Starting the home buying process in the Tampa Bay area? One term you may hear your lender use is “DTI” or Debt-To-Income Ratio.
Measuring your existing debts against your existing income is one part of a lender’s required assessment of your ability to repay a loan.
Like the video says: debts are existing financial commitments like a car payment for example, whereas a grocery bill is not.
To calculate your debt-to-income ratio add up your monthly debt payments and divide them by your GROSS monthly income. (Gross income is generally the amount of money you earn BEFORE taxes and other deductions.)
The Federally-established debt-to-income target is a maximum of 43% for Qualified Mortgages.
If your ratio is higher there may be other loans available – however, there may also be additional questions to establish your ability to repay, and the rates may be different than those available for Qualified Mortgages.
Studies suggest that a high debt-to-income ratio puts a homeowner at greater risk of challenges making monthly payments. So consider your situation and risks carefully before exceeding that suggested ratio.
At Flagship Title we care about helping you stay informed throughout your real estate transaction. Have questions? Give us a call at 813.875.1200.
In case you missed it, check out our last Flagship Title post: Should I Sell My Home?