FHA Requirements
Debt-to-Income Ratio Guidelines
In order to prevent homebuyers from getting into a home they cannot afford, FHA requirements and guidelines have been set in place requiring borrowers and/or their spouse to qualify according to set debt to income ratios. These ratios are used to calculate whether or not the potential borrower is in a financial position that would allow them to meet the demands that are often included in owning a home.
The two ratios are as follows:
1) Mortgage Payment Expense to Effective Income
Add up the total mortgage payment (principal and interest, escrow deposits for taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance premium, homeowners' dues, etc.). Then, take that amount and divide it by the gross monthly income. The maximum ratio to qualify is 31%.
See the following example:
2) Total Fixed Payment to Effective Income
Add up the total mortgage payment (principal and interest, escrow deposits for taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance premium, homeowners' dues, etc.) and all recurring monthly revolving and installment debt (car loans, personal loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.). Then, take that amount and divide it by the gross monthly income. The maximum ratio to qualify is 43%.
See the following example:
Please note that the above indicators do not exclusively determine whether or not a candidate will qualify for an FHA loan. Other factors will be considered, including credit history and job stability.
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
October 12, 2019 - FHA cash-out refinance loans are specifically designed to give cash back to the borrower at closing time once the original mortgage has been paid in full and other loan expenses are accounted for. Certain circumstances might be exempt from the $500 cash back limit on non-cash-out FHA refis.
October 11, 2019 - A Loan Estimate is a document that should reflect what you have been discussing/negotiating with your loan officer and there should be no difference between what you agreed to and what the document contains. There are several areas to pay close attention to.
October 9, 2019 - Those new to house hunting don’t necessarily understand what a lower interest rate means for your monthly budget. It’s obvious that a lower rate means spending less money on the mortgage overall, but do you know how much you could save depending on the rate?
October 3, 2019 - Getting your FHA lender to take you seriously as a borrower when you have had past credit trouble depends on certain factors. Try to show them your credit troubles were caused by circumstances beyond your control and demonstrate good credit use since the negative credit incident.
October 1, 2019 - There are plenty of indications that a buyer is NOT ready to buy a home with an FHA mortgage loan, but what tells you it’s time to make the commitment? There are five general signs you can use to determine how close you are to being fully ready.
