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Debt-to-Income Ratio in Bay Minette, AL
Debt-to-Income Ratio in Bay Minette, AL
A debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a tool we use to make sure mortgage borrowers in Bay Minette, AL can afford their mortgage payments, along with their other obligations. It is a good idea to calculate your DTI ratio before you apply for a mortgage, as we have a maximum allowed ratio. Your DTI ratio includes many debts you may not consider when you are deciding how much mortgage you can afford, and it will consider only your gross income.
There are two types of debt-to-income ratios to understand: the front-end ratio and the back-end ratio. Here is what you should know.
What is Included in Your DTI Ratio? in Bay Minette, AL
Your DTI ratio will consider only your gross income, which means pre-tax salary, along with other income, such as a pension or rental income. You can determine your gross monthly income by dividing your annual income by 12.
The ratio will include fixed, monthly debt payments that would appear on your credit report, not expenses like utilities, clothing or food.
Your debt-to-income ratio includes:
- Housing costs in Bay Minette, AL
- Minimum monthly credit card payments
- Personal loan payments
- Alimony or child support
- Car loan payments
- Home equity loan payments
- Student loan payments
What are Front-End and Back-End Ratios?
We in Bay Minette, AL will first look at your front-end ratio, which considers your monthly gross income compared to your proposed PITI payment, or your principal, interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance/mortgage insurance. This ratio will be used to help determine how much you can comfortably pay.
Next, we will look at your back-end ratio, which includes the monthly debt obligations listed above.
What Lenders in Bay Minette, AL Want to See with Your Debt-to-Income Ratio
We in Bay Minette, AL want your front-end ratio to be no more than 28 percent, while your back-end ratio (which includes credit card payments and other debts) should not exceed 36 percent. We may be willing to exceed these limits slightly, if you have excellent credit. If you get a government-backed mortgage, like a VA or FHA loan, guidelines are usually looser. You can have a front-end ratio of up to 29 percent and a back-end ratio of 41 percent with an FHA loan.
For your loan to be considered a Qualified Mortgage under the new mortgage rules of 2014, your DTI ratio cannot be higher than 43 percent.
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