Most mortgage lenders want your monthly debts to equal no more than 43% of your gross monthly income. To calculate your debt-to-income ratio, first determine your gross monthly income.
Can you get a mortgage with student loans? 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.
As a general guideline, 43% is the highest DTI ratio a borrower can have and still get qualified for a mortgage. Ideally, lenders prefer a debt-to-income ratio lower than 36%, with no more than 28%–35% of that debt going toward servicing a mortgage.
The lower the ratio, the less debt you have, and therefore the less risky your application. A ratio of around 20% to 30% is generally considered low risk and will be offered better interest rates. There aren't always specific maximum debt to income ratios, although some lenders won't accept applicants at over 45%.
You don't need to be debt-free before you buy, but if you're sweating the bills each month or just paying the minimums, lenders may be reluctant to give you a mortgage. One of the factors that lenders look at when deciding whether you qualify for a mortgage—and how much it will cost you—is your debt-to-income ratio.
A debt consolidation mortgage is a long-term loan that gives you the funds to pay off several debts at the same time. Once your other debts are paid off, it leaves you with just one loan to pay, rather than several. To consolidate your debt, ask your lender for a loan equivalent to or beyond the total amount you owe.
A limit on upfront points and fees.
These limits will depend on the size of your loan. Not all charges, like the cost of FHA insurance premiums, for example, are included in this limit. If the points and fees exceed the threshold, then the loan can't be considered a Qualified Mortgage.
The 28% rule
To gauge how much you can afford using this rule, multiply your monthly gross income by 28%. For example, if you make $10,000 every month, multiply $10,000 by 0.28 to get $2,800. Using these figures, your monthly mortgage payment should be no more than $2,800.
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.
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.
There is no set time limit on when you can get a mortgage after paying off your debts. As long as you meet the lender's affordability requirements, such as credit score, DTI ratio, deposit amount etc., then the amount of time that has passed since you cleared your debt becomes less important.
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.
Should you pay off all credit card debt before getting a mortgage? In some cases, especially if your current credit score makes it difficult for you to get a mortgage loan, it's a good idea to pay down credit card debt. But keep in mind that credit card debt isn't the only factor in getting mortgage approval.
Your debt-to-income ratio does not factor in your monthly rent payments, any medical debt that you might owe, your cable bill, your cell phone bill, utilities, car insurance or health insurance.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
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.
The 35/45 rule
Lenders want your monthly debts to be affordable and recommend keeping your total monthly debt — including your mortgage payment — under 35% of your pretax income and 45% of your post-tax income.
Lenders look at your income, employment history, savings and monthly debt payments, and other financial obligations to make sure you have the means to comfortably take on a mortgage.
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%.
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%.
When can you do your debt-free scream? You can do your debt-free scream after you've paid off all your debt (with the exception of your mortgage). Some people hold off until they've paid for their house too, but you definitely don't have to wait until you reach that point.
If you have a monthly income of $4,000, and your typical monthly debt payments are $1,500, your DTI ratio is 37.5% ($1,500 divided by $4,000). 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.