Debt Ratios for Residential Lending
Lenders use a ratio called "debt to income" to decide the most you can pay monthly after you've paid your other monthly loans.
Understanding your qualifying ratio
Typically, conventional loans require a qualifying ratio of 28/36. An FHA loan will usually allow for a higher debt load, reflected in a higher (29/41) ratio.
The first number in a qualifying ratio is the maximum percentage of your gross monthly income that can be applied to housing costs (this includes loan principal and interest, PMI, hazard insurance, property tax, and homeowners' association dues).
The second number in the ratio is the maximum percentage of your gross monthly income which can be spent on housing expenses and recurring debt. For purposes of this ratio, debt includes credit card payments, auto/boat loans, child support, and the like.
For example:
A 28/36 qualifying ratio
- Gross monthly income of $4,500 x .28 = $1,260 can be applied to housing
- Gross monthly income of $4,500 x .36 = $1,620 can be applied to recurring debt plus housing expenses
With a 29/41 (FHA) qualifying ratio
- Gross monthly income of $4,500 x .29 = $1,305 can be applied to housing
- Gross monthly income of $4,500 x .41 = $1,845 can be applied to recurring debt plus housing expenses
If you want to run your own numbers, we offer a Mortgage Qualification Calculator.
Guidelines Only
Don't forget these are only guidelines. We'd be happy to go over pre-qualification to help you determine how large a mortgage loan you can afford.
Coastal Mortgage Corp. can answer questions about these ratios and many others. Give us a call at 504-866-5626.