How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso (2024)

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Published Date: March 5, 2024

How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso (5)
Ever caught yourself daydreaming about living in a million-dollar home, only to dismiss it as a far-fetched idea? Well, contrary to popular belief, owning a million-dollar abode isn't just for the super-rich.If owning a million-dollar home is one of your life goals, you’re not alone. With some clever planning, a sprinkle of financial savvy and a pinch of determination, you may turn that dream home into a reality.

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We’ll examine what it takes to afford a million-dollar home, including annual income, mortgage payments and other ownership costs. While learning how to afford a million-dollar home, you’ll also see the unexpected costs, tax implications and possible advantages of buying a million-dollar vacation home.

What annual salary do you need to afford a million-dollar house?

To comfortably afford a home valued at $1 million, financial experts recommend an annual salary between $269,000 and $366,000.This range, however, is subject to variation depending on your:
  • Annual income
  • Debt-to-income ratio (DTI)
  • Credit score
  • Available down payment
  • Current interest rates
How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso (17)
It’s crucial to consider these factors to determine your financial ability to manage a mortgage on a $1 million home. Your income may ultimately decide if you rent or buy the home.

Example: If you put down 20% ($200,000) and have few monthly expenses, you can likely secure a mortgage with a good interest rate (say, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 7%). This would bring your monthly mortgage payment to about $5,300 before factoring in property taxes and homeowners insurance.

Even if your after-tax earnings are $200,000 annually, that’s still a quarter of your income going just to principal and interest. If your credit is low or your down payment isn’t as high, expect the monthly cost to be substantially more.With a 20% down payment, typical closing costs can be more than 2%, meaning an additional $16,000 on top of the $200,000 you’ll put down. That initial payment, DTI and credit score will determine your monthly mortgage.

Expected and unexpected expenses of owning a million-dollar home

It’s important to plan for expenses beyond the mortgage. Here are a few things to factor in: mortgage insurance, property taxes and possible HOA fees.Although mortgage insurance isn’t always necessary, your lender may require it if you supply a low down payment. If you put less than 20% down on a home, most lenders require private mortgage insurance (PMI). This can cost over 1% of the value of your loan. If you put down $200,000, you would likely need to pay an additional $375 monthly for PMI.Property taxes are also an important factor to consider. Rates are set by local jurisdictions so check with your real estate agent. The average national property tax rate is about 1%, so an extra $10,000 per year, or $833 per month, for a million-dollar home.If your neighborhood has a homeowners association (HOA), you’ll be charged monthly HOA fees on top of your mortgage. HOAs have additional regulations and codes agreed upon by neighbors. You may also need to seek approval for certain projects or renovations.In addition to the expense above, consider the cost of
  • Home and yard maintenance
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Possible property management
It’s important to know what to expect so you can factor all expenses into your finance plan.

Tax implications of a million-dollar home

You might not anticipate how your new home will affect your income taxes. For example, you can lose potential tax savings if your mortgage interest exceeds the current deduction threshold.The mortgage interest tax deduction has a limit of $750,000, which means that if you put down less than $250,000, you will incur “lost” tax savings each year until your principal loan balance drops below $750,000.If you decide to rent out your $1 million second home, you won’t be able to claim the mortgage interest deduction, but you could end up with tax-free rental income due to the various deductions for landlords. However, this can be a complicated adjustment, and finding renters and managing a rental — or short-term rental property — can be a hassle.

Financing strategies: How to buy a million-dollar house

Financing a mortgage on a million-dollar home doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, there are three financing strategies available for those who have the income for a million-dollar home.
How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso (18)
Paying interest on a large loan may seem intimidating, but with these financing tools, you’re one step closer to your million-dollar dream home.

Large down payments

Paying a larger down payment upfront can help you minimize the amount of interest you’ll pay on your principal. Although 20% is generally expected by lenders, providing more can help make your bid more competitive and potentially lower your mortgage payments.

Jumbo mortgages

If your home’s price exceeds the conventional loan limits set by your state — generally over one million dollars — you may require financing via a jumbo loan. These non-conforming loans may require a down payment of as little as 5% and are not subject to limits set by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Check with your county and lender to see if you qualify for a jumbo mortgage.

