By Sheree Macaroni | Macaroni Homes | 229-563-3116

This is one of the most common—and smartest—questions buyers ask when they start house hunting in Coweta and Fayette County.

The short answer?
Affordability isn’t just about a purchase price. It’s about what your monthly budget can comfortably handle once mortgage, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees are all factored in.

Let’s break it down in a practical, local way.

Step 1: Start With a Comfortable Monthly Payment (Not a Sales Price)

Most lenders—and financial experts like Peach State Federal Credit Union—recommend keeping your total housing payment around:

25–30% of your gross monthly income

That total monthly payment usually includes:

• Principal & interest

• Property taxes

• Homeowners insurance

• HOA dues (if applicable)

👉 Example:
If your household earns $6,500/month gross, a comfortable housing range is roughly:

• $1,625–$1,950/month

This number is your anchor. Everything else works backward from here.

Step 2: Convert Local Home Prices Into Monthly Reality

Median home prices in Coweta and Fayette County can look intimidating on paper—but what matters is how they translate monthly.

According to affordability breakdowns like those published by Clever Real Estate, Georgia buyers often underestimate how much taxes and HOA fees impact the real payment.

Here’s what to plan for locally:

1. Property Taxes (Georgia-Friendly, But Still Real)

Georgia property taxes are generally lower than many states, but they still matter—especially as prices rise.

• Expect 1–1.2% of the home’s value annually, depending on location and exemptions

• That’s roughly $250–$400/month on many Coweta/Fayette homes

2. HOA Fees (Very Neighborhood-Dependent)

In many Fayette and newer Coweta subdivisions:

• $50–$100/month = basic HOA

• $100–$200+/month = amenities like pools, tennis, clubhouses

Older neighborhoods and in-town areas often have no HOA at all, which can significantly improve affordability.

Step 3: A Realistic Local Example

Let’s say you’re considering a home priced around the local median range.

A realistic monthly breakdown might look like this:

• Mortgage (principal & interest): ~$1,650

• Property taxes: ~$300

• Insurance: ~$125

• HOA: ~$100

Estimated total monthly housing cost: ~$2,175

For many buyers, this feels comfortable with a household income around $7,000–$8,000/month, depending on other debts.

This is why two buyers with the same income can afford very different homes—HOA structure, taxes, and debt levels matter just as much as price.

Step 4: What Buyers Often Overlook

Here’s where budgets go sideways if you’re not careful:

• Assuming the max lender approval = comfortable payment

• Forgetting HOA dues when shopping by price only

• Not accounting for lifestyle costs (childcare, travel, savings, etc.)

• Ignoring future changes (property tax reassessments, insurance increases)

A smart budget leaves breathing room, not stress.

Step 5: The Smart Way to Answer “How Much Can I Afford?”

The best buyers don’t ask:

“What’s the most I can buy?”

They ask:

“What monthly payment lets me live comfortably and enjoy my life?”

That’s how you avoid buyer’s remorse—and why converting local prices into real monthly numbers matters so much in Coweta and Fayette County.

Want a Personalized Breakdown?

Online calculators are a good starting point—but they don’t know:

• Your specific neighborhood options

• Local tax nuances

• HOA realities

• Or how today’s rates affect your budget

If you want, I can walk you through real homes, real payments, and real expectations—so you shop confidently and comfortably.