Austin salaries still stretch further than the Bay, but rising taxes and HOA dues eat into that advantage. We ran the numbers using the Home Affordability Calculator so you can plug in your own comp, RSU, and debt profile.
2025 Austin Cost Inputs
- Median resale price: $540K (ABoR Q3 2025)
- 30-year fixed mortgage rate: 6.65% with 20% down
- Property tax: 1.9% of assessed value (Travis County average)
- Insurance: $210/month thanks to hail & storm risk
- HOA (master-planned suburbs): $65–$120/month
- Maintenance reserve: 1% of home value annually
- PMI: 0.5% if you put less than 20% down
Use these figures as a starting point, then replace them with quotes from your lender or insurance provider inside the calculator.
Tech Salary Scenarios (28/36 Rule)
$140K Software Engineer
- Gross monthly income: $11,667
- Max housing (28%): $3,267
- Assuming $400 in other debts ⇒ housing budget $3,500
- 20% down supports ~$590K purchase (22% down if HOA $75)
$200K Product Manager
- Gross monthly income: $16,667
- Max housing (28%): $4,667
- With $600 debts ⇒ back-end limit $5,400
- Budget ≈ $825K with 20% down (Westlake townhome, Mueller SFH)
$260K Dual-Income Tech Household
- Gross monthly income: $21,667
- Max housing (28%): $6,067
- After $1,000 debts ⇒ housing budget $7,000
- Supports $1.05M purchase, enough for central Austin new builds
The calculator automatically constrains payments to the lower of 28% front-end or 36% back-end DTI, so reduce your debt column to see how much more house you can buy.
Sample Payment ($700K Purchase, 15% Down)
- Loan amount: $595,000
- Principal & Interest: $3,827
- Property tax: $1,108
- Insurance: $210
- HOA: $85
- Maintenance reserve: $583
- Total payment: $5,813/month
To land under 36% DTI you’d need ≈ $16,150 gross monthly income (~$194K/year) or reduce other debts below $200 per month.
Ways to Improve Affordability
- Appeal your property taxes: Successful protests can shave $150–$250 off monthly escrow.
- Negotiate relocation packages: Employers often cover points or temporary buy-downs, plug those lower rates into the calculator.
- House hack the ADU: Renting a backyard unit for $1,200/month effectively lowers your housing expense.
- Pay RSU advances toward down payment: Higher equity reduces PMI and interest paid.
FAQ
Do Austin property taxes really hit 1.9%?
Yes, some suburbs run 2.1–2.4%. Always input your exact county + MUD rate into the calculator to avoid surprises.
How do RSUs factor into DTI?
Lenders average vested RSUs from the past two years and need proof of future grants. Use only guaranteed salary for conservative planning.
Is 15% down enough in Austin?
You can buy with 10–15% down, but PMI and larger loan amounts reduce your ceiling. Increase the down payment slider to see how the max price responds.