How Much House Can You Afford on $80K in St. Louis at 7%?

The Math: $80K Salary → $213K–$276K Home

Lenders start from your gross monthly income — $6,667 on $80,000 — and apply two limits: what your housing payment can be, and what all of your debts together can be. The low end of the range keeps your full payment at 28% of gross income. The high end is what most lenders would approve at a 43% total debt-to-income ratio, assuming about $450 a month in other debts (car, student loans, credit cards).

All figures use the assumptions listed in How these numbers are calculated below.

Your Monthly Payment on a $245K Home

Here is the full payment on a $245,000 home — the middle of your range — with FHA, 3.5% down (the 1.75% upfront FHA premium is financed):

That is 32% of your gross monthly income. It doesn’t include utilities or maintenance — plan on 1–2% of the home’s value per year, or about $204–$408 a month, for upkeep.

At $80K, MHDC Still Fits — and Conventional Starts to Compete

$80K is well under MHDC's 2026 St. Louis income limits: $113,500 for a 1–2 person household under First Place ($130,525 for 3+), and higher under Next Step, which is also open to repeat buyers. A raise won't knock you out, so the questions that matter are the lender's fees and how much of the 4% actually reduces your cash to close. Details are in our MHDC guide.

This is also the income where conventional financing starts to beat FHA for many buyers. With a 700+ credit score and 5% down, conventional mortgage insurance is often cheaper than FHA's, and it can be removed once you reach 20% equity. FHA still makes sense if your score is lower or your debts are higher.

The page below uses FHA to stay conservative — a strong-credit conventional borrower may land a bit higher.

Stretching $80K Further: MHDC Assistance Plus a Seller-Paid Buydown

A $80K household is under MHDC First Place’s 2026 St. Louis income limit ($113,500 for 1–2 people; $130,525 for 3+). That means you can often stack two kinds of help: MHDC cash assistance (up to 4% of the first mortgage) goes toward your down payment, and a seller concession you negotiate in the offer pays to buy down your interest rate. Here is what that looks like on a $245,000 home with a 3% seller concession ($7,350):

Which buydown? The 2-1 buydown gives you the bigger break — about $309 a month in year one — while you settle in, but lenders qualify you at the full 7% rate, so it doesn’t raise your budget. The permanent buydown saves less each month (about $121) but lasts for the life of the loan and raises what you can be approved for.

Watch the lender fees. MHDC lets lenders charge an origination fee of up to 1% on these loans, which can make the 4% work out closer to 3%. Ask: “After your fees, how much of the 4% actually reduces my cash to close?”

Making it work: ask for the concession in your offer — FHA allows seller contributions up to 6% of the price, and in a fast market a smaller ask may be more realistic. MHDC requires its written approval for buydowns on First Place loans, so have your MHDC-approved lender confirm the structure (for First Place or Next Step) before you write the offer. MHDC sets its own rate daily and it may be below 7%; these numbers use 7% to stay conservative. Purchase-price limits apply: $566,354 for a single-family home under First Place outside targeted areas, $692,211 under Next Step or in targeted areas. See our MHDC guide for the full rules.

Where $80K Lines Up With Recent St. Louis Sale Prices

These are the highest-volume ZIP codes where the median sale price falls within reach of an $80K budget, based on 7,006 residential sales in 2025–2026 (MARIS MLS; excludes new construction and condos). A median is a midpoint — every area has homes above and below it.

About this data: The prices and market numbers here come from 7,006 MARIS closed sales across 79 St. Louis-area ZIP codes, 2025–2026. They don’t reflect price changes since then. I’m refreshing this data at the end of 2026 and every six months after that.

This is the first salary where South County is on the list. Mehlville and Affton are among the fastest markets in the metro — about 4 days on market and more than half selling the first weekend — and they sit at your stretch budget. The 63129 corridor ($285K) and Arnold ($282K) are just past your lender maximum at 7%. Maryland Heights (Pattonville schools) is another stretch option. If you'd rather buy at your comfortable number, Florissant North, Hazelwood and Overland line up with it, and Florissant West sits below it.

School districts follow addresses, not ZIP codes — always verify the district for a specific property. See the St. Louis school district guide.

How Your Debts Change the $80K Number

Every dollar of monthly debt payment is a dollar lenders won’t let you spend on housing. On $80K with FHA, 3.5% down:

An extra $500 a month in payments — a second car, say — costs you about $57,000 in buying power. Paying one off before you apply works the other way.

