The Right Homebuying Number Is the One Built Around Your Finances | Ep. 42

The Atlanta Fed’s $127,000 income figure for buying a median-priced home sounds like a hard cutoff, but it is not a mortgage qualification rule. In this episode, mortgage veteran Dustin Owen explains what the statistic actually measures, what assumptions go into the calculation, and why it does not mean buyers must earn that amount to qualify for a mortgage. He also explores how people are still getting into homes despite the affordability gap, including the strategies that can change the math: combining incomes, buying below the median price, using down-payment assistance, negotiating seller-paid rate buydowns, and choosing a property with rental potential. Dustin also highlights the growing divide between first-time buyers, who may be starting without home equity, and existing homeowners who can use equity from a current property toward their next purchase. Along the way, he offers a practical starting point for figuring out what homeownership could realistically cost you based on your income, savings, and local housing market, rather than relying on one headline number. Let our team connect you with a Real Estate Expert local to you!https://tloponline.com/real-estate-help/