Home Buying 101 February 24, 2026

What Is a Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)?

When you apply for a mortgage, lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio to determine how much you can comfortably afford.

What is DTI?

It’s a comparison of your monthly debt payments to your monthly income.

Why lenders use it

DTI helps lenders understand your financial stability and borrowing capacity.

What’s a good range?

Many lenders prefer a DTI of 43% or lower, though this varies by loan program.

How to estimate it

Add up your monthly debts (credit cards, car loans, student loans) and divide by your gross monthly income.

Takeaway: Your DTI helps determine what price range fits your budget and loan options.

If you want help estimating your DTI, I can walk you through it step by step.