How USDA Government Underwriters calculate your Debt-to-Income or DTI ratio.
One of the most frequent questions that come from perspectives Kentucky home buyers is
“How Much House Can I Afford?”
Answering this question is determined based on calculating what are known as the borrower’s Debt-to-Income or DTI ratios. The established standard DTI ratio used for a USDA Loan is based on two sets of ratios, which are as follows:
- Front-end or housing ratio – the monthly mortgage payment cannot exceed 29% of the gross monthly income.
- Back-end or total debt ratio – the total debts, including the new monthly mortgage payment, cannot exceed 41% of the gross monthly income.
A monthly mortgage payment includes the principal and interest payment on the mortgage note, as well as the monthly pro-rated portion of the annual fee, property tax and homeowner insurance premium.
Specific to the USDA Rural Loan program is the pro-rate portion of the USDA Annual Fee, which is often referred to as a monthly mortgage insurance payment. If there are any Condominium or Homeowner Association (HOA) fees, these fees must be included in the monthly mortgage payment as well.
Total debts include the anticipated monthly mortgage payment and all monthly re-occurring credit obligations.
Examples of reoccurring credit obligations include monthly car payments, minimum payment on credit cards, and student loan payments. If the borrower is obligated to make any alimony or child support payments, these payments will be included within the total debt calculations as well.
If the total debts exceed 41% of the gross monthly income, the maximum monthly mortgage payment must be reduced in order to bring total DTI back down to 41%. For example, assume a monthly income of $5,000.
Based on the 29%/41% ratio requirements, the maximum housing expense will be $1,450 and total debts will be $2,050. If the non-housing expense exceeds $600 ($2,050 – $1,450), the housing expense will need to be reduced by an equal amount to keep the total ratio at 41%.
While the 29%/41% ratio is considered to be the Underwriting standard guideline, the USDA Loan Program will allow for DTI ratios as high as 33.99%/45.99%.
What determines the ability to qualify at a higher ratio is a combination of factors, such as an approval through Guaranteed Underwriting System, which is USDA’s automated approval, and other compensating factors such as:
- 680 or higher credit score
- No or low “payment shock” – less than a 100% increase in proposed mortgage payment vs. current rental housing expenses
- Fiscally sound use of credit
- Ability to accumulate savings
- Stable employment history with 2 or more years in current position or continuous employment history with no job gaps
- Cash reserves available for use after settlement
- Career advancement as indicated by job training or additional education in the applicant’s profession
- Trailing spouse income – as a result of a job transfer, in which the house is being purchased, prior to the secondary wage-earner obtaining employment. This assumes that the secondary wage-earner has an established history of employment and has a reasonable chance to obtain new employment in the area upon relocating to the area
- Low total debt load

Joel Lobb (NMLS#57916)
Senior Loan Officer
American Mortgage Solutions, Inc.
10602 Timberwood Circle Suite 3
Louisville, KY 40223Company ID #1364 | MB73346
Text/call 502-905-3708
kentuckyloan@gmail.com