Mortgage 50% of income?

[Jenna Goldstein]

Why can a mortgage be only 50% of your income? 

For many, we pay 90% or more towards rent. 

Why so strict for a mortgage?

Seems like the system is designed to make you fail...

[Chris Mason]

Originally posted by @Jenna Goldstein:

Why can a mortgage be only 50% of your income? 

For many, we pay 90% or more towards rent. 

Why so strict for a mortgage?

Seems like the system is designed to make you fail...

 Hi Jenna,

I'd say that you have it backwards... your landlord is setting you up to fail by allowing you to be in a situation where 90% of your gross income is needed for rent. After taxes, even a person who doesn't eat or need gas money can't make rent in this scenario.