personal finances, down payment amount, and interest rate. However, assuming a market rate of 7% and a 10% down payment, your household income would need to be about $128,000 to afford a $500,000 home.
Can a single person afford a 400k house? ›
The annual salary needed to afford a $400,000 home is about $127,000. Over the past few years, prospective homeowners have chased a moving target: homeownership. The median sales price of houses sold in the U.S. stood at $417,700 in the fourth quarter of 2023—down from a peak of $479,500 in Q4 2022.
Can I afford a 250k house on 50k salary? ›
A person who makes $50,000 a year might be able to afford a house worth anywhere from $180,000 to nearly $300,000. That's because your annual salary isn't the only variable that determines your home buying budget. You also have to consider your credit score, current debts, mortgage rates, and many other factors.
Can I afford a 300k house on a 60k salary? ›
An individual earning $60,000 a year may buy a home worth ranging from $180,000 to over $300,000. That's because your wage isn't the only factor that affects your house purchase budget. Your credit score, existing debts, mortgage rates, and a variety of other considerations must all be taken into account.
How much house can I afford if I make $36,000 a year? ›
On a salary of $36,000 per year, you can afford a house priced around $100,000-$110,000 with a monthly payment of just over $1,000. This assumes you have no other debts you're paying off, but also that you haven't been able to save much for a down payment.
How much income you need to buy a house in a specific price range largely depends on the type of loan you're applying for, where you live and other factors. For example, at current mortgage rates, borrowers with an FHA loan and a 10% down payment would need to earn about $70,000 a year to afford a $400,000 house.
What is the 28 36 rule? ›
According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment. Homeowners Insurance.
Can I afford a 200K house on 40K a year? ›
Housing-affordability guidelines suggest spending no more than about one-third of your income on housing. So, by tripling the $15,600 annual total, you'll find that you'd need to earn at least $46,800 a year to afford the monthly payments on a $200,000 home.
How much can I borrow with a 700 credit score? ›
Potential lenders use your credit score when deciding whether to grant you a loan. However, the amount you can borrow will ultimately depend on the lender's discretion. Since 700 is considered a good credit score, you will likely qualify for most loans and be able to borrow $100,000 or more.
Can I buy a house making 25K a year? ›
Yes, you can buy a house if you make 25K a year. But purchasing a home on any income takes planning. You first need to understand how banks assess whether or not they'll give you a mortgage loan, what down payment assistance is available, and other factors that influence your ability to buy a house.
What is the monthly payment on a 450k mortgage? ›
With a $450,000 mortgage and an APR of 6%, you'd pay $3,797.36 per month for a 15-year loan and $2,697.98 for a 30-year loan. Keep in mind, these amounts only include principal and interest. In many cases, your monthly payment will also include other expenses, too.
What is the monthly payment on a 350k mortgage? ›
On a $350,000, 30-year mortgage with a 6% APR, you can expect a monthly payment of $2,098.43, not including taxes and interest (these vary by location and property, so they can't be calculated without more detail). The payment would jump to $2,953.50 for a 15-year loan.
How much do I need to make to afford a $300 K house? ›
How much do I need to make to buy a $300K house? To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.
How much is a $300 000 mortgage for 30 years? ›
30-year mortgage example
Say you wanted to take out a 30-year, $300,000 mortgage with a 3% annual percentage rate, or APR. Plug the information into your mortgage calculator, and you'll see that your estimated monthly mortgage payment will be $1,265. You'll pay more than $155,000 in interest over the life of the loan.
