Calculate Your Front-End Ratio for Mortgage Approval
A front-end ratio is a measure used by mortgage lenders to determine how much a borrower can afford for a monthly mortgage. Specifically, the ratio calculates how much of the borrower’s income is used to make those monthly mortgage payments. The front-end ratio is calculated by dividing monthly household expenses by gross income with the result expressed as a percentage.
The formula for the front-end ratio can be written as:
Front-end Ratio = Monthly Housing Expenses / Monthly Income
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Monthly income would be the annual gross income divided by 12. Monthly housing expenses would include the mortgage principal plus interest, taxes, and insurance (known as PITI). To be a satisfactory measure, lenders typically look for a front-end ratio that does not exceed 28% of the borrower’s monthly gross income.
As part of the mortgage approval process, lenders look at both the borrower’s front-end and back-end ratios.
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The above information is educational and should not be interpreted as financial advice. For advice that is specific to your circumstances, you should consult a financial or tax advisor.
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