It's not uncommon for a first-time home buyer to have anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 in student loan debt and still qualify for a mortgage, Park says.
Mortgage lenders want to see a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 43% or less. Anything above that could lead to the rejection of your application. The closer your DTI ratio is to that percentage, the less favorable your mortgage terms are likely to be. A Home Purchase Worksheet can help you determine your DTI ratio.
“No matter what your income, $100,000 in debt is a very significant amount. The first step to take is to acknowledge it is a problem and that you need to take action now; it's not going to disappear on its own.”
A DTI of 43% is usually the highest ratio that a borrower can have and still get qualified for a mortgage; however, lenders generally seek ratios of no more than 36%. A low DTI ratio indicates sufficient income relative to debt servicing, and it makes a borrower more attractive.
Read our editorial guidelines here . Yes, you can qualify for a home loan and carry credit card debt at the same time.
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a key factor in getting approved for a mortgage. Most lenders see DTI ratios of 36% as ideal. Approval with a ratio above 50% is tough. The lower the DTI the better, not just for loan approval but for a better interest rate.
Key takeaways
Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.
According to Experian, average total consumer household debt in 2023 is $104,215. That's up 11% from 2020, when average total consumer debt was $92,727.
Key Takeaways
From a pure risk perspective, debt ratios of 0.4 (40%) or lower are considered better, while a debt ratio of 0.6 (60%) or higher makes it more difficult to borrow money.
A lower debt-to-income ratio suggests that you have a healthy balance between debt and income. However, a higher debt-to-income ratio suggests that too much of your income is going toward paying down debt, and this will make a mortgage lender see you as a risky borrower.
These are some examples of payments included in debt-to-income: Monthly mortgage payments (or rent) Monthly expense for real estate taxes. Monthly expense for home owner's insurance.
The average mortgage balance in America grew to $244,498 in 2023, an $8,000 increase from 2022.
If you make $3,000 a month ($36,000 a year), your DTI with an FHA loan should be no more than $1,290 ($3,000 x 0.43) — which means you can afford a house with a monthly payment that is no more than $900 ($3,000 x 0.31). FHA loans typically allow for a lower down payment and credit score if certain requirements are met.
With a $70,000 annual salary and using a 50% DTI, your home buying budget could potentially afford a house priced between $180,000 to $280,000, depending on your financial situation, credit score, and current market conditions. This range is higher than what you might qualify for with more traditional DTI limits.
If you cannot afford to pay your minimum debt payments, your debt amount is unreasonable. The 28/36 rule states that no more than 28% of a household's gross income should be spent on housing and no more than 36% on housing plus other debt.
Here's the average debt balances by age group: Gen Z (ages 18 to 23): $9,593. Millennials (ages 24 to 39): $78,396. Gen X (ages 40 to 55): $135,841.
U.S. consumers carry $6,501 in credit card debt on average, according to Experian data, but if your balance is much higher—say, $20,000 or beyond—you may feel hopeless. Paying off a high credit card balance can be a daunting task, but it is possible.
50% or more: Take Action - You may have limited funds to save or spend. With more than half your income going toward debt payments, you may not have much money left to save, spend, or handle unforeseen expenses. With this DTI ratio, lenders may limit your borrowing options.
A debt that has a high interest rate or fees could also be considered bad debt, even if you use the debt for an essential purchase. One way to compare loans is to calculate the annual percentage rate (APR) of the various options to see which one will cost more on an annualized basis.
The average debt in America is $104,215 across mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards. Debt peaks between ages 40 and 49 among consumers with excellent credit scores. The largest percentages of the average consumer debt balance are mortgages.
What's a good debt-to-income ratio? Ideally, your front-end HTI calculation should not exceed 28% when applying for a new loan, such as a mortgage. You should strive to keep your back-end DTI ratio at or below 36%.
If you've ever dreamed of having a home to call your own, you're not alone. Yes, it is absolutely possible to buy a house with credit card debt. And by lowering your debt-to-income ratio before you apply for a loan, you may qualify for a better interest rate, too.
Different lenders will have different cut-off points for their debt to income ratio, but many draw the line at 50%. Also, while a higher debt to income ratio might not stop you from getting a mortgage completely, it may mean that you can't borrow as much.