Summary answer: On a $100,000 household income, standard lending guidelines put your realistic purchase price around $300,000 to $375,000 depending on your loan type, down payment, and debts. In Arlington that almost certainly means a condo, because the county's blended median runs roughly $750,000 to $860,000 and single-family homes often top $1 million. A $100,000 income does not reach the detached-home market here, but Arlington's condo segment, which fell 7.4% in 2025, gives you a genuine path in with more negotiating room than the single-family side.
I'm Johnny with JQ Real Estate. Let me show you exactly where $100,000 lands in Arlington, because it is a very different answer than most of Northern Virginia.
The math lenders actually use
Most conventional lenders want your total housing payment (principal, interest, property taxes, insurance, and HOA or condo dues) to stay near 28% of gross monthly income, and your total debts under roughly 43% to 45%. On $100,000 a year, gross monthly income is $8,333, so the 28% guideline points to a housing payment around $2,333. At a 30-year fixed rate near 6.65%, that works out as follows:
| Step | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Gross monthly income ($100K/yr) | $8,333 |
| Target housing payment (28% front-end ratio) | ~$2,333/mo |
| Realistic purchase price, 10% down, conventional | ~$300,000–$330,000 |
| Realistic purchase price, VA loan, 0% down, no PMI | ~$340,000–$375,000 |
The VA number is higher because there is no mortgage insurance, so more of your payment goes toward the loan. Arlington has a large VA-eligible buyer pool because of the Pentagon, so this is a common path here and not an exception.
Why Arlington is different from the rest of Northern Virginia
When someone says Arlington homes cost $800,000, they are usually blending two very different markets into one number: single-family homes, which often exceed $1 million, and condos, which in corridors like Columbia Pike, Ballston, and Clarendon commonly run from about $300,000 to $575,000. If your budget is built on a $100,000 income, you are shopping in the condo and townhome segment. That segment has softened, with condo prices down 7.4% in 2025 and only a modest 2.1% recovery projected for 2026, while single-family homes face a projected 3.8% gain on tight inventory. Same county, two markets.
Monthly costs buyers forget in a condo
Arlington County's 2026 real estate tax rate is $1.053 per $100 of assessed value, up two cents from last year after the County Board's April vote. On a $350,000 condo that is about $3,686 a year, or roughly $307 a month. Add homeowners or condo insurance, and condo dues, which can range from under $300 to well over $600 a month depending on the building and what it covers. Those dues count in your 28% target, so a building with high fees can cut your price range by tens of thousands of dollars. Arlington also bills a stormwater utility fee on the real estate bill, based on impervious area. Ask for the dues, the reserve study, and the last two years of budgets before you fall in love with a unit.
What changes your number
- Loan type. A VA loan removes the down payment and PMI. If you have served, check eligibility first.
- Existing debt. A $400 car or student loan payment can lower your buying power by roughly $60,000 or more.
- Credit score. A higher score improves your rate and your mortgage insurance cost.
- Down payment. Each extra 5% down shrinks the loan and the monthly payment.
- A second income. If this is a household decision, the math above roughly doubles.
- Building approval. Condos must be approved for FHA or VA financing if you plan to use those loans.
A realistic path if the condo market is not what you pictured
A few options I walk buyers through. You can widen the search to nearby Fairfax or Prince William communities, trading commute time for a townhome or small single-family home. You can target Columbia Pike, where prices run meaningfully below Clarendon or Ballston. You can extend your saving timeline, since six to twelve months can move your range by $30,000 to $50,000. And first-time buyers can check Virginia Housing's down payment grant, which is 2% of the price on a conventional loan or 2.5% on FHA, subject to income and sales price limits you should confirm with a lender.
An example
Suppose you earn $100,000, carry no other debt, and have $20,000 saved. A one-bedroom condo near Ballston priced at $425,000 would need a loan of about $404,000 with 5% down. At 6.65% the payment is roughly $2,590 before taxes, insurance, and dues, which is already over your target. A $330,000 condo on Columbia Pike with 10% down fits comfortably. The difference is not your income. It is choosing the corridor that matches it, which is why neighborhood choice matters more here than in most places.
Get your actual number
These are guidelines, not a pre-approval. Reach out and I'll connect you with a lender for a real number, then show you which Arlington corridors and buildings actually fit.
For more Arlington buyer and seller questions, visit our Arlington real estate hub.