Debt Ratios for Home Lending
Your debt to income ratio is a tool lenders use to calculate how much money is available for your monthly home loan payment after you meet your various other monthly debt payments.
How to figure your qualifying ratio
Usually, underwriting for conventional loans needs a qualifying ratio of 28/36. FHA loans are a little less restrictive, requiring a 29/41 ratio.
The first number is the percentage of your gross monthly income that can go toward housing. This ratio is figured on your total payment, including hazard insurance, homeowners' dues, PMI - everything that makes up the full payment.
The second number is what percent of your gross income every month that should be applied to housing expenses and recurring debt together. For purposes of this ratio, debt includes payments on credit cards, car payments, child support, etcetera.
Some example data:
28/36 (Conventional)
- Gross monthly income of $8,000 x .28 = $2,240 can be applied to housing
- Gross monthly income of $8,000 x .36 = $2,280 can be applied to recurring debt plus housing expenses
With a 29/41 (FHA) qualifying ratio
- Gross monthly income of $8,000 x .29 = $2,320 can be applied to housing
- Gross monthly income of $8,000 x .41 = $3,280 can be applied to recurring debt plus housing expenses
If you want to calculate pre-qualification numbers with your own financial data, feel free to use our very useful Mortgage Loan Qualifying Calculator.
Guidelines Only
Don't forget these are only guidelines. We will be thrilled to go over pre-qualification to help you determine how much you can afford.
Amity Mortgage LLC can answer questions about these ratios and many others. Give us a call: (203) 729-6681.