See your DTI ratio instantly, and whether it's in the range lenders actually want to see.
Your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, is your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income, shown as a percentage. Lenders use it as a core measure of how much new debt you can realistically handle, it's one of the very first numbers they check.
Lenders actually look at two versions of this number. Your front-end ratio only counts housing costs, your mortgage or rent, property taxes, insurance, and HOA dues. Your back-end ratio adds every other debt on top, car loans, student loans, credit cards, anything with a monthly payment. Back-end is the number that carries the most weight in a mortgage decision.
What's left out: groceries, utilities, cell phone bills, gas, and other everyday living costs. DTI only looks at fixed debt obligations, not your general cost of living.
| DTI range | What it means |
|---|---|
| 36% or lower | Good. Your debt load looks manageable to lenders. |
| 36% – 49% | Workable, but lenders may ask for more documentation. |
| 50% or higher | A red flag. More than half your income is already spoken for. |
The commonly cited guideline is the 28/36 rule: front-end ratio under 28%, back-end ratio under 36%. Most lenders will still work with a back-end ratio up to 45-50% if you have strong compensating factors, like a larger down payment or excellent credit.
Real example: A household earning $10,000/month with a $2,100 housing payment and $1,100 in other debts.
Front-end ratio: $2,100 ÷ $10,000 = 21%. Back-end ratio: $3,200 ÷ $10,000 = 32%. Both comfortably inside the "good" range.
See the full picture: credit score, equity, and documentation lenders check
Groceries, utilities, cell phone bills, gas, and other everyday living expenses aren't counted, DTI only looks at fixed debt payments, not general cost of living.
No. Lenders assume your current rent payment goes away once you close on the new home, so it's left out of the calculation entirely, only the new mortgage payment counts.
Yes. Industry data consistently shows DTI as the single most common reason for mortgage denial, ahead of credit score issues.
Sometimes, if you have strong compensating factors like excellent credit, significant cash reserves, or a large down payment. It varies by lender and loan program, so it's worth checking directly rather than assuming you're automatically disqualified.