💎 💎 4 alternative paths to homeownership in 2024: In this example, I’m using the 3.5% FHA loan, and the debt-to-income ratio considers 30% of your yearly gross income. In other words, to afford the average mortgage in 2024, you need to make $127K/yr! Meanwhile, only 15% of Americans make $100,000 to $150,000/yr (according to Zippia). Affording the average mortgage in 2024 seems out of reach for most, but there are 4 alternative paths to homeownership or investing in real estate: 1️⃣ Consider a multi-family property. With an FHA 203k loan, you need to live in one of the units as your primary residence and rent out the other units. —The projected rental income from the additional units can be used to help you qualify for the loan, as it can be counted as part of your overall income. 2️⃣Explore alternative financing options, such as the “subject-to” strategy. This way, you can take over the seller’s mortgage payments without officially assuming the loan or financing the purchase with a new mortgage at today’s interest rates. You become the new owner of the property by having the seller transfer the deed of the property to your name. However, the existing mortgage needs to remain in the seller’s name. 3️⃣ Look into buying an investment property in another state with lower average prices. This can help you get started in real estate investing, even if it's not your personal home. 4️⃣ Partner up with family, friends, or other investors to pool your resources and buy a property together. And in general: focus on increasing your income through side hustles, upskilling, or seeking higher-paying job opportunities. Save aggressively for a larger down payment to reduce your monthly mortgage costs! Which strategy are you going with? Let me know in the comments!