Would a $900,000 purchase with 5% down and roughly $175,000/year income qualify for a conforming loan?

On paper, yes, with room to spare, assuming the rest of your file holds up. Needing 5% down rather than 3% is a clue you're in a high-cost county using a high-balance conforming loan. The 97% financing options (3% down, through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) only apply at or below the standard baseline conforming loan limit; high-balance loans aren't eligible. Conforming limits run higher in expensive counties and adjust annually, so check the current limit for your area rather than relying on a fixed figure. On the income, roughly $175,000 a year is about $14,583 a month. Conventional loans through automated underwriting cap out at a 50% back-end debt-to-income ratio, and with little existing monthly debt and solid credit you'd be nowhere near that ceiling. Qualifying isn't guaranteed until a full file is reviewed, but these ratios are comfortable. One more thing worth asking about: some high-cost areas, including parts of Southern California, have programs that follow Fannie and Freddie guidelines but carry their own rates and terms, sidestepping some of the pricing add-ons that hit standard high-balance loans. That can mean a lower rate. To see exactly where you land and which structure is cheapest, the free Roadmap conversation (about 20 minutes) is where we run your real numbers.