Debt-to-income ratio
Many lenders want this ratio to be less or equal to 36% of the borrower's income. However, conventional loans may allow a DTI as high as 49%. To find your debt-to-income ratio, add up your loan payments, including: Student loans.
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. 1 The maximum DTI ratio varies from lender to lender.
Debt Ratios For Residential Lending
Lenders use a ratio called "debt to income" to determine the most you can pay monthly after your other monthly debts are paid. For the most part, underwriting for conventional loans needs a qualifying ratio of 33/45. FHA loans are less strict, requiring a 31/43 ratio.
According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment. Homeowners Insurance.
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.
Mortgage to income ratio: Common rules
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%.
FHA loans for higher DTI
FHA loans are known for being more lenient with credit and DTI requirements. With a good credit score (580 or higher), you might qualify for an FHA loan with a DTI ratio of up to 50%. This makes FHA loans a popular choice for borrowers with good credit but high debt-to-income ratios.
First is the front-end DTI ratio, which measures how much of your gross monthly income will be used on your monthly mortgage payment, including property taxes, mortgage insurance and homeowners insurance.
To recap, FHA's maximum qualifying debt ratios for borrowers in 2024 are 31% and 43%. This means the monthly housing payments should not exceed 31% of gross monthly income, while the total debt burden should not exceed 43% of monthly income.
Debt-to-income ratio
Most lenders prefer to see a DTI ratio of 36% or so. Some lenders are willing to lend to those with higher DTI ratios but may impose higher interest rates or require private mortgage insurance.
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.
This ratio can be as high as 45 percent for manually underwritten mortgages. In the event that the borrower has student loan debt and the payment amount is provided on the credit report, that amount can be used for qualifying purposes.
It isn't hard to get a conventional loan if you have a 620 credit score and 3% down payment. You can get an FHA loan with a lower score, but you need a slightly higher down payment (3.5%).
If you're currently leasing an apartment, your monthly rent is typically included in your debt-to-income ratio. Your housing payment is considered a necessary expense, even if you rent.
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., lenders typically want the front-end ratio to be no more than 25% to 28% of your monthly gross income. The back-end ratio includes housing expenses plus long-term debt. Lenders prefer to see this number at 33% to 36% of your monthly gross income.
The following payments should not be included: Monthly utilities, like water, garbage, electricity or gas bills. Car Insurance expenses. Cable bills.
It does not include health insurance, auto insurance, gas, utilities, cell phone, cable, groceries, or other non-recurring life expenses. The debts evaluated are: Any/all car, credit card, student, mortgage and/or other installment loan payments.
Generally, lenders look for an applicant's total monthly debt, including the proposed mortgage payment, to be less than 36% of their gross monthly income. It is also typical for lenders to limit the applicant's total monthly housing costs to no more than 28% of their gross monthly income.
800 to 850: Excellent Credit Score
Individuals in this range are considered to be low-risk borrowers.
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.
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.
On a $90,000 salary, you could potentially afford a house worth between $280,000 to $320,000, depending on your specific financial situation. This range assumes you have a good credit score and manageable existing debts.
What Is the 28/36 Rule? The 28/36 rule refers to a common-sense approach used to calculate the amount of debt an individual or household should assume. A household should spend a maximum of 28% of its gross monthly income on total housing expenses according to this rule, and no more than 36% on total debt service.