{"id":16041,"date":"2023-12-14T12:57:55","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T18:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/?p=16041"},"modified":"2025-06-06T10:29:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:29:07","slug":"what-is-the-28-36-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/finance\/what-is-the-28-36-rule.html","title":{"rendered":"What is the 28\/36 rule? Understanding your mortgage options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"570\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/what-is-the-28-36-rule-hero.jpg\" alt=\"People at new home.\" class=\"wp-image-16046\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-5d1cafb65bef936c9c5e930674c5321f\" style=\"background-color:#00204f\">The 28\/36 rule is a financial rule of thumb that measures a borrower\u2019s ability to pay off their mortgage by evaluating their financial health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice. <\/em><a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/disclaimer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>See Lexington Law\u2019s editorial disclosure for more information.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chamberofcommerce.org\/cities-with-the-most-house-poor-homeowners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">27 percent of homeowners<\/a> in the United States who hold mortgages are grappling with housing cost burdens. How should homeowners better prepare themselves for handling a home loan before accruing too much debt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Achieving a secure and balanced financial life involves navigating through suggested guidelines and best practices. Among these is the 28\/36 rule\u2014a framework for financial decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we will break down what the 28\/36 rule entails and how it can serve as a valuable tool for homeowners looking to budget more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Table of contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>What is the 28\/36 rule?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Front-end ratio: the 28 percent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Back-end ratio: the 36 percent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How does the 28\/36 rule affect my ability to get a mortgage?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exceptions and special considerations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>28\/36 rule FAQ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the 28\/36 rule?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 28\/36 rule is a financial rule of thumb that measures a borrower\u2019s ability to pay off their mortgage by evaluating their financial health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rule advises households to limit their spending on housing expenses to under 28 percent of their gross monthly income and their spending on all debt to under 36 percent of their gross monthly income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This suggestion is particularly important for households planning to take on a mortgage, as lenders use it to decide if they will extend credit to borrowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-front-end-ratio-the-28-percent\">Front-end ratio: the 28 percent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The front-end ratio, or the housing expense ratio, is a ratio that describes how much of one\u2019s income goes toward housing payments. It is calculated by dividing housing expenses by gross income and should make up under 28 percent of total monthly income, according to the 28\/36 rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be wondering what constitutes a housing payment. The following list details everything included in this category:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mortgage payments:<\/strong> This constitutes both how much money you borrow (principal) and the interest you pay on that borrowed money.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Property taxes:<\/strong> It\u2019s important to be aware of how high your area\u2019s property taxes are, as they can vary drastically from locale to locale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insurance:<\/strong> This includes both homeowners insurance and any added insurance on your house (tornado, earthquake, flood, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HOA dues: <\/strong>Homeowner\u2019s associations charge monthly dues. If you live under an HOA\u2019s jurisdiction, be sure to add them to the equation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You might have noticed that utility bills, internet and cable TV services are not listed. Although they are typically grouped under the umbrella term of \u201chousing expenses,\u201d they aren\u2019t part of the calculation that lenders make to determine your financial health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To better visualize the front-end ratio, imagine you have a gross monthly income of $4,500 per month ($54,000 annually). Every month, your mortgage payments come out to $1,250, your property taxes are $200, and your homeowner\u2019s insurance costs $100. You don\u2019t live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, so there are no HOA dues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Added together, your housing payments come out to $1,550. Divide that by your monthly income ($4,500), and you have a front-end ratio of 0.34, or 34 percent. Because it\u2019s more than 28 percent, this would signify that you should pursue additional income, move somewhere that is less expensive to live or both to have a chance at a decent mortgage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1052\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/the-28-36-rule.png\" alt=\"the 28\/36 rule\" class=\"wp-image-16043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/the-28-36-rule.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/the-28-36-rule-1100x771.png 1100w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/the-28-36-rule-768x539.png 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 767px) 600px, calc(100vw - 35px)\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-back-end-ratio-the-36-percent\">Back-end ratio: the 36 percent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The back-end ratio, represented by the \u201c36\u201d in the 28\/36 rule, is the ratio measuring how much of one\u2019s income is used to pay off debt every month. This encompasses mortgage payments, student loans, car loans, credit card debt and all debt in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s calculated by dividing the amount of monthly debt owed by gross monthly income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since child support and alimony payments are also included, it\u2019s important to take a comprehensive look at all of your expenses in this category to ensure you fall below the 36-percent threshold before taking on any additional debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine you have a gross monthly income of $3,500 per month ($42,000 annually). You haven\u2019t accrued credit card debt, but your car loan and student loan payments come out to a monthly total of $600. Divide your total debt ($600) by your monthly income ($3,500), and your back-end ratio totals 0.17, or 17 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1556\" height=\"737\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/us-2020-household-debt.png\" alt=\"Household debt in the US in 2020.