The cost of owning a home today can be steep, and many first-time homebuyers may assume it’s simply out of the question in a market like Austin, but in truth, there likely is a home out there that is within reach. The question often becomes how far your reach extends and whether you are searching in the right spot. For people who start scrolling through homes in Round Rock, they’re often surprised to see a price range that feels possible — maybe a $450,000 listing or a $550,000 listing — and then they wonder if they can comfortably make the payment every month. How much income do they really need to turn this dream into a reality? The answer depends on more than just the purchase price. Your down payment, interest rate, property taxes, insurance costs, debts, and credit profile all affect what you can realistically buy, but there are some useful benchmarks to help you effectively crunch the numbers. In this post, we walk through what those benchmarks are so you can feel comfortable with your financial position before putting in an offer on a Round Rock home. I’m Andrew Clements, a licensed realtor and general contractor working across