06/10/2026
Stop looking at the total sticker price of a home.
It scares people away.
You should focus on the monthly mortgage payment.
I always advise my clients the $450 rule.
For every $100,000 you borrow from the bank, your monthly payment is approximately $450 per month.
So every 100,000, $450 per month.
So let’s say you borrow 500,000 from the bank.
Your monthly mortgage payment will be $450 times five, so around 20 to 50 per month.
So if you borrow 700,000, then $450 times seven, so $3,150 per month.
Now, if you buy a home with a basement apartment, which may fetch, let’s say around $1,350 a month, will be more.
So the $1,350 from the basement will cover $300,000 worth of mortgage.
Now, buyers think a million dollar home is way out of their budget.
It may not be out of reach.
If a basement tenant is paying off $300,000 worth of mortgage.
So whether you’re buying with or without the basement apartment, use the $450 rule and you will see you can afford a much better home than you think.
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