How Can I Figure Out My Debt-to-income Ratio?
To figure out where you stand on the debt-to-income ratio, you must first understand the meaning of the figure. Most lenders use the ratio 28/36.
The first number, which is also referred to as the front-end ratio, is the percentage of your gross monthly income that you could comfortably afford to spend on your housing payments or mortgage. This figure includes the money you spend on property taxes and insurance as well as the loan payment itself.
The second number, which can also be referred to as the back-end ratio, is the percentage of your gross monthly income that should be spent on all long-term monthly debts combined.
Use the following guidelines to find out where you stand:
- First, figure out your gross monthly income (your income before taxes). To do this, take your gross yearly income and divide it by 12.
- Multiply this figure by 28 percent (.28). The amount you come up with is TYPICALLY the amount you could comfortably afford to spend on your housing payments per month.
- Now, take your gross monthly income (your gross yearly income divided by 12) and multiply it by 36 percent (.36). The figure shown should be the TOTAL amount of money you spend on ALL LONG-TERM DEBTS COMBINED.
To get a more accurate mortgage estimate, tally up your monthly bills - which include car payments, credit cards, child support, alimony, etc. - and subtract this amount from the figure you just came up with. However much money is left over is the amount you should truly be spending on your housing payments per month.
Popular Real Estate Questions
Popular Real Estate Glossary Terms
A court order on an issue directly related to the immediate action. ...
Area or county used in the census or other data gathering functions that has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or more. ...
Final property appraisal estimate arrived at by applying appropriate appraisal methods. ...
The term collusion may make you think about colluding from the start, and you wouldn’t be far from the truth. The definition of collusion is a secret, non-competitive, and, at times, ...
Generic name given for any association of property owners sharing an interest in commonly owned property. Community associations may be developed in condominium, cooperative, or housing ...
Also called hyperinflation. Very high rate of inflation rate. ...
Amount charged for each unit of rental property. An example of a unit might be square footage of space or an apartment. ...
As a hopeful house hunter, renter, or seasoned real estate investor, you've probably come across baffling terms. One such term is "adhesion contract." It might sound complex, but don't ...
Approach to valuing property based on its replacement cost. The cost of each major element of the property per square foot is added together and multiplied by the total space to estimate ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.