So there are a strong opinions on what this should look like, so I'll give you a few charts.

There's the minimum amount you'd need to qualify for a mortgage. (the lender)

There's the Dave Ramsey 25% of net take-home toward a mortgage.

and then there's somewhere in the middle, with 30% of your gross income.

This is assuming a 5% down payment and a 0.25% mortgage insurance factor for a conventional loan and $0 other debt.

Also keep in mind, a $950,000 loan amount is above the standard conventional loan limit. (2026's limit)

If you're buying in a High Cost of Living area, the Conventional loan limit may be higher.

Or if you're buying a multi-unit property while living in one, the loan limit will be higher.

Part 1: Minimum for a lender

State	Lender Minimum
AL	$161,408
AK	$170,140
AZ	$160,358
AR	$164,829
CA	$164,884
CO	$162,608
CT	$184,453
DE	$161,738
FL	$173,611
GA	$170,685
HI	$156,232
ID	$160,193
IL	$189,934
IN	$169,275
IA	$178,907
KS	$179,827
KY	$168,464
LA	$173,911
ME	$167,624
MD	$167,679
MA	$171,930
MI	$175,896
MN	$172,355
MS	$167,874
MO	$171,030
MT	$169,670
NE	$182,807
NV	$161,503
NH	$175,886
NJ	$184,878
NM	$165,494
NY	$181,192
NC	$165,604
ND	$171,875
OH	$181,392
OK	$179,782
OR	$167,824
PA	$178,336
RI	$173,210
SC	$168,049
SD	$172,530
TN	$162,913
TX	$185,513
UT	$162,393
VT	$176,941
VA	$166,849
WA	$167,139
WV	$162,128
WI	$173,966
WY	$163,183

Part 2: The minimum income needed for the Ramsey 25% net take-home rule

This factors in not just property taxes and homeowners insurance, but also state income tax rates, and an average contribution to a 401k.

State	Income Needed
AL	$358,613
AK	$358,117
AZ	$352,364
AR	$366,213
CA	$374,661
CO	$359,284
CT	$409,813
DE	$359,346
FL	$365,423
GA	$379,224
HI	$355,002
ID	$359,912
IL	$421,991
IN	$368,716
IA	$397,491
KS	$399,535
KY	$374,291
LA	$382,145
ME	$376,609
MD	$374,627
MA	$381,991
MI	$387,572
MN	$389,426
MS	$372,980
MO	$379,991
MT	$381,204
NE	$406,157
NV	$339,939
NH	$370,212
NJ	$415,373
NM	$365,659
NY	$407,092
NC	$366,916
ND	$371,548
OH	$396,406
OK	$399,435
OR	$381,343
PA	$387,906
RI	$384,835
SC	$373,368
SD	$363,149
TN	$342,907
TX	$390,475
UT	$360,802
VT	$397,541
VA	$370,702
WA	$351,802
WV	$360,213
WI	$387,806
WY	$343,475

Part 3: The 30%-of-your-gross rule

This is what a large majority of people will agree on, or at least around this amount. This doesn't take into account income tax. Just gross percentage of your income

State	30% Rule
AL	$268,960
AK	$283,510
AZ	$267,210
AR	$274,660
CA	$274,751
CO	$270,960
CT	$307,360
DE	$269,510
FL	$289,293
GA	$284,418
HI	$260,335
ID	$266,935
IL	$316,493
IN	$282,068
IA	$298,118
KS	$299,651
KY	$280,718
LA	$289,793
ME	$279,318
MD	$279,410
MA	$286,493
MI	$293,101
MN	$287,201
MS	$279,735
MO	$284,993
MT	$282,726
NE	$304,618
NV	$269,118
NH	$293,085
NJ	$308,068
NM	$275,768
NY	$301,926
NC	$275,951
ND	$286,401
OH	$302,260
OK	$299,576
OR	$279,651
PA	$297,168
RI	$288,626
SC	$280,026
SD	$287,493
TN	$271,468
TX	$309,126
UT	$270,601
VT	$294,843
VA	$278,026
WA	$278,510
WV	$270,160
WI	$289,885
WY	$271,918

Part 4: combined so you can see it all side by side

State	Income Needed	30% Rule	Lender Minimum
AL	$358,613	$268,960	$161,408
AK	$358,117	$283,510	$170,140
AZ	$352,364	$267,210	$160,358
AR	$366,213	$274,660	$164,829
CA	$374,661	$274,751	$164,884
CO	$359,284	$270,960	$162,608
CT	$409,813	$307,360	$184,453
DE	$359,346	$269,510	$161,738
FL	$365,423	$289,293	$173,611
GA	$379,224	$284,418	$170,685
HI	$355,002	$260,335	$156,232
ID	$359,912	$266,935	$160,193
IL	$421,991	$316,493	$189,934
IN	$368,716	$282,068	$169,275
IA	$397,491	$298,118	$178,907
KS	$399,535	$299,651	$179,827
KY	$374,291	$280,718	$168,464
LA	$382,145	$289,793	$173,911
ME	$376,609	$279,318	$167,624
MD	$374,627	$279,410	$167,679
MA	$381,991	$286,493	$171,930
MI	$387,572	$293,101	$175,896
MN	$389,426	$287,201	$172,355
MS	$372,980	$279,735	$167,874
MO	$379,991	$284,993	$171,030
MT	$381,204	$282,726	$169,670
NE	$406,157	$304,618	$182,807
NV	$339,939	$269,118	$161,503
NH	$370,212	$293,085	$175,886
NJ	$415,373	$308,068	$184,878
NM	$365,659	$275,768	$165,494
NY	$407,092	$301,926	$181,192
NC	$366,916	$275,951	$165,604
ND	$371,548	$286,401	$171,875
OH	$396,406	$302,260	$181,392
OK	$399,435	$299,576	$179,782
OR	$381,343	$279,651	$167,824
PA	$387,906	$297,168	$178,336
RI	$384,835	$288,626	$173,210
SC	$373,368	$280,026	$168,049
SD	$363,149	$287,493	$172,530
TN	$342,907	$271,468	$162,913
TX	$390,475	$309,126	$185,513
UT	$360,802	$270,601	$162,393
VT	$397,541	$294,843	$176,941
VA	$370,702	$278,026	$166,849
WA	$351,802	$278,510	$167,139
WV	$360,213	$270,160	$162,128
WI	$387,806	$289,885	$173,966
WY	$343,475	$271,918	$163,183

Hopefully this helps!