If your household income is around $130,000 per year, you might be wondering — can I actually afford a home like this one? Let’s walk through the numbers and see if it’s within reach.

With a $130K salary, your monthly gross income comes in around $10,800. If we stick to the general rule of keeping housing costs at or below 30% of your income, your ideal monthly budget would be around $3,200.

Let's use a real home — 5307 Halmark Drive in Austin, Texas (which is currently for sale 😉)  — as an example. It's listed at $589,900. A 10% down payment puts you at roughly $58,990 upfront. With an estimated 6.75% interest rate, and including property taxes and homeowners insurance, your monthly payment lands around $4,500. That’s clearly over the $3,200 a month target.

But here’s the twist — this home comes with a second unit.

Whether you choose to live in the main house and rent out the back unit, or vice versa, that extra income potential changes everything.

Let’s look at a few rental options:

• Short-term rental (Airbnb-style): If you rent the second unit for $100 a night and it books for just 20 days a month, you could earn about $2,000 in gross rental income. After cleaning and maintenance expenses (let’s estimate $435/month), your net income would be about $1,500 per month.
  
  

• Subtract that from your $4,500 monthly mortgage payment, and you’re left with a net housing cost of $3,000/month — right on budget.
  
  

Prefer a long-term tenant?

• Longer-term rental: At $1,200/month in rent, you’d be comfortably within your affordability range with some breathing room.
  
  

Bottom line — yes, this home can work within a $130K/year income, especially with the added rental flexibility.

Interested in checking out 5307 Halmark Drive or other similar properties in Austin? Call us — we’d love to show you how this home could fit your lifestyle and your budget.

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More about 5307 Halmark Drive, Austin, TX 78723

🏡 Neighborhood Highlights

• Mueller Community: A vibrant, walkable redevelopment with trails, retail, East Austin’s H‑E‑B with farm‑fresh café & evening music, The Thinkery children’s museum, and ample green spaces—including Lake Park and Mueller’s greenways.
  
  

• Rosewood Neighborhood Park: A 17‑acre park featuring a community pool, splash pad, tennis courts, playscape, gym, and Rec Center—great for kids and families .
  
  

• Recreation & Fitness: Nearby Morris Williams Park offers golf and green space; Harvey Penick Tennis Center serves up public courts; and the Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt has lush trails for walking or running.
  
  

• Schools: Zoned for Kealing Middle School and McCallum High School, both about 1–1.5 miles away, highly accessible for families.
  
  

• Dining & Daily Needs: The H‑E‑B at Mueller is only ~1 mile away—featuring a grocery, café Mueller stage, and evening events. Plus, Mueller offers a wide range of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues.
  
  
  

Summary

In short, 5307 Halmark Drive is situated in a lively, well-rounded neighborhood with:

• Fantastic green spaces & recreation ✅

• Excellent nearby schools ✅

• Easy access to grocery, dining, and markets ✅

• Wallet-friendly amenities like pools and trails ✅