Back-End Ratios

The back-end ratio reflects your new mortgage payment, plus all recurring debt. It, too, is computed on your gross monthly income. The back-end is higher than the front-end. For an FHA loan, the back-end ratio is 43%. For a conforming conventional loan, it is 45%.

This means if your car payment is $300, and you pay $100 a month between two credit cards, your total monthly recurring debt is $400. On the FHA loan payment above of $1,240 PITI, plus $400 recurring debt, your total is $1,640. The back-end ratio number is $1,720 ($4,000 x 43% = $1,720). Your total debt is less than $1,720, so you qualify.

For a conventional loan, $4,000 x 45% (back-end ratio), equals $1,800. The total debt of $400, plus your new mortgage payment of $1,320 for a conventional loan equals $1,720. Your total debt is less than $1,800, so you would qualify for a conventional loan.

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