Federal Housing Administration loans: 14.4% denial rate. Jumbo loans: 17.8% denial rate. Conventional conforming loans: 7.6% denial rate. Refinance loans: 24.7% denial rate.
One in six (16%) mortgage holders have overcome being rejected for a mortgage in the past, highlighting that getting a home loan is not something to be complacent about. Research found that over half (54%) of homeowners who were rejected took longer than three months to be accepted for another mortgage.
In the third quarter of 2023, denial rates were 30 percent for Black applicants, while Hispanic applicants had the second-highest denial rates at 22.1 percent. For all races, the denial rates significantly fluctuated between 2019 and 2023.
Scope: Mortgage applications from home buyers for first-lien, owner-occupied, residential mortgages for 1-4 unit homes between 2018-2022. In 2022, mortgage lenders approved 72% of purchase mortgages – the lowest in 5 years.
Getting approved for a mortgage can be tough — lenders review every aspect of your finances, including your income, credit history and outstanding debts. CNBC Select compared more than a dozen mortgage companies and compiled a list of the easiest mortgages to qualify for.
The 28% rule
The 28% mortgage rule states that you should spend 28% or less of your monthly gross income on your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance). To gauge how much you can afford using this rule, multiply your monthly gross income by 28%.
The 50% rule in real estate says that investors should expect a property's operating expenses to be roughly 50% of its gross income. This is useful for estimating potential cash flow from a rental property, but it's not always foolproof.
Generally, it's thought that mortgage stress kicks in when more than 30% of a household's pre-tax income goes to its mortgage. Mortgage stress places borrowers under undue financial pressure, often to the point where they cannot meet their monthly mortgage repayments or cover other household needs.
Can My Security Deposit Be Returned If My Mortgage Is Denied At Closing? If you have a contingency in place that includes an offer and purchase contract, you may be able to get your earnest money back. However, if you don't have it, you could lose it.
If you are currently repaying other debts that limit the amount of cash available for future payments, you can get denied even if you have a good credit score. Multiple credit cards with high balances or large loans with more than half the total balance remaining will not help you in your mortgage-seeking endeavors.
Top reasons for a declined mortgage application
your credit history. too much debt. your employment history. you don't earn enough to make repayments.
High debt-to-income (DTI)
Before approving you for a mortgage, lenders review your monthly income in relation to your monthly debt, or your debt-to-income (DTI). A good rule of thumb: your mortgage payment should not be more than 28% of your monthly gross income. Similarly, your DTI should not be more than 36%.
The average mortgage payment is $2,715 on a 30-year fixed mortgage and $3,552 on a 15-year fixed mortgage. The median payment, a more accurate measure, is $2,617, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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.
Your spending habits will be examined
As well as assessing your income, mortgage lenders will also look at your spending habits. They are likely to want to see six months' worth of bank statements too. They will look at how much you spend on regular household bills and other costs, such as commuting and childcare fees.
Mortgage lenders often look at gross monthly income to determine how much mortgage you can afford, but it's also important to consider your net income, as well.
A good way to remember the documentation you'll need is to remember the 2-2-2 rule: 2 years of W-2s. 2 years of tax returns (federal and state) Your two most recent pay stubs.
Key takeaways. The traditional rule of thumb is that no more than 28 percent of your monthly gross income or 25 percent of your net income should go to your mortgage payment.
On a $50,000 salary, you could potentially afford a house worth between $160,000 to $190,000, depending on your specific financial situation and local market conditions. While this may limit your options in some high-cost areas, there are still many markets where homeownership is achievable at this income level.
The Bottom Line. On a $70,000 salary using a 50% DTI, you could potentially afford a house worth between $200,000 to $250,000, depending on your specific financial situation.
To afford a $400,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $100,000 to $125,000, which translates to a gross monthly income of approximately $8,333 to $10,417. However, this is a general range, and your specific circumstances will determine the exact income required.