| In addition to your income, a lender will
look at your minimum monthly debts to calculate you debt ratios. The debt
ratio's is what will determine "how much" loan you can afford. Following are the two types of debt ratio's that will be use:
- Front-End Ratio - this is your gross income divided
by the new PITI mortgage payment. This standard guideline is 29%.
- Back-End Ratio - this is your gross income divided
by the new PITI mortgage payment and also you minimum monthly payments from you
liabilities. The standard guideline is 41%
Following is the typical debts used to determine your qualifying
ratio's:
Front-End Ratios
- your current and or future house payment
Back-End Ratios- the minimum required
monthly payments on all of the following:
- Auto Loans - (except if there is less than 9 months left to
pay off)
- Student Loans - (except if there is less than 9 months left to
pay off)
- Personal Loans (except if there is less than 9 months left to
pay off)
- Charge Cards - minimum required payments only.
- Child Support - (except if there is less than 9 months
left to pay off)
- Alimony - (except if there is less than 9 months left to
pay off)
- Federal Tax Lien Repayment Schedules - (if less than 9 months
not calculated)
Following are monthly liabilities that are not used to calculate
debt ratio's:
- Utility Bills
- Car & Health Insurance
- Cell Phone Bills
The percentage of debts to income is called the debt-to-income
(a.k.a.: back-end) ratios. A good goal is to spend no more than 38% of your income on all
debts, including house payment. However, under FHA home loan guidelines you're allowed to
spend up to 41% of your monthly income on housing and other debts -- if the rest of your
application shows you can handle it.
An example of the income to debt calculation is as follows:
Income = $3,000
New Mortgage Payment = $900.
Minimum Monthly Payments = $300
"Mortgage" divided by "Income" = 30%
"Mortgage + Monthly Payments" divided by
"Income" = 40%
In this scenario, your front-end is 30% and back-end is 40% which is
acceptable for a FHA loan.
These ratios can also adjusted or exceeded if there are item(s)
you can payoff, lower interest the interest rate, lower the loan amount, etc.
FHA is the most flexible lender regarding debt ratio's. Never rule
yourself out of buying a home until you have spoken to a mortgage professional.
Learn exactly how much of a FHA loan you can qualify for by clicking
 Here.
............................................................................... |
