The 30 Percent Rule for Home Buying You Never Learned

Lucas and Luna break down the 30 percent rule for home buying — why it exists, how it actually works in practice, and the one big mistake most first-time buyers make when applying it. Using a concrete example of a couple earning $120,000 a year, they show how the rule translates into a maximum monthly payment, what lenders actually check, and why the rule often fails in high-cost cities like San Francisco or New York. They also discuss the 28/36 rule that banks use, the difference between front-end and back-end ratios, and when it makes sense to stretch above 30 percent. Plus, a real listener question about whether to include bonuses and side hustle income in the calculation. If you are thinking about buying a home — or just wish someone had explained this clearly — this episode is for you. #30PercentRule #HomeBuying #Mortgage #Budgeting #PersonalFinance #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #DebtToIncome #HousingCosts #RealEstate #DownPayment #FHA #ConventionalLoan #SanFrancisco #NewYork #SideHustle #BonusIncome #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo