LI home prices up again in Nassau and Suffolk. How much do you need to make to afford a house?
New data from Key MLS Thursday says sales in both Nassau and Suffolk counties went up in January compared to last year.
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Home prices across Long Island have climbed again, according to the latest data from OneKey MLS. In Nassau County, the median sale price of a single-family home reached $835,000 last month — a 3.1% increase. In Suffolk County, the median price rose 4.5% to $700,000.
As prices rise, buyers are stretching their budgets. Conventional mortgage guidelines allow borrowers to spend up to 50% of their gross monthly income on housing and other debts. Mortgage broker Jeff Segal, of Lighthouse Mortgage Corp. says many buyers are approaching that ceiling.
“It’s close,” Segal said when asked whether people are spending half their gross income. “I always tell people, give me what you’re comfortable paying — and it may be less than that 50%.”
Federal guidance suggests a more conservative approach. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recommends spending no more than 30% of gross income on a mortgage.
By that measure, the income needed to comfortably afford a median-priced home on Long Island is steep.
To purchase a $700,000 home in Suffolk County while staying within the 30% threshold, a household would need to earn roughly $170,000 per year. In Nassau County, affording the $835,000 median price would require an annual income of about $214,000.