Cash You’ll Need to Close on $245K

Sellers can contribute toward closing costs, and lenders and assistance programs may offer credits — ask before assuming you need the full amount in cash. Keep an emergency fund after closing.

Example: An $80K Buyer Choosing Between Mehlville and Florissant

Illustrative example, not a client story. A buyer earning $80,000 with a $450 car payment and 680 credit compares two areas.

• Mehlville at $255,000 (the 63125 median): about $2,231 a month with FHA — inside the lender's limit, but about 33% of gross income.
• Florissant North at $215,000 (the 63031 median): about $1,881 a month — close to the 28% comfortable mark.
• The difference: roughly $350 a month, or about $4,200 a year.

Both are reasonable. The point is to pick knowingly: Mehlville's location and pace come at a real monthly cost on $80K.

$80K Buyer Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming you earn too much for help. At $80K you're well under MHDC's limits — and if you've owned a home before, Next Step is open to repeat buyers.

Defaulting to FHA. At 700+ credit, have your lender price conventional too.

Over-bidding in 4-day markets. In Mehlville and Affton, escalation clauses can carry you past your comfortable budget fast. Set your walk-away number before the weekend, not during it.

Forgetting the appraisal gap. If you bid over list and the appraisal comes in lower, you'll need cash to cover the difference.

$80K Affordability Questions

How much house can I afford on $80K in St. Louis?

About $213K comfortably and up to about $276K with typical debts and FHA financing, at the assumptions on this page.

Can I still get down-payment assistance making $80K?

Yes. MHDC's 2026 St. Louis income limits are $113,500 for a 1–2 person household under First Place ($130,525 for 3+), and higher under Next Step, which also allows repeat buyers. Confirm with an MHDC-approved lender.

Can I afford South County on $80,000?

Yes, at the top of your range. Recent medians in Mehlville ($255K) and Affton ($268K) sit near the lender's maximum for an $80K buyer at 7%; the 63129 median ($285K) is just past it.

Can I combine MHDC assistance with a seller-paid rate buydown?

Often, yes: MHDC cash assistance can cover your down payment while a seller concession pays for a rate buydown. MHDC requires written approval for buydowns on First Place loans, so have your MHDC lender confirm before you make an offer; lender fees can also trim the 4%. On a $245K home with a 3% seller concession, cash to close can drop from about $15,925 to about $4,725.

How These Numbers Are Calculated

• Interest rate: 7% on a 30-year fixed loan, in line with the market as of October 2, 2026. Your rate depends on credit, loan type and the market on the day you lock.
• Property tax: 1.12% of the price for the budget range and payment table (common in St. Louis County); the area table shows each ZIP’s rate.
• Insurance: about 1% of the home’s price per year. Missouri premiums vary widely — get quotes early.
• Mortgage insurance: FHA 0.55% per year plus 1.75% upfront (financed); conventional PMI estimated at 0.60% with 5% down and 0.40% with 10% down.
• Limits: comfortable = total housing payment at 28% of gross income; lender maximum = 43% total debt-to-income, minus the other debts stated.
• Closing costs: estimated at 3% of the price.
• MHDC + buydown scenario: MHDC cash assistance at 4% of the base loan; MHDC rate assumed at the same 7% (conservative); 3% seller concession; 2-1 buydown cost = the payment difference over two years; permanent buydown at roughly 0.25% per discount point (pricing varies daily); optional lender origination fee up to 1% of the loan; 2026 St. Louis MHDC income and purchase-price limits.
• Area data: median sale price, days on market and first-weekend sale rate from 7,006 residential sales, 2025–2026, MARIS MLS.

The Bottom Line on $80K in St. Louis

On $80,000, a comfortable target is about $213K, with approval possible up to $276K. That's enough for South County's busiest markets — if you're ready for 4-day competition — or a more relaxed purchase in North County or South City. Check assistance eligibility early and compare FHA with conventional before you lock in.

Other incomes: $50K · $60K · $70K · $100K · $120K · $150K · $200K · Income needed by price

George Kindler

Marine Corps Veteran • Licensed Missouri Agent • 13 Years • 250+ Transactions

I work with first-time buyers making $50K-$100K every week. I know what you can actually afford, what neighborhoods fit your budget, and how to get you in a house without being house-poor. Let's talk.

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