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Bergen County Affordability

How Much House Can I Afford in Bergen County?

Calculate your home buying budget for Bergen County including high property taxes. Median home $749,714, average property tax $12,007/year. Get a real affordability estimate.

NMLS 1577754 • Licensed in NJ, NY, PA, CT, MD, OH, GA

Bergen County Market Reality

$749,714
Median Home Price
Up 16.2% YoY
$12,007
Avg Property Tax
Per year
72.1%
Sell Above Asking
Competitive market
57
Days on Market
Average

Income Needed for Bergen County Homes

$500,000 Home
With 3.5% down (FHA)
$125,000
Annual income needed
$750,000 Home (Median)
With 5% down
$185,000
Annual income needed
$1,000,000 Home
With 10% down
$245,000
Annual income needed

Calculations assume 28% housing expense ratio, 6.5% interest rate, 2.73% property tax, $150/mo insurance

The 28/36 Affordability Rule

Industry standard for determining how much home you can afford

28% Front-End Ratio

Your monthly housing payment (PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income.

Example: $10,000/month income
$2,800/mo
Maximum housing payment
Breakdown:
Mortgage P&I: $1,800
Property Tax: $800
Insurance: $150
HOA: $50

36% Back-End Ratio

Your total monthly debt (housing + car loans + credit cards + student loans) should not exceed 36% of gross monthly income.

Example: $10,000/month income
$3,600/mo
Maximum total debt
Breakdown:
Housing: $2,800
Car Payment: $500
Credit Cards: $200
Student Loans: $100

Bergen County Property Tax Impact

Why Property Taxes Matter in Bergen County

Bergen County has one of the highest average property tax bills in NJ ($12,007/year). This significantly impacts affordability - a $750K home costs an extra $1,000/month just in property taxes.

Low Tax Town (Rockleigh 0.74%)
$463/mo
On $750K home
Average Tax (2.73%)
$1,706/mo
On $750K home
High Tax Town (Bogota 4.23%)
$2,644/mo
On $750K home

Get Your Exact Bergen County Affordability Number

We calculate your complete monthly payment including Bergen County property taxes, insurance, and HOA. Get pre-approved in 24 hours and know exactly how much you can afford.

Jimmy Joseph MBA • NMLS 1577754jjoseph@cmghomeloans.com