A year ago, a lot of homebuyers ran the numbers and didn’t like what they saw.

Today, those numbers look different.

According to Zillow, a median-income household can now afford $30,302 more home than they could a year ago.

The reason? Mortgage rates have eased from nearly 7% last winter to around 6%, and recently dipped to 5.99%.

That alone lowers the monthly payment enough to change what many buyers qualify for.

The real question isn’t what’s happening nationally. It’s what this means for you, your budget, and the neighborhoods you’ve been watching.

Let’s walk through what’s changed and how it affects your next move.

You May Qualify for More Than You Think

If you looked at homes last year and felt boxed in by your budget, it may be worth revisiting those numbers.

Mortgage rates averaged 6.96% in early 2025. And this week, they dipped to 5.99%. That lowers the monthly payment enough to increase what many buyers can qualify for.

Here’s the math for a $3,000 monthly budget:

• With a 5.99% mortgage rate, buyers can now afford roughly a $479,750 home.
• At the start of this year, when rates were around 6.2%, that same budget bought about $471,750.
• A year ago at 6.9%, it bought $446,000.

That’s an $8,000 gain in just the past few weeks and $33,750 more purchasing power than a year ago.

(Note: The above example assumes 20% down, a 30-year mortgage,1.25% property tax rate, 0.5% homeowners’ insurance rate, and no HOA dues.)

Of course, the only way to know what it means for your budget is to rerun the math based on today’s rates, today’s prices and your current income.

What This Means for Your Plan 

If you pressed pause on buying over the past year, this is a good time to look at your options again.

Buyers now need about $111,000 in income to afford the typical U.S. home, down 4% from last year. Affordability is improving in 37 of the 50 largest metros.

If rates stay near 6% (or better yet, under), affordability will continue to improve.

Here’s what that could mean:

• Checking what you qualify for at today’s rates
• Expanding your search into neighborhoods that were slightly out of reach
• Paying attention to homes that have been sitting and may have room for negotiation

For homeowners, it could also mean scoring a lower monthly payment with a refi.

The point is, you don’t have to rush. Or stretch your budget to the breaking point. In fact, don’t do that. Being house-poor is not the goal. But you do want clear numbers and a simple plan.

Right now, the numbers are lining up in a way they haven’t in a while. Lower rates + Slower price growth.

If you’re wondering what you can afford right now, the smartest first step is running the numbers based on today’s rates, today’s prices, and your actual budget.

Once you have that clarity, your next move gets much easier to decide.