Is 46% a good debt-to-income ratio?
Lenders, including anyone who might give you a mortgage or an auto loan, use DTI as a measure of creditworthiness. DTI is one factor that can help lenders decide whether you can repay the money you have borrowed or take on more debt. A good debt-to-income ratio is below 43%, and many lenders prefer 36% or below.
According to a breakdown from The Mortgage Reports, a good debt-to-income ratio is 43% or less. Many lenders may even want to see a DTI that's closer to 35%, according to LendingTree. A ratio closer to 45% might be acceptable depending on the loan you apply for, but a ratio that's 50% or higher can raise some eyebrows.
50% or more: Take Action - You may have limited funds to save or spend. With more than half your income going toward debt payments, you may not have much money left to save, spend, or handle unforeseen expenses. With this DTI ratio, lenders may limit your borrowing options.
Debt-to-income ratio of 36% to 49%
If you have a DTI ratio between 36% and 49%, this means that while the current amount of debt you have is likely manageable, it may be a good idea to pay off your debt. While lenders may be willing to offer you credit, a DTI ratio above 43% may deter some lenders.
If your debt ratio does not exceed 30%, the banks will find it excellent. Your ratio shows that if you manage your daily expenses well, you should be able to pay off your debts without worry or penalty. A debt ratio between 30% and 36% is also considered good.
DTIs between 42% and 49% suggest you're nearing unmanageable levels of debt relative to your income. Lenders might not be convinced that you will be able to meet payments for another line of credit.
A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.
The Federal Reserve tracks the nation's household debt payments as a percentage of disposable income. The most recent debt payment-to-income ratio, from the third quarter of 2023, is 9.8%. That means the average American spends nearly 10% of their monthly income on debt payments.
If you're looking for a loan, you'll likely need a DTI ratio of 43% or lower to qualify for reasonable terms. But, the lower it is, the better. That's not just the case in terms of your ability to borrow, but also in terms of your financial stability. If your ratio is higher than 35%, it's likely time to act.
If you are truly trying to afford more home than what traditional lenders will allow, there are lenders who have special programs with a maximum back end DTI of 50%-55%. Lenders who offer high DTI mortgages are portfolio lenders who keep the loans in their own portfolios or sell them to private investors.
What is a 43 debt-to-income ratio?
DTI from 43% to 50%: A DTI ratio in this range often signals to lenders that you have a lot of debt and may struggle to repay a mortgage. DTI over 50%: A DTI ratio of 50% or higher indicates a high level of debt and signals that the borrower is probably not financially ready to repay a mortgage.
Aiming for Ideal DTI Ratio for Lenders
If you're trying to get a mortgage loan or auto loan, it's a good idea to keep your back-end DTI ratio below 43%, though 35% or less is considered “ideal.”
Generally speaking, most mortgage lenders use a 43% DTI ratio as a maximum for borrowers. If you have a DTI ratio higher than 43%, you probably are carrying too much debt because you are less likely to qualify for a mortgage loan.
A DTI of 43% is typically the highest ratio a borrower can have and still get qualified for a mortgage, but lenders generally seek ratios of no more than 36%. A low DTI ratio indicates sufficient income relative to debt servicing, and it makes a borrower more attractive.
Lenders look at DTI when deciding whether or not to extend credit to a potential borrower, and at what rates. A good DTI is considered to be below 36%, and anything above 43% may preclude you from getting a loan.
This compares annual payments to service all consumer debts—excluding mortgage payments—divided by your net income. This should be 20% or less of net income. A ratio of 15% or lower is healthy, and 20% or higher is considered a warning sign.
FHA: 56.9% DTI
For a conventional loan, you can have a debt-to-income, or DTI, up to 50%, but 43-45% is a more realistic cutoff for most applicants. FHA allows DTIs of up to 56.9% with strong compensating factors.
- Increase the amount you pay monthly toward your debts. Extra payments can help lower your overall debt more quickly.
- Ask creditors to reduce your interest rate, which would lead to savings that you could use to pay down debt.
- Avoid taking on more debt.
- Look for ways to increase your income.
Auto loans can be good or bad debt. Some auto loans may carry a high interest rate, depending on factors including your credit scores and the type and amount of the loan.
The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't spend more than 10 percent of your take-home income on credit card debt.
How much debt does the average American have?
The average debt an American owes is $104,215 across mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, credit card debt, student loan debt, and other debts like personal loans. Data from Experian breaks down the average debt a consumer holds based on type, age, credit score, and state.
What payments should not be included in debt-to-income ratio? Expand. The following payments should not be included: Monthly utilities, like water, garbage, electricity or gas bills.
Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve. That figure factors in every type of debt, from credit card balances and student loans to mortgages, car loans and more. The exact definition of debt free can vary, though, depending on whom you ask.
Credit card debt in America by the numbers
That represents a 4.6% increase in a single quarter, with cardholders shouldering thirteen-figure debt at $1.03 trillion for the first time. In short, that amounts to an average balance of $5,733 per cardholder.
Paying off your credit card balance every month is one of the factors that can help you improve your scores. Companies use several factors to calculate your credit scores. One factor they look at is how much credit you are using compared to how much you have available.
