Income Cheat Sheet — LiveLendLA
LiveLendLA · Los Angeles Mortgage Guide

How much income do you need to buy the home you want?

Pick a home price and see roughly what income it may take to qualify.

No credit pull. No application. Just a useful starting point.

The income cheat sheet

Los Angeles home prices, and the income it generally takes to qualify for each one. Pick how much you would put down.

Prices where 5% down keeps the loan at or below the LA County high-balance limit of $1,249,125.

These are estimates, not approval numbers. What you actually qualify for depends on your other debts, your credit, the property’s taxes and insurance, and the loan program you use.

5% down applies to loans at or below the LA County high-balance conforming limit of $1,249,125. Income assumes ~48% DTI. Payments include estimated property tax (~1.25%), homeowner’s insurance, and mortgage insurance. Actual qualification depends on credit, debt, and loan structure.

Want to get more specific?

Use your own price and your own down payment.

Your Numbers

How much income do you need?

Put in the price of the home you have in mind. We’ll show you roughly what income it takes to carry it.

You may need about
/ year
Here’s how we got there
Loan payment — principal and interest
Property taxes
Homeowner’s insurance
Total housing payment each month
Monthly income it generally takes to qualify

Lenders generally allow around of your monthly income before tax to go toward your housing payment and your other debt payments combined. That is the number the figure above works backwards from.

Based on a down payment of , a loan, and a 30-year fixed rate of — taken live from the Today’s Rates page, the same source every calculator on this site uses. Los Angeles County, primary residence.

This is an estimate, not an approval. Your real number depends on your credit, your documented income, the specific property, and the loan program you end up using.

Next Step

Want to see your exact scenario?

The calculator is a starting point. Send me your scenario and I’ll personally tell you what looks realistic.

Text a Question

No credit pull. No obligation. I’ll review the numbers personally.

Derek Vail
Derek Vail
Senior Loan Advisor · NMLS #1233953

Got it.

I’ll take a look at your scenario and get back to you.

Derek Vail
Derek Vail
Senior Loan Advisor · NMLS #1233953

More ways to run the numbers

Two more calculators, and the full set of assumptions behind every figure on this page.

Your Numbers

What can I afford?

Estimated Home Price
Estimated using: Conventional, 30-year fixed
Down Payment
Monthly Payment
Cash to Close
Principal & Interest

Loan amount amortized over 30 years at the program’s note rate = monthly principal & interest

Property Taxes

1.25% × Purchase Price ÷ 12 = monthly property taxes

Homeowners Insurance

Estimated annual premium ÷ 12 = monthly homeowners insurance

Estimated Monthly Payment (PITI)
Text a Question
View Loan Details
Loan Amount
Loan Program
Rate Used
DTI Assumption
Cash to close breakdown
Down Payment
Estimated Closing Costs
Lender Fees
Title Fees
Escrow Fees
Recording Fees
Prepaid Interest
Prepaid Property Taxes
Prepaid Homeowners Insurance
Total Estimated Cash to Close

Down payment and closing costs are shown separately. Estimated using Los Angeles County benchmarks from real LiveLendLA Loan Estimates and Closing Disclosures. Seller credits, lender credits, and your actual closing date will change the final figure.

How this estimate works

Assumes Los Angeles County, a primary residence, and a 30-year fixed at today’s rate — drawn live from the Today’s Rates page. Qualifying uses a maximum debt-to-income ratio of for that program. Estimates assume well-qualified borrowers. Text for personalized pricing.

Rather just text me?

Quick Calculator

Already know the price?

Estimated Monthly Payment
Tap for full breakdown
Loan program used:
Principal & Interest

Loan amount amortized over 30 years at the program’s note rate = monthly principal & interest

Property Taxes

1.25% × Purchase Price ÷ 12 = monthly property taxes

Homeowners Insurance

Estimated annual premium ÷ 12 = monthly homeowners insurance

Estimated Monthly Payment (PITI)
Down Payment
Estimated Closing Costs
Lender Fees
Title Fees
Escrow Fees
Recording Fees
Prepaid Interest
Prepaid Property Taxes
Prepaid Homeowners Insurance
Total Estimated Cash to Close
Text a Question

Assumes Los Angeles County, a primary residence, and a 30-year fixed at today’s rate — drawn live from the Today’s Rates page. Estimates assume well-qualified borrowers. Text for personalized pricing.

Assumptions & Methodology
Payment and income figures are estimates for illustrative purposes only and assume a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. LA County 2026 1-unit loan limits: Baseline Conforming up to $832,750 and High-Balance Conforming up to $1,249,125. Any loan amount above $1,249,125 is classified as Jumbo. The 5% Down sheet shows purchase prices where 5% down keeps the loan at or below the high-balance conforming limit. The 20% Down sheet covers all price points with 20% down, switching to 25% down for purchases over $4,000,000. Conforming rate assumed at 6.875%, High-Balance at 7.25%, and Jumbo at 6.50% — drawn live from the Today’s Rates page, the same source every calculator on this site uses. Property taxes estimated at 1.25% of purchase price annually. Homeowners insurance estimated based on typical California ranges. Mortgage insurance included for down payments under 20% where applicable. Income needed is calculated using an assumed housing ratio of 48% for Conforming and High-Balance loans and 45% for Jumbo loans. Actual rates, taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, and qualification standards will vary based on credit, income, assets, property type, loan structure, and lender guidelines. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit and underwriting approval. Equal Housing Lender.