You want to buy a home in Birmingham, but what kind of salary does it take in today’s market? As your local real estate market expert, I can give you the clear, local answer for 2025—plus tips to help you qualify even if you’re below average.
In 2025, the median home price in Birmingham is approximately $250,000. Lenders typically recommend that your total housing expense (mortgage payment, taxes, insurance) not exceed 28%–31% of your gross monthly income. For a 30-year mortgage with 10% down at current rates, that’s about $1,500–$1,700/month, so you’d need an annual salary of $63,000–$75,000 to buy comfortably without stretching.
If you have little other debt (like car payments or student loans), lenders might approve you with slightly less—perhaps $55,000–$62,000—especially if you use down payment assistance or lower interest programs. If you’re a first-time buyer with lower credit but a bigger down payment, flexible loan options make owning within reach at even lower incomes, though your budget may be for homes at $175,000–$225,000 instead.
As your agent, I connect clients to every program available—state, local, and lender-specific—to stretch your home buying power. Homeownership in Birmingham remains far more accessible than in most markets, and smart planning puts “the average” within reach for many hardworking residents here.
