Here's the salary you'll need if you want to afford a mortgage in 17 major US cities

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Here's the salary you'll need if you want to afford a mortgage in 17 major US cities

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  • Monthly mortgage payments in the US have increased twice as much as incomes from 2017 to 2019, according to home ownership investment company Unison's 2019 Home Affordability Report.
  • The report takes a look at how much homeowners need to make each year in order to afford the median monthly mortgage payments in major US cities.
  • The report's findings are based on homebuyers who spend 30% or less of their gross income on monthly payments.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Saving up for the down payment is only part of the hurdle to homeownership for homeowners.

Unison's 2019 Home Affordability Report found that since mortgage interest rates rose from 3.99 % to 4.54%, monthly mortgage payments across major US cities have increased twice as much as incomes.

The report broke down how much homeowners need to make in 35 US cities in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payments. From that list, we looked at the 17 US cities where homeowners have to make the highest salary to afford a mortgage.

Read more: Here's how many years it takes to save for a 20% down payment on a home in 12 major US cities

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The report's findings are based on homebuyers who spend 30% or less of their gross income on monthly payments. The report assumes a 20% down payment, and a 4.54% mortgage interest rate on 2018 data and a 3.99% mortgage interest rate on 2017 data, the average annual Freddie Mac 30-year fixed rates. Data on median household incomes and median value of owner-occupied housing units were provided to Unison by S&P Global.

Keep reading to see the top 17 US cities where homeowners have to make the highest salary to afford the median mortgage.

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17: Las Vegas, Nevada

17: Las Vegas, Nevada

In Las Vegas, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,150, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $45,998.

The average price of a home in Las Vegas is $234,832.

16: Minneapolis, Minnesota

16: Minneapolis, Minnesota

In Minneapolis, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,228, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $49,122.

The average price of a home in Minneapolis is $250,779.

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15. Chicago, Illinois

15. Chicago, Illinois

In Chicago, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,276, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $51,031.

The average price of a home in Chicago is $260,526.

14. Atlanta, Georgia

14. Atlanta, Georgia

In Atlanta, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,357, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $54,266.

The average price of a home in Atlanta is $277,041.

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13. Salt Lake City, Utah

13. Salt Lake City, Utah

In Salt Lake City, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,431, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $57,248.

The average price of a home in Salt Lake City is $292,263.

12. Miami, Florida

12. Miami, Florida

In Miami, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,541, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $61,634.

The average price of a home in Miami is $314,657.

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11. Denver, Colorado

11. Denver, Colorado

In Denver, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,725, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $68,983.

The average price of a home in Denver is $352,172.

10. Portland, Oregon

10. Portland, Oregon

In Portland, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $1,853, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $74,137.

The average price of a home in Portland is $378,483.

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9. Boston, Massachusetts

9. Boston, Massachusetts

In Boston, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $2,384, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $95,344.

The average price of a home in Boston is $486,752.

8. New York City, New York

8. New York City, New York

In New York City, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $2,733, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $109,313.

The average price of a home in New York City is $558,065.

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7. Washington, D.C.

7. Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $2,803, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $112,106.

The average price of a home in Washington, D.C. is $572,324.

6. Seattle, Washington

6. Seattle, Washington

In Seattle, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $2,855, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $114,217.

The average price of a home in Seattle is $583,100.

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5. San Diego, California

5. San Diego, California

In San Diego, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $2,916, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $116,652.

The average price of a home in San Diego is $595,533.

4. Los Angeles, California

4. Los Angeles, California

In Los Angeles, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $3,048, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $121,939.

The average price of a home in Los Angeles is $622,523.

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3. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii

3. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii

In Urban Honolulu, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $3,514, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $140,555.

The average price of a home in Urban Honolulu is $717,564.

2. San Jose, California

2. San Jose, California

In San Jose, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $3,817, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $152,697.

The average price of a home in San Jose is $779,549.

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1. San Francisco, California

1. San Francisco, California

In San Francisco, in order to afford the city's median monthly mortgage payment of $5,052, homeowners must earn a minimum annual income of $202,094.

The average price of a home in San Francisco is $1,032,732.