Paycheck to Paycheck Analysis


HOW TO DO A “PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK” ANALYSIS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY
 
The Paycheck to Paycheck analysis developed by the Center for Housing Policy helps communities assess affordability of housing for workers in your community and make the case for action. Online Paycheck to Paycheck analysis are available for nearly 200 metropolitan areas at www.nhc.org/chp/p2p
 
Can't find your community or want to customize the analysis for your community?
 
FOLLOW THREE STEPS TO YOUR OWN PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK ANALYSIS
 
The simple steps in the following pages will show you how to:
  1. Obtain median prices for existing or new homes. Then, calculate the income
    working families need to qualify for a mortgage.
  2. Get the typical rents. Then, calculate what working families have to earn so
    they don't spend an excessive amount of income for rent.
  3. Take prevailing wages for typical occupations in your community. Then
    compare them to:


    1. What working families need to earn to qualify to buy a home
    2. What working families need to earn so that rent is affordable


HOUSING SOLUTIONS ARE BUILT UPON AN EDIFICE OF FACTS. DOCUMENT THE FACTS ABOUT AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

 

WHAT WORKING FAMILIES NEED TO EARN TO QUALIFY TO BUY A HOME?

 
Assume Downpayment Amount

Subtract the downpayment from the
home purchase price to get the
mortgage amount

Example: 10% downpayment on a
$250,000 home - $250,000 - $25,000 =
$225,000 mortgage

   
Calculate Monthly Principal and Interest
Use interest rate and mortgage term
(30 years) to get monthly Principal
and Interest payments from:
Online calculator:
www.bankrate.com
www.hsh.com
• other bank websites
Example: P&I for a $225,000 mortgage
at 5% = $1,207.85/month
   
Add Monthly Taxes and Insurance

Add monthly taxes and insurance
figures to monthly principle and
interest amount

Example: Taxes and Insurance =
$325/month - $1208 + $325 = $1533
Total Monthly Payment

   
Calculate Annual Housing Cost

Multiply Total Monthly Payment
by 12 to get Total Annual Housing
Cost

Example $1533 X 12 = $18,396

   
Calculate Income Needed to Qualify for Loan

Assume housing costs are no
more than 28% of income. Divide
Total Annual Housing Costs in
step 4) by .28

Example: $18,396/.28 = $65,700
You have to earn at least this much to
qualify for a mortgage.

   
Compare the Salaries of Your Selected Occupations ARE SALARIES SUFFICIENT?
Teacher - $58,460 < $65,700
Bank Teller - $25,418 < $65,700
   
What Working Families Need To Earn To Afford Rental Housing
   
CALCULATIONS HOW TO DO THEM
   
Do Separate Calculations for 1- and 2-bedroom Units

Multiply monthly rents by 12 to
get Annual Rents

Example:
1 BR @ $750/month X 12 = $9,000
2 BR @ $900/month X 12 = $10,800

   
Determine Income Needed for Rent to be Affordable

Divide the rent by .30
This calculates the amount you need to
earn annually so the rent is “affordable” -
no more than 30% of income

Example:
1 BR @ $9,000/.30 = $30,000
2 BR @ $10,800/.30 = $36,000

   
Convert Hourly Wages Needed to be Affordable

Divide the annual amount needed
from step 2) by the hours typically
worked in a year (2080)

Example:
1 BR @ $30,000/2080 = $14.42/hour
2 BR @ $36,000/2080 = $17.30/hour

   
If wage data is annual convert to hourly

Divide annual wages by 2080 to get
hourly wages.

Example:
Nurses Aid - $23,943/2080 =$11.51
Teachers Aid- $22,069/2080 =$10.61

   
Compare the wages of your

ARE THE WAGES SUFFICIENT TO
RENT A 1-BR OR 2-BR UNIT?
Example:
Nurses Aid - $11.51 < 1-BR @
$14.42 or 2-BR at $17.30
Teachers Aid - $10.61 < 1-BR @
$14.42 or 2-BR @ $17.30

   
Information Needed for a Paycheck to Paycheck Analysis
   
Information Where to Get It
   

Home Prices

  • Use median or range of prices
  • Housing Virginia Data - www.housingvirginia.org
  • REALTORS can get from MLS data
  • Homebuilders from price of new homes
  • Advertised homes in local papers
   

Interest Rates

  • Add 45 basis points to interest
    rate if downpayment is less
    than 20%
  • Federal Home Finance Board website www.fhfb.gov and click on Mortgage Interest Rate Survey
  • Local lenders
   

Taxes and Insurance

  • Express as monthly cost
  • Virginia Economic Development Partnership website -
    www.virginiaallies.org/assets/files/publications/local_taxes_guide.pdf
  • Insurance from local insurance representative
  • Estimate monthly amount for both items by multiplying the home price by a number ranging from .0015 (low cost) to .0025 (high cost)
  • Tax from local assessor's office or local government website
   

Rents

  • Add utility costs if applicable
   

Wages

  • Can be annual or hourly
  • Virginia Economic Development Partnership website - Community Profiles - www.yesvirginia.org
  • Individual local employers
  • Government' Occupational Earnings and Wage Estimates by metro area and zip code www.bls.gov
  • Commercial data by metro area or zip code www.salary.com