When you're ready to buy a home, one number carries more weight than almost any other in the eyes of a lender: your . This percentage tells lenders how much of your monthly income is already spoken for by other debts, helping them determine if you can comfortably afford a new mortgage payment. What Exactly Is DTI?
Many traditional lenders, such as those mentioned by Citizens Bank and Bankrate , prefer a front-end ratio of 28% and a back-end ratio of 36% .
While every lender has different requirements, here are the general benchmarks used in the 2026 housing market:
When you're ready to buy a home, one number carries more weight than almost any other in the eyes of a lender: your . This percentage tells lenders how much of your monthly income is already spoken for by other debts, helping them determine if you can comfortably afford a new mortgage payment. What Exactly Is DTI?
Many traditional lenders, such as those mentioned by Citizens Bank and Bankrate , prefer a front-end ratio of 28% and a back-end ratio of 36% .
While every lender has different requirements, here are the general benchmarks used in the 2026 housing market:
