where I live you coudl buy a bathroom for that price. but not a very nice one.
In 
When I moved to Charlotte, NC 19 years ago, I was making 65k. I bought a house for 190k. Part of the market is also property taxes. Where I am in NC, property taxes were pretty low, like $1500 per year. I could not have afforded that house in New York state because the taxes would have been over 10k per year. That's a huge add on to your mortgage.
I was going to spend more like 150k, but a good, older friend of mine gave me good advice. I was pretty young, 27, and he told me, "You are young. You are going to b making more and more money as time goes on, and before you know it, you are going to outgrow that house. THis is the time in your life to buy a little more house than you are comfortable with rather than a little less."
He was right. I bought a little more than I was comfortable with, and it took 10 years til I wanted something better, and by the time I sold, my $1400 month payment felt too small for the money I was making.
So my advice is, if you are young and in a decent career field, stretch a little now and enjoy the tax benefits in the process.
If you're going to go the %3.5 down FHA route, why not pick up a 2-4 unit building? You could live in one and rent out the other units to offset your costs.
I'm in Greensboro 3100 sq foot no land for 235k brand new everything. Having it built by true homes. Putting 20% down mortgage will be around 1200-1250 including taxes and hoa. If your curious Google the Riley at oakgate. 
sadic1 - When I moved to Charlotte, NC 19 years ago, I was making 65k. I bought a house for 190k. Part of the market is also property taxes. Where I am in NC, property taxes were pretty low, like $1500 per year. I could not have afforded that house in New York state because the taxes would have been over 10k per year. That's a huge add on to your mortgage.I'm a tech at lexus... Pretty much maxed out as far as my income.... 75 k here in the atl.... Will possibly make less in Asheville
I was going to spend more like 150k, but a good, older friend of mine gave me good advice. I was pretty young, 27, and he told me, "You are young. You are going to b making more and more money as time goes on, and before you know it, you are going to outgrow that house. THis is the time in your life to buy a little more house than you are comfortable with rather than a little less."
He was right. I bought a little more than I was comfortable with, and it took 10 years til I wanted something better, and by the time I sold, my $1400 month payment felt too small for the money I was making.
So my advice is, if you are young and in a decent career field, stretch a little now and enjoy the tax benefits in the process.
mishto chuckles -sadic1 - When I moved to Charlotte, NC 19 years ago, I was making 65k. I bought a house for 190k. Part of the market is also property taxes. Where I am in NC, property taxes were pretty low, like $1500 per year. I could not have afforded that house in New York state because the taxes would have been over 10k per year. That's a huge add on to your mortgage.I'm a tech at lexus... Pretty much maxed out as far as my income.... 75 k here in the atl.... Will possibly make less in Asheville
I was going to spend more like 150k, but a good, older friend of mine gave me good advice. I was pretty young, 27, and he told me, "You are young. You are going to b making more and more money as time goes on, and before you know it, you are going to outgrow that house. THis is the time in your life to buy a little more house than you are comfortable with rather than a little less."
He was right. I bought a little more than I was comfortable with, and it took 10 years til I wanted something better, and by the time I sold, my $1400 month payment felt too small for the money I was making.
So my advice is, if you are young and in a decent career field, stretch a little now and enjoy the tax benefits in the process.
In my case, interests rates were a lot higher 17 years ago, so the payment on my 190k house would be cheaper in today's market with lower interest rates. Without knowing too much more about your specific situation, I think you are good up to at least that much. Under 160-170k, I think you are selling yourself short. How aggressive you want to be above 200k is kind of subjective.
sadic1 -Well that's good bc there are plenty of houses with 150-160 that I lovemishto chuckles -sadic1 - When I moved to Charlotte, NC 19 years ago, I was making 65k. I bought a house for 190k. Part of the market is also property taxes. Where I am in NC, property taxes were pretty low, like $1500 per year. I could not have afforded that house in New York state because the taxes would have been over 10k per year. That's a huge add on to your mortgage.I'm a tech at lexus... Pretty much maxed out as far as my income.... 75 k here in the atl.... Will possibly make less in Asheville
I was going to spend more like 150k, but a good, older friend of mine gave me good advice. I was pretty young, 27, and he told me, "You are young. You are going to b making more and more money as time goes on, and before you know it, you are going to outgrow that house. THis is the time in your life to buy a little more house than you are comfortable with rather than a little less."
He was right. I bought a little more than I was comfortable with, and it took 10 years til I wanted something better, and by the time I sold, my $1400 month payment felt too small for the money I was making.
So my advice is, if you are young and in a decent career field, stretch a little now and enjoy the tax benefits in the process.
In my case, interests rates were a lot higher 17 years ago, so the payment on my 190k house would be cheaper in today's market with lower interest rates. Without knowing too much more about your specific situation, I think you are good up to at least that much. Under 160-170k, I think you are selling yourself short. How aggressive you want to be above 200k is kind of subjective.
Damn. Seeing those numbers make me feel horrible. 100k in San Diego can't get you anything decent.
mishto chuckles -sadic1 -Well that's good bc there are plenty of houses with 150-160 that I lovemishto chuckles -sadic1 - When I moved to Charlotte, NC 19 years ago, I was making 65k. I bought a house for 190k. Part of the market is also property taxes. Where I am in NC, property taxes were pretty low, like $1500 per year. I could not have afforded that house in New York state because the taxes would have been over 10k per year. That's a huge add on to your mortgage.I'm a tech at lexus... Pretty much maxed out as far as my income.... 75 k here in the atl.... Will possibly make less in Asheville
I was going to spend more like 150k, but a good, older friend of mine gave me good advice. I was pretty young, 27, and he told me, "You are young. You are going to b making more and more money as time goes on, and before you know it, you are going to outgrow that house. THis is the time in your life to buy a little more house than you are comfortable with rather than a little less."
He was right. I bought a little more than I was comfortable with, and it took 10 years til I wanted something better, and by the time I sold, my $1400 month payment felt too small for the money I was making.
So my advice is, if you are young and in a decent career field, stretch a little now and enjoy the tax benefits in the process.
In my case, interests rates were a lot higher 17 years ago, so the payment on my 190k house would be cheaper in today's market with lower interest rates. Without knowing too much more about your specific situation, I think you are good up to at least that much. Under 160-170k, I think you are selling yourself short. How aggressive you want to be above 200k is kind of subjective.
I think you will in good shape at that price. I'll stop by when we go to the Biltmore in a few months! ;)
In Australia that amount may just get you the driveway
I bought my first house (new construction) for 160k when I was making 55k a year with approx your debt. This was 2009.
TFK_HossPearson - I bought my first house (new construction) for 160k when I was making 55k a year with approx your debt. This was 2009.How tight were your finances?