Ratio of Debt to Income
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Your ratio of debt to income is a tool lenders use to determine how much of your income can be used for a monthly home loan payment after you meet your other monthly debt payments.
How to figure the qualifying ratio
Most conventional loans need a qualifying ratio of 28/36. An FHA loan will usually allow for a higher debt load, reflected in a higher (29/41) qualifying ratio.
The first number in a qualifying ratio is the maximum amount (as a percentage) of your gross monthly income that can be applied to housing costs (including loan principal and interest, PMI, hazard insurance, property tax, and homeowners' association dues).
The second number is what percent of your gross income every month that should be spent on housing expenses and recurring debt together. For purposes of this ratio, debt includes credit card payments, vehicle loans, child support, et cetera.
For example:
28/36 (Conventional)
- Gross monthly income of $3,500 x .28 = $980 can be applied to housing
- Gross monthly income of $3,500 x .36 = $1,260 can be applied to recurring debt plus housing expenses
With a 29/41 (FHA) qualifying ratio
- Gross monthly income of $3,500 x .29 = $1,015 can be applied to housing
- Gross monthly income of $3,500 x .41 = $1,435 can be applied to recurring debt plus housing expenses
If you'd like to run your own numbers, we offer a Loan Pre-Qualification Calculator.
Don't forget these ratios are just guidelines. We will be happy to go over pre-qualification to determine how large a mortgage loan you can afford. James M. Dix can walk you through the pitfalls of getting a mortgage. Call us at (317) 288-9434.