If you’re like many people, you may have student loans and want to buy a house. It’s natural—education is an investment in your future and homeownership can provide stability. But if you have student loan debt, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to the mortgage process. To help guide you, let’s discuss what lenders look for when evaluating home buyers with student loans.

Debt-to-Income Ratios

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is one of the most important factors lenders consider when evaluating your mortgage application. DTI is calculated by adding up all your debts (student loans, credit cards, car loans, etc.) and dividing that number by your gross monthly income. A DTI of 50% or less is typically considered ideal for getting approved for a mortgage. The higher your DTI ratio, the harder it will be to qualify for a loan.

Mortgage Payment-to-Income Ratios

Another important factor for lenders is the relationship between your projected mortgage payments and income. Lenders typically don’t allow housing expenses (including principal, interest taxes and insurance) to exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income. This ensures that you won’t overextend yourself financially when taking on a mortgage payment each month.

Credit Score Requirements

Lenders also evaluate a potential borrower’s credit score as part of the underwriting process. Credit scores are based on information from consumer credit reports and range from 300–850; generally speaking, higher scores indicate lower risk for lenders. Most lenders require borrowers to have FICO® Scores of 580 or higher in order to be eligible for a mortgage; however, individual lender requirements may vary significantly depending on their own risk tolerance levels and lending criteria.

As you can see, there are several factors involved with getting approved for a mortgage if you have student loan debt—but it isn’t impossible! To give yourself the best chance of success when applying for a home loan with student loans on your record, focus on reducing debt through responsible financial management practices while also building up your credit history so that lenders can see that you’re actively managing your finances responsibly over time. With dedication and patience, homeownership could still be in reach! For further resources to get you pre-pared reach out to us at Southend Financial!