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.
In the first quarter of 2024, the household debt-to-income ratio in the United States differed significantly within the country. The highest household debt-to-income ratio was recorded in Hawaii at 2.2, and the lowest in the District of Columbia at 0.52 percent, respectively.
A debt ratio between 30% and 36% is also considered good. It's when you're approaching 40% that you have to be very, very vigilant. With a threshold like that, you're a greater risk to lenders. You may already be having trouble making your payments each month.
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.
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.
Debt-to-income ratio of 36% or less
With a DTI ratio of 36% or less, you probably have a healthy amount of income each month to put towards investments or savings. Most lenders will see you as a safe bet to afford monthly payments for a new loan or line of credit.
If your monthly income is $2,500, your DTI ratio would be 64 percent, which might be too high to qualify for some credit cards. With an income of roughly $3,700 and the same debt, however, you'd have a DTI ratio of 43 percent and would have better chances of qualifying for a credit card.
The 20/10 rule is a financial strategy to help you avoid dangerous levels of debt. Simply put, the 20/10 rule advises that you should avoid accumulating long-term debt that exceeds 20% of your annual income, and you should avoid debt payments of more than 10% of your monthly income.
Credit Card Debt. Credit card debt is one thing nearly all Americans share, regardless of race, gender or income level. It's the most common type of debt in the U.S. By the end of 2022, Americans owed an all-time high of $986 billion on credit cards, a $130 billion increase in 12 months.
Japan is the largest foreign holder of public U.S. government debt, owning $1.13 trillion in debt as of August 2024.
California's total long-term debt, between the state and local governments, has quietly surged to over half a trillion dollars, making it the most indebted state in the nation.
Average American debt payments in 2024: 11.5% of income
The most recent debt payment-to-income ratio, from the second quarter of 2024, is 11.5%. That means the average American spends nearly 12% of their monthly income on debt payments.
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.
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%.
Generally, a person with a 30,0000 salary usually gets a credit card with a limit of 50,000 to 1 lakh, depending on the credit score and other factors discussed above. Suppose you think that 50,000 is not enough amount for you and you require a higher amount of card limit for yourself.
There's no specific annual income required to qualify for a credit card, especially because credit card companies look at many factors to help determine whether or not you qualify. However, one thing to consider is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which helps determine your risk as a borrower.
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.
The average debt an American owes is $104,215 across mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, credit card debt, student loan debt, and other debts like personal loans. Data from Experian breaks down the average debt a consumer holds based on type, age, credit score, and state.
USDA Loan Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI) Requirements
Strive for a DTI no higher than 41% when applying for a USDA Loan. Your DTI is your total recurring monthly debts (student loans, credit card payments, etc.), divided by your monthly pre-tax income, expressed as a percentage.
Your DTI, or debt-to-income ratio, is based on two numbers: Your total recurring monthly debt payments, including student loans, minimum credit card payments, auto loans, child support, alimony, etc. This does not include any non-debt related payments such as rent, groceries, entertainment, utilities, etc.
Ideally, financial experts like to see a DTI of no more than 15 to 20 percent of your net income. For example, a family with a $250 car payment and $100 of monthly credit card payments, and $2,500 net income per month would have a DTI of 14 percent ($350/$2,500 = 0.14 or 14%).
Expenses To Exclude From Your DTI Calculations
Certain expenses should be left out of your minimum monthly payment calculation, including the following: Utility costs. Health insurance premiums. Transportation costs.