Affordability & Income
What is the 28/36 rule for mortgages?
Answered by Onias Derilus, Mortgage Capital · NMLS# 1859012 · Florida licensed mortgage broker
The 28/36 rule is a guideline that says your housing payment should stay under 28% of gross monthly income and total debt under 36%. It's a quick gut check for affordability.
Real underwriting often allows higher — FHA and automated approvals stretch total debt to 43% to 50% with strong factors. The rule is a starting point, not a hard cap. We'll show what your actual approved ratios can be.
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