How Much Do You Need to Make to Buy a House in Amarillo, TX? (2026)
To comfortably buy a median-priced home in Amarillo, about $235,000 in 2026, you need to earn roughly $85,000 to $90,000 a year, assuming 10% down and today's mortgage rate near 6.75%. Put more money down and that number drops toward $75,000. That is less income than the same home would take in Austin or Dallas, and there are a few Amarillo-specific ways to close the gap if your income or credit is not quite there yet.
Here is the honest catch: a typical Amarillo household earns less than that sticker-math number. So the real question has two answers, the one the calculator gives you, and the one families actually use to get into a home anyway. Below is both, with the full math laid out.
How much is a house in Amarillo right now?
Amarillo's median home price is about $235,000 as of 2026, based on current market data, and prices have stayed flat to slightly down over the past year. That makes it one of the more stable and affordable markets in Texas, well under the big metros.
Of course, "median" covers a wide range. A smaller starter home sits below that number, while a larger new build in a sought-after school district sits above it. But $235,000 is the right anchor for figuring out the income you need.
The monthly payment on a $235,000 home
Income requirements start with the monthly payment, not the price. Here is a realistic breakdown for a $235,000 home with 10% down at current mortgage rates near 6.75% (taxes, insurance, and PMI are estimates and vary):
Principal & interest: about $1,372
Property taxes: about $330 (Texas has no state income tax but high property taxes, commonly 1.6% to 1.9% of value)
Home insurance: about $220 (Panhandle hail pushes premiums up)
PMI: about $115 (applies when you put less than 20% down)
That comes to roughly $2,040 a month. The three biggest levers on that number are your down payment, the interest rate, and taxes plus insurance.
So how much do you need to make?
Lenders like your total housing payment to sit around 28% of your gross income. Run $2,040 a month through that rule and you land at about $87,000 a year, call it $85,000 to $90,000, to buy the median Amarillo home comfortably with 10% down.
Change the down payment and the answer moves:
20% down: no PMI and a smaller loan drop the payment to about $1,770 a month, so you would need roughly $75,000 a year.
5% down: a bigger loan and higher PMI push you toward $90,000-plus.
One more thing worth knowing: lenders will often approve you at a higher debt ratio than 28%, so the income to qualify can be lower than the income to be comfortable. The numbers above are the comfortable version.
The honest part: Amarillo incomes vs the sticker math
A typical Amarillo household earns well below $85,000 a year. That is not a knock on Amarillo, it is true in most affordable markets, and it is exactly why programs built to close that gap matter here. If the calculator says you need more than you make, you have not run out of options. You have run out of the traditional path, and there are several others.
How to buy in Amarillo for less than the math says
This is where the number on the calculator stops being the whole story.
Lower the monthly payment. Our Affordable Mortgage Payment Program and financing options are built to get that $2,000-a-month figure down, which lowers the income you need right along with it.
Use the equity you already have. If you own a home now, our Trade-In Program lets you put your current home's value to work toward the new one, without carrying two mortgages while you wait.
Get in now and build toward it. Not enough saved, or credit that needs work? Our Lease with Purchase Option lets you move in as a renter while part of every payment builds toward buying, and our credit restoration help gets you mortgage-ready during the lease.
See what your number actually buys. Browse our new construction homes in Amarillo to match a real home to your budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you need to make to buy a house in Amarillo, TX?
For a median-priced home around $235,000 in 2026, about $85,000 to $90,000 a year with 10% down, or closer to $75,000 with 20% down. Programs that lower your monthly payment can bring that requirement down further.
How much is a house in Amarillo right now?
The median home price is about $235,000 as of 2026, with smaller homes below that and larger new builds above it.
How much of a down payment do I need?
Putting 20% down avoids PMI, but plenty of buyers purchase with 5% to 10%, or as little as 3.5% on an FHA loan. Rent-to-own can also help you build the down payment while you live in the home.
What if I don't make that much?
You still have paths. Lowering the monthly payment, trading in a current home, or renting toward ownership can each put a home within reach below the sticker-math income.
Is it a good time to buy in Amarillo?
Prices have been stable and remain well below Texas's big metros. The right time depends more on your own situation than the market, and that is worth a quick conversation.
Ready to find your real number?
Your actual income requirement depends on your down payment, credit, and which program fits, and the fastest way to pin it down is to run your numbers with us. No pressure, no sales pitch, just honest figures.
📞 Call 806-557-3813 or contact us to get started today.
