Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Buying a house in 2026 is more challenging than ever—but how much income do you actually need? Brian and Rebie compare The Money Guy's home buying rule against Dave Ramsey's mortgage guideline using real-world numbers at every major price point. Learn how mortgage length, housing costs, down payments, affordability, and income requirements impact one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, deciding between renting vs. buying, or planning your next move, this breakdown explains the math behind smart homeownership without the hype.
You'll also see why home affordability has changed dramatically, how mortgage payments compare across different price ranges, and why buying a home isn't just a math equation. We'll also show you our Home Buying Calculator so you can customize the numbers for your own financial situation.
Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:48 Why Money Guy's Home Buying Rules Exist
00:02:11 Money Guy vs. Ramsey Home Buying Rules
00:07:21 What Salary Do You Actually Need to Buy a Home?
00:09:53 The Money Guy Home Buying Numbers
00:12:41 Key Takeaways: Buying a Home in Today's Market
00:17:29 Q&A: Medical Bills & the Financial Order of Operations
00:21:18 Q&A: Teaching Teens About Money
00:24:20 Q&A: Is Deferred Compensation Worth It?
00:27:26 Q&A: Should You Transfer Your HSA?
00:31:29 Q&A: Roth IRA Income Limits
00:36:36 From the Wings: News or Noise?
00:46:11 More Q&A: Budgeting, Buying a Porsche & FIRE
00:58:43 Final Thoughts
🔗 How Much House Can You Afford? Calculator → moneyguy.com/tool/how-much-house-can-you-afford
🔗 Buying a House: Money Guy Ultimate Guide → moneyguy.com/guide/home-buying
🔗 Home Buying Checklist → moneyguy.com/resource/home-buying-checklist
🔗 Should You Buy or Rent? (Mention this related episode in the description/end screen.)
🔗 Financial Order of Operations (FOO) → moneyguy.com/guide/foo
🎓 Brian Preston (CFP®, CPA) and Bo Hanson (CFA®, CFP®) share professional insights to help you own your financial future.
Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources: moneyguy.com/resources
Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast: youtube.com/c/MoneyGuyShow?sub_confirmation=1
Connect with us on social media for more content: moneyguy.com/link-in-bio
Take the relationship to the next level and become a client: moneyguy.com/become-a-client
#WealthBuilding #PersonalFinance2026 #RetirementPlanning #FinancialFreedom
Buying a house in 2026 is more challenging than ever—but how much income do you actually need? Brian and Rebie compare The Money Guy's home buying rule against Dave Ramsey's mortgage guideline using real-world numbers at every major price point. Learn how mortgage length, housing costs, down payments, affordability, and income requirements impact one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, deciding between renting vs. buying, or planning your next move, this breakdown explains the math behind smart homeownership without the hype.
You'll also see why home affordability has changed dramatically, how mortgage payments compare across different price ranges, and why buying a home isn't just a math equation. We'll also show you our Home Buying Calculator so you can customize the numbers for your own financial situation.
Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:48 Why Money Guy's Home Buying Rules Exist
00:02:11 Money Guy vs. Ramsey Home Buying Rules
00:07:21 What Salary Do You Actually Need to Buy a Home?
00:09:53 The Money Guy Home Buying Numbers
00:12:41 Key Takeaways: Buying a Home in Today's Market
00:17:29 Q&A: Medical Bills & the Financial Order of Operations
00:21:18 Q&A: Teaching Teens About Money
00:24:20 Q&A: Is Deferred Compensation Worth It?
00:27:26 Q&A: Should You Transfer Your HSA?
00:31:29 Q&A: Roth IRA Income Limits
00:36:36 From the Wings: News or Noise?
00:46:11 More Q&A: Budgeting, Buying a Porsche & FIRE
00:58:43 Final Thoughts
🔗 How Much House Can You Afford? Calculator → moneyguy.com/tool/how-much-house-can-you-afford
🔗 Buying a House: Money Guy Ultimate Guide → moneyguy.com/guide/home-buying
🔗 Home Buying Checklist → moneyguy.com/resource/home-buying-checklist
🔗 Should You Buy or Rent? (Mention this related episode in the description/end screen.)
🔗 Financial Order of Operations (FOO) → moneyguy.com/guide/foo
🎓 Brian Preston (CFP®, CPA) and Bo Hanson (CFA®, CFP®) share professional insights to help you own your financial future.
Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources: moneyguy.com/resources
Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast: youtube.com/c/MoneyGuyShow?sub_confirmation=1
Connect with us on social media for more content: moneyguy.com/link-in-bio
Take the relationship to the next level and become a client: moneyguy.com/become-a-client
#WealthBuilding #PersonalFinance2026 #RetirementPlanning #FinancialFreedom
