If you are planning a move to Coronado, one useful question comes before any open house: what income lines up with the homes you are looking at? Here is the arithmetic, using today’s rates and Zillow’s values.
The 28% yardstick
A common rule of thumb is to keep housing costs near 28% of gross income. Lenders look at much more (other debts, credit, savings), so this is a starting point, not an approval. With 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan at 7.40% (Freddie Mac, week of Oct 8, 2026), tax near 1.1% and insurance near 0.3% of the price a year:
| Tier | Home value | Total a month (est.) | Income at 28% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $1,679,533 | $11,262 | $482,676 |
| Typical | $2,563,759 | $17,192 | $736,792 |
| Upper tier | $4,070,688 | $27,297 | $1,169,864 |
What a rate move does to the income figure
| Rate | Total a month (est.) | Income at 28% |
|---|---|---|
| 6.40% | $15,820 | $678,010 |
| 6.90% | $16,499 | $707,100 |
| 7.40% (today) | $17,192 | $736,792 |
| 7.90% | $17,898 | $767,052 |
| 8.40% | $18,616 | $797,846 |
The typical Coronado home ($2,563,759 in Aug 2026) at 7.40% lines up with an income near $736,792. A year ago the average rate was 6.30%; at that rate the same home would have lined up with about $672,267. HOA dues, mortgage insurance and a smaller down payment would all change the picture.
Go deeper
Try your own numbers in the payment calculator, or read Rudy’s interest-rate series for how rates are set.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Point Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #231073), at (619) 475-4095. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Sources and assumptions
- Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac, weekly national averages (latest Oct 8, 2026).
- Home values and rents: Zillow Home Value Index and Observed Rent Index.
- Property tax and insurance, where shown, are round-number assumptions of about 1.1% and 0.3% of the price a year, not quotes.
More on interest rates
- The Fed's Rate Decisions vs. Mortgage Rates: What Is the Difference? — The Federal Reserve sets one short-term rate. Mortgage rates follow a different set of forces. Here is how the two relate, with the recent decisions.
- Fixed Rate, Adjustable Rate and Buydowns: The Basics — How the main loan structures work, and what a temporary or permanent rate buydown means.
General information, not financial advice.
Related reading
- How Much Home Can I Afford? — A quick, friendly estimate of the price range that fits your income, debts and savings.
- Refinance Break-Even Calculator — See how much a refinance could save each month, how long it takes to earn back the costs, and what it does to…
- Moving to Coronado: Market Numbers and Monthly Costs — What a Coronado home costs each month at today’s rates, how that compares with renting, and this week’s…
- Home Guides: Practical Know-How for San Diego Buyers and Sellers — Practical guides, printable checklists and market insight for people buying, selling or moving in San Diego…