\" class=\"wp-image-16045\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/us-2020-household-debt.png 1556w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/us-2020-household-debt-1100x521.png 1100w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/us-2020-household-debt-768x364.png 768w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/us-2020-household-debt-1536x728.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 767px) 600px, calc(100vw - 35px)\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-the-28-36-rule-affect-my-ability-to-get-a-mortgage\">How does the 28\/36 rule affect my ability to get a mortgage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If taking out a mortgage would cause your front-end ratio to go above 28 percent, or your back-end ratio to go above 36 percent, then it will probably be difficult to get the high mortgage loan and low <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/credit\/what-is-apr\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">APR<\/a> you were hoping for. You may still qualify for a mortgage, but the lender will likely turn down your initial request and offer a smaller amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 28\/36 rule is just one of many factors that go into determining your ability to get an ideal mortgage. These factors determine the size of your loan, and thus what percentage of income should go to mortgage payments. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Credit score. <\/strong>Your credit score has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/credit\/mortgage-rates-by-score\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">major impact on your mortgage rate<\/a>. Lenders rely heavily on borrowers\u2019 credit scores to determine their risk whenever considering whether to lend money. This holds especially true for a very large purchase like a home.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong>Income.<\/strong> Whether you plan to take on a new mortgage or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/loans\/how-to-refinance-a-mortgage-with-bad-credit.html\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refinance a current mortgage<\/a>, your income has an impact on your lender\u2019s willingness to help out. A higher income communicates a better ability to pay off a mortgage, so we recommend pursuing a side income if your income won\u2019t impress lenders as it stands.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong>Size of down payment.<\/strong> Similar to income, larger down payments on a house (20 percent and higher) send a positive message to lenders by positively impacting both your front- and back-end ratios. It\u2019s worth taking extra time to save up to make a larger down payment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-exceptions-and-special-considerations\">Exceptions and special considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the 28\/36 rule tends to be the gold standard for winning lenders\u2019 trust, this rule primarily applies to <em>conventional<\/em> <em>mortgages<\/em>. If achieving these ratios doesn\u2019t feel realistic at the moment but you\u2019re serious about buying a home soon, you should be aware of other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/loans\/types-of-mortgage-loans.html\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">types of mortgage loans<\/a> that are an exception to the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from having excellent credit and making a larger down payment, you may qualify for a government-insured mortgage. For example, the <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fha.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federal Housing Administration<\/a> (FHA), the <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/housing-assistance\/home-loans\/loan-types\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a> (VA) and the <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/a> (USDA) all offer mortgages that allow for approval at higher front- and back-end ratios. If your home is energy efficient, it may further increase your ratio\u2019s threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width:567px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto\">\n    <table style=\"width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Museo', sans-serif;\">\n        <tr>\n            <th style=\"width: 33%; border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 125px; color: white; background-color: #092F57; text-align: center;\">Type of mortgage<\/th>\n            <th style=\"width: 33%; border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 125px; color: white; background-color: #092F57; text-align: center;\">Front-end ratio<\/th>\n            <th style=\"width: 33%; border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 125px; color: white; background-color: #092F57; text-align: center;\">Back-end ratio<\/th>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">Conventional<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">28%<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">36%<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500;\">FHA<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500;\">31%<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500;\">43%<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">FHA (Energy-efficient home)<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">33%<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">45%<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500;\">VA<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500;\">N\/A<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500;\">41%<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">USDA<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">29%<\/td>\n            <td style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d0d4; padding: 5px; height: 100px; color: #00214f; text-align: center; font-weight: 500; background-color: #EFEFF0\">41%<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n    <\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">28\/36 Rule FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Below are commonly asked questions about the 28\/36 rule and finances.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens if you exceed the 28\/36 rule?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find that you\u2019re putting more money toward paying back debt and exceeding the 36 percent rule, you\u2019ll need to reduce your debt before applying for a mortgage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend that you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Assess your financial situation: <\/strong>Determine your sources of income and debts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create a budget: <\/strong>Develop a budget with your monthly gross income and expenses. Include your necessities, like groceries and utilities, as well as optional expenses, like eating out or going to the movies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Identify unnecessary expenses: <\/strong>Evaluate your optional expenses and decide which of them you can realistically cut back on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prioritize your debts: <\/strong>Start paying your smallest debt balance first and work your way up, or start with your largest balance and work