There are 5 places in the US where you need to make over $110,000 to afford a home

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December 1, 2017 10:21 PM

Home prices across the US still on the rise, especially out West where the median home cost is up to $373,700.

Four of the five
In these markets, buyers need to make more than $110,000 to qualify for a mortgage with a 20% down payment.
In the San Jose metro area, buyers need to make over $210,000.

Several of the priciest housing markets in the country are in the American West.

In the third quarter of 2017, the median cost of a single-family home in the region rose to $373,700, up 7% from the previous year and a greater increase than any other region, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

By contrast, the current US median home price is $247,000.

As supply lags behind demand, and prices and mortgage rates continue to rise, homebuyers entering the market may find it increasingly unaffordable to buy a home.

Looking at NAR's data on housing affordability, there are five US metro areas where the minimum salary required to qualify for a mortgage, with 20% down, is above $110,000. NAR assumes a mortgage rate of 3.9% for all areas, with the monthly principle and interest payment limited to 25% of income.

While the salary needed to buy in these areas is exceptional, purchasing a home in a number of markets across the country remains affordable, with required salaries at or below the median household income of $71,775 . The average qualifying income for the US as a whole is $46,435 .

Below, check out how much you need to earn to buy a home, and what the median home will cost you, in the most expensive markets.

The following markets are based on , with the exception of Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, which is a .

5. San Diego-Carlsbad, California

Population:

Median sale price: $607,000

Salary needed to buy: $110,969

4. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii

3. Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, California

2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California

Population:

Median sale price: $900,000

Salary needed to buy: $164,534