Debt Ratios for Home Financing
Your debt to income ratio is a formula lenders use to determine how much money can be used for your monthly home loan payment after all your other recurring debt obligations are fulfilled.
How to figure the qualifying ratio
Most underwriting for conventional mortgage loans requires 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 is the percentage of your gross monthly income that can go toward housing. This ratio is figured on your total payment, including homeowners' insurance, homeowners' dues, Private Mortgage Insurance - everything.
The second number in the ratio is what percent of your gross income every month that should be applied to housing expenses and recurring debt. For purposes of this ratio, debt includes payments on credit cards, car loans, child support, etcetera.
Examples:
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 = $2,880 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'd like to run your own numbers, we offer a Mortgage Loan Qualification Calculator.
Guidelines Only
Remember these ratios are only guidelines. We will be thrilled to pre-qualify you to determine how large a mortgage you can afford.
The Reen Team at American Pacific Mortgage can walk you through the pitfalls of getting a mortgage. Give us a call at (408) 626-1879.