09/25/2026
Take a $500,000 home here in Wickenburg.
To qualify, you’d need to make around $101,000 a year.
The recommended income for that same home? Closer to $162,000. 😳
That’s a $61,000 difference, and it matters more than most buyers realize.
The first number is what gets you approved. It’s the lender’s math.
The second number is what lets you enjoy the house once you have the keys. Room for the AC repair in the middle of July. Room to keep saving for retirement. Room for a round of golf and a cocktail on the patio without checking your bank account first.
I see this often with first-time buyers and with folks relocating here from out of state. The approval letter feels like a green light, so they shop right up to the top of it. Then the house starts running the budget.
The gap grows as the price goes up. At $300,000 it’s $61,000 to qualify versus $97,000 recommended. At $1M, it’s $212,000 versus $325,000.
My advice: figure out the monthly payment that still leaves room for your life, then shop from there. Your approval amount is a ceiling. It doesn’t have to be your target.
If you’re thinking about buying in Wickenburg, Wittmann, Congress or anywhere in between, send me a message and I’ll help you find a number you feel good about. 💙
