3X the rent versus 40 times the rent?

Question

I had always done the 3X the rent rule for what I can afford for a mortgage and for my tenants. For example $2000 x 3 = $6000 (monthly income required to keep housing payments less than 1/3 of income) $6000 x 12 months = $72,000 (annual income required to keep housing payments

I just recently read this article

http://www.businessinsider.com/7-simple-steps-to-d...

And they are talking about 40 times the rent. I'm also not the best at math but going by different rules you can afford a lot more with 3X the rent versus 40 times the rent. What do you guys think is the best way to determine what someone/ even yourself can afford?

Shaun Patterson · Answer

You have to make sure that you look at their whole credit situation as a whole, on top of the money they are making. They might qualify for 3x or 40x the rent but might also have 500k in debt that eat away at that lovely 40x number that you just looked over. The 3x rule is only a starting guide. Make sure everything else makes sense also.

Kim Meredith Hampton · Answer

@Julie Verardi the only thing I have been hearing recently, is that people are spending 40-50% of their income on rent due to the rise in rents over the last couple of years. Affordability is a huge problem all over

Julie Verardi · Answer

The actual number I'm looking at for someone is they make $123,000 a year.

According to the 3X rule it would look like this- $3,400 X3= 10,200 10,200 X12 = $122,400 (close enough) so they can afford $3,400 a month.

According to the 40 times rule it would look like this - $123,000/40 =$3,075

That's a $325 difference in monthly rent. I guess which isn't huge. I just wasn't sure which rule of thumb is the best to use and which one most people go by. Even for a few hundred dollars it all adds up. Thoughts?

Frank Jiang · Answer

The article means annual salary = 40x monthly rent, or monthly income = 3.33x monthly rent. Basically the same metric as you.

Austin Fruechting · Answer

It's pretty close. 3X is 36 times rent on annual basis. They are saying 40. That's just 72k vs 80k annual for the same $2k unit.

Jeff B. · Answer

First-- Know the rules. Many States have limitations.

3X the rent versus 40 times the rent?

3X the rent versus 40 times the rent?

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