Home equity loans

A home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may help current homeowners pay for a mortgage on a million-dollar house. These financing tools work by leveraging the equity of your primary residence as a means of financing when buying a second home.

Simplified ownership of a million-dollar second home

And what if your million-dollar dream home is for vacations, not your primary residence? Those are hefty expenses for a home that you won’t use year-round. This is why many second home buyers are opting for co-ownership.
How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso (19)
Pacaso offers a modern way to buy a million-dollar second home. Our LLC model lets you co-own a luxury second home for as little as one-eighth of the home’s price, increasing your buying power and allowing you to own more house for less money. Pacaso takes care of the home’s maintenance, bill payments and management.

Co-ownership

Prospective second home owners are embracing Pacaso’s fully managed LLC co-ownership model. It offers the benefits of real estate ownership at a lower cost than whole home ownership and without property maintenance and management hassles.

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  • Available now$350,0001/8 ownershipShares left4 bds3.5 ba211 Palisades Cir #39, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
  • Available now$1,595,0001/8 ownershipShares left3 bds4 ba28 Smuggler Grove, Aspen, CO 81611
  • Available now$458,0001/8 ownershipShares left4 bds4 ba77137 Casa Del Sol, La Quinta, CA 92253
  • Available now$599,0001/8 ownershipShares left4 bds5 ba114 Residencia Punta Ballena, Cabo San Lucas, BS 23410 Mexico
  • Available now$845,0001/8 ownershipShares left3 bds3 ba20612 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
  • Available now$1,099,0001/8 ownershipShares left3 bds4 ba31851 Sea Level Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
  • Available now$2,234,0721/8 ownershipShares left7 bds11 ba27405 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
  • Available now$599,0001/8 ownershipShares left4 bds4 ba3095 Mountain Links Way, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
  • Available now$435,0001/8 ownershipShares left7 bds8 ba56887 Dancing Rock Loop #15, Bend, OR 97707
  • Available now$907,0001/8 ownershipShares left6 bds8 ba2488 Avalon Ave, Avalon, NJ 08202

    View all

Thanks to our transparent pricing model, you won’t be surprised by added expenses. And with our banking partners, Pacaso offers buyers access to a competitive-rate mortgage for up to 70% of the home’s share price.You can easily and equitably book time in your home two days to two years in advance. Pacaso homes are used exclusively by owners and their guests and are never get rented. And each owner has their own secure storage space in the home, so packing is minimal. Check out our listings and learn more about how Pacaso can help you own the million-dollar home of your dreams.Learning how to afford a million-dollar home means keeping expected and unexpected expenses in mind, simplifying ownership responsibilities and finding the best financing strategies that work for your financial goals.

How to afford a million-dollar home FAQ

Is now a good time to buy a million-dollar home?

Your readiness to buy a million-dollar home depends on your personal finances.

How much do you need to make to afford a million-dollar home?

The annual income to afford a million-dollar home is between $269,000 and $366,000.

What is a good down payment for a 1 million-dollar house?

In general, a 20% down payment is recommended. Putting 20% of the home price down for a million-dollar home results in a $200,000 down payment.

What are the benefits of buying a million-dollar house?

Some benefits of buying a million-dollar house include potentially profiting from value appreciation and the ability to retire there when you’re ready to do so.

What is the 28% rule?

The 28% rule refers to the percentage of your gross monthly income you should consider spending on your housing costs. According to this rule, you should only use 28% of your salary for million-dollar home purchases.

How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso (31)

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How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso (2024)

FAQs

How to Afford a Million-Dollar Home - Pacaso | Pacaso? ›

Ideally, you should make $208,000 or more a year to comfortably manage an $800,000 home purchase, based on the commonly used 28 percent rule (which states that you shouldn't spend more than 28 percent of your income on housing).

What income do you need for an $800000 mortgage? ›

Ideally, you should make $208,000 or more a year to comfortably manage an $800,000 home purchase, based on the commonly used 28 percent rule (which states that you shouldn't spend more than 28 percent of your income on housing).

What percentage of people own a million-dollar home? ›

Nearly one-in-ten U.S. homes are now worth at least $1 million. Analysis from Redfin has found that 8.2% of homes in America were million-dollar homes as of June 2023, nearing the June 2022 peak of 8.6%.

