Most real-estate experts will tell you to have at least 5% of the cost of a house on hand in savings to account for the down payment. But that’s only a minimum, and expectations can differ by community. In a city like New York, for example, minimum down payments are almost always 20%, no less.
Also question is, how much should a first time home buyer save?
For FHA loans, a down payment of 3.5% is required for maximum financing. So for the same $500,000 home, you would need to come up with at least $17,500. Including the closing costs, you should be putting aside approximately between $27,500 and $28,750 to get the keys to your first home.
One may also ask, do I need money in the bank to buy a house?
Calculating the money you’ll need to buy a house
The upfront cash needed to buy a house includes the down payment, 2-5% of your loan amount for closing costs and, sometimes, at least two months’ worth of cash reserves.
Can I afford a house on 40k a year?
Take a homebuyer who makes $40,000 a year. The maximum amount for monthly mortgage-related payments at 28% of gross income is $933. ($40,000 times 0.28 equals $11,200, and $11,200 divided by 12 months equals $933.33.)
How much house can I afford on $60 000 a year?
The usual rule of thumb is that you can afford a mortgage two to 2.5 times your annual income. That’s a $120,000 to $150,000 mortgage at $60,000.
What if I can’t afford closing costs?
One of the most common ways to pay for closing costs is to apply for a grant with a HUD-approved state or local housing agency or commission. These agencies set aside a certain amount of funds for closing cost grants for low-to-moderate income borrowers.