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Don’t Rush to Pay Off Your Debts Just to Qualify For a Mortgage
Most people think they need to be completely debt-free before they can buy a home. But here’s a mortgage insider truth: Lenders don't actually care about the total amount of debt you owe.
📌 Instead, they focus on your monthly minimum payments.
📊 Meet Your DTI Ratio: When you apply for a loan, lenders look at your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio. This is just the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward paying your recurring monthly bills.
Because it’s all about the monthly payment and not the total balance, the math can be surprising:
🚗 A $25,000 car loan with a $200 monthly minimum payment has LESS impact on your loan approval...
💳 Than a $10,000 personal loan or credit card with a $400 monthly minimum payment.
Paying off the wrong debt could wipe out your cash savings without actually helping your buying power at all!
❓ What Counts Toward Your DTI❓
Only the minimum payments on your official credit report matter for this calculation, such as:
- Car loans & student loans
- Credit card minimum payments
- Personal loans
Note: Regular monthly expenses like your phone bill, car insurance, or groceries do not count toward your DTI.
👉🏻 Let’s Build Your Strategy together. Before you spend a single dollar paying off debt to prepare for a home, let's make sure it's the right move.
📲 Contact Lock It Mortgage today! We will help map out a quick, free strategy call to maximize your qualification power and get you into your dream home. 💼
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. All loans are subject to underwriting approval, credit review, and property appraisal. Program availability and guidelines are subject to change.