How are people affording million-dollar homes? ›

However, for a [million-dollar home], they are often going to do two loans. They're going to do a conventional loan, and then do an equity loan so that they can afford it.” She adds, “If the loan amount goes over a million, like over a million four, then they would have to get a jumbo loan.”

How much income to afford a 1 million-dollar house? ›

To determine how much money you need to earn annually to afford a one million dollar home based on the 2.5 times your income rule, you simply need to divide $1 million by 2.5. So, this rule suggests you need to earn $400,000 annually to afford a $1 million home.

What income do you need for a $750000 mortgage? ›

Income to afford a $750K house

That equates to a monthly income of $14,400, with 28 percent of that amounting to $4,032. So $4,032 is the maximum you should spend on monthly housing costs, including principal, interest, property taxes, insurance premiums and any HOA fees. That's less than the $4,800 estimated above.

What credit score is needed to buy a 800k house? ›

Mortgage lenders typically want to see a score of 620 or better before approving a conventional mortgage. There are government-insured mortgages if your score is lower, and if your score is 760 or higher you'll qualify for the best interest rates.

Are you a millionaire if you buy a million dollar house? ›

A millionaire is somebody with a net worth of at least $1 million. It's a simple math formula based on your net worth. When what you own (your assets) minus what you owe (your liabilities) equals more than a million dollars, you're a millionaire.

Which state has the most million dollar homes? ›

A map showing the share of cities with typical home values above $1 million, by U.S. state. Hawaii has the largest share, at 25%. California is second at 21.8%, and New Jersey a distant third at 9.8%.

Do most millionaires own their homes? ›

Most have paid off their mortgages. In 2020, 58% of the state's equity millionaires owned their homes free and clear.

Are million dollar homes hard to sell? ›

Because these high-end homes are so unique, there are fewer reliable comps. That makes these homes difficult to price. They are also harder to find buyers for. A luxury home with a state-of-the-art production studio, for instance, is going to appeal to only a small subset of wealthy clients.

How much money should you have saved to buy a million dollar house? ›

For a $1 million home, you're likely to need a minimum of $200,000 to $300,000 saved for that purpose. But a down payment isn't the only thing to save for. Home buyers have to consider closing costs on their home purchase, too. Closing fees typically start around 2% of the buyer's mortgage loan amount.

What is the house payment on a million dollar home? ›

Monthly payments for a $1,000,000 mortgage
Interest rateMonthly payment (15 year)Monthly payment (30 year)
6.25%$8,574.23$6,157.17
6.50%$8,711.07$6,320.68
6.75%$8,849.09$6,485.98
7.00%$8,988.28$6,653.02
5 more rows

Can I afford a million dollar home with 200K salary? ›

What your salary needs to be to afford a $1 million home. A homebuyer would need to earn nearly $200,000 annually to afford a $1 million mortgage. The number of homes in the United States valued at $1 million or more has steadily increased in recent years.

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.

How rich do you have to be to buy a 2 million dollar house? ›

If you had a down payment, you would need to make at least $400,000 a year income to afford a $2 million house. In other words, you could stretch the multiple for buying a house to 5X your household income ($400,000 X 5) in this low interest rate environment.

How much would a $800000 house cost a month? ›

Monthly payments on an $800,000 mortgage

At a 7.00% fixed interest rate, your monthly mortgage payment on a 30-year mortgage might total $5,322 a month, while a 15-year might cost $7,191 a month.

What income do you need for 900000 mortgage? ›

Income to afford a $900K house

Divided by 12, that amounts to $16,200 per month, and 28 percent of that would be $4,375. So ideally, you should not spend more than $4,375 on your total mortgage payment — including principal, interest, property taxes, insurance premiums and HOA dues if applicable.

What salary do you need for a 600k house? ›

The principal, interest and property mortgage insurance on $600,000 house with a 15% down payment and a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage with 7% rate would cost $3,662. To afford this, you would need a monthly income of about $13,079 or an annual income of about $157,000.

How much house can I afford with a 60k salary? ›

The 28/36 rule holds that if you earn $60k and don't pay too much to cover your debt each month, you can afford housing expenses of $1,400 a month. Another rule of thumb suggests you could afford a home worth $180,000, or three times your salary.

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