I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Call (800) 239-1103.
Sausalito is one of the Bay Area’s most coveted addresses — and one of its most expensive. With a median home price of $1.5M to $1.9M, most buyers ask the same question before they even start looking: do I actually make enough to qualify? This post gives you the real numbers.
The Income Formula Lenders Use
Mortgage lenders use your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) as the primary measure of affordability. Your total monthly debt payments — including the new mortgage — must generally stay below 43% of your gross monthly income for jumbo loans (some lenders allow up to 45%–50% with strong compensating factors). The calculation works like this: if your gross monthly income is $25,000, your maximum total monthly debt is $10,750. Subtract any existing monthly obligations (car payments, student loans, credit card minimums) and what’s left is your available housing budget.
Income Required by Purchase Price — Sausalito 2026
These estimates assume 20% down, a 30-year fixed jumbo loan at ~6.75%, strong credit, and no other monthly debt. Property tax estimated at 1.1% annually; homeowner’s insurance estimated at $300/month for higher-value properties.
| Purchase Price | Down Payment (20%) | Loan Amount | Est. Monthly Payment | Income Needed (43% DTI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,250,000 | $250,000 | $1,000,000 | ~$7,840 | ~$218,000/year |
| $1,500,000 | $300,000 | $1,200,000 | ~$9,350 | ~$261,000/year |
| $1,750,000 | $350,000 | $1,400,000 | ~$10,850 | ~$302,000/year |
| $2,000,000 | $400,000 | $1,600,000 | ~$12,350 | ~$345,000/year |
| $2,500,000 | $500,000 | $2,000,000 | ~$15,350 | ~$428,000/year |
Estimates are illustrative. Your actual payment and income requirement depend on your credit score, existing debt, reserves, and specific lender program. Contact us for a personalized analysis.
What Counts as Income for a Jumbo Loan?
- W-2 salary: Straightforward — lenders use gross income before taxes. Two years of W-2s and recent pay stubs required.
- Bonus and commission income: Generally averaged over 2 years. One-time bonuses may or may not count depending on the lender and whether they appear on both years’ returns.
- Self-employment income: Lenders use your net income after business expenses from your tax returns. If you write off aggressively, your qualifying income may be much lower than your actual earnings. Bank statement loan programs can help here.
- RSUs and stock compensation: Tech workers at public companies can sometimes count vested RSUs as income if they have a documented vesting schedule and the stock is liquid.
- Rental income: 75% of rental income from investment properties can be counted if properly documented.
- Investment and retirement income: Asset depletion programs let you convert portfolio assets into qualifying income — helpful for buyers with significant wealth but lower current W-2 income.
The Reserves Requirement — Often Overlooked
Income is only part of the equation. Jumbo lenders also require cash reserves after closing — typically 6 to 12 months of your full mortgage payment sitting in liquid accounts. On a $1.5M Sausalito purchase, that means $55,000–$110,000 in reserves in addition to your down payment and closing costs. Retirement accounts (401k, IRA) often count at 60%–70% of their balance for reserve purposes.
Can You Put Less Than 20% Down?
Yes — some jumbo programs allow 10% down on purchases up to $2M for well-qualified borrowers. The tradeoff is a higher rate and stricter income/credit requirements. On a $1.5M Sausalito home, 10% down means $150,000 instead of $300,000, but your monthly payment will be roughly $9,000+ versus $8,000 at 20% down. A mortgage broker can model both scenarios so you can make the right call for your cash flow and long-term plan.
Two-Income Households
For couples buying together in Sausalito, both incomes can be counted — which often unlocks homes that wouldn’t qualify on a single income. Combined income of $250,000–$350,000 makes a $1.5M–$2M Sausalito home mathematically feasible for households with strong credit and reasonable existing debt.
Find Out Exactly What You Qualify For in Sausalito
Every buyer’s situation is different. DiVita Home Finance will run a full pre-approval analysis based on your actual income, assets, and goals — so you know exactly what you can buy in Sausalito before you start looking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to earn to buy a home in Sausalito?
At Sausalito’s median price of $1.5M–$1.9M with 20% down and current jumbo rates around 6.75%, you need approximately $261,000–$330,000 in annual household income to qualify, assuming no significant other debts and a 43% DTI. At $1.25M (entry-level condos and lower-priced homes), the income requirement drops to around $218,000/year. These figures assume a 30-year fixed rate and 1.1% annual property tax. Existing car loans, student loans, or other monthly debts reduce your qualifying home price proportionally.
Do RSUs or self-employment income count for a Sausalito mortgage?
Yes, both can count, but with conditions. RSU income from public companies can be counted if you have a documented two-year vesting history and evidence of continued grants — some lenders are more receptive than others. Self-employment income is typically calculated from your net income on tax returns, which can be significantly lower than your actual cash flow if you have heavy business write-offs. In that case, a bank statement loan uses 12–24 months of actual deposits instead of tax returns, often resulting in 2–3x the qualifying income. A mortgage broker who specializes in non-traditional income types is essential for these scenarios.
Can I put less than 20% down on a Sausalito home?
Yes. Some jumbo programs allow 10% down on purchases up to $2M for well-qualified buyers with 740+ credit scores and strong reserves. The tradeoff is a slightly higher interest rate — typically 0.125%–0.25% above the standard 20% down rate — and stricter reserve requirements. On a $1.5M Sausalito home, 10% down ($150,000) instead of 20% ($300,000) preserves $150,000 in cash that can be used for reserves, renovations, or other investments. A mortgage broker can model the exact payment difference between 10% and 20% down for your specific scenario.
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | In lending since 2000, founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
