Clarity regarding the 28/36 rule

Hi Angela, Yes, lenders will allow your front end debt ratio to exceed 28%. You can even go over 36%. | John Burke | Senior Mortgage Banker | Lending in ALL 50 states | www.yourtexasmortgagelender.com|Stride Bank | jburke@stridebank.com | (877)228-9069 | NMLS# 787231 |

I've been in the mortgage business over 25-years, and the 28/36 'rule' has never been a rule. Back in the day of manual underwriting, it was a 'preferred guideline' but never really a chiseled in stone rule. Since the advent of automated underwriting in the late 1990's, the answer is usually whatever the underwriting says is OK for ratio's. Now don't get me wrong, many programs do have hard and fast rules. For example, your debt ratio may not exceed 50% or something. Other programs don't even have a front ratio at all. Bottom line, don't sweat this. Simple reach out to a LOCAL mortgage broker, give them a full application, and they will let you know what maximum ratio's the system will allow for you. I provide home loans in MN, WI, IA, ND, and SD. if can be found at JoeMetzler.com | Cambria Mortgage, NMLS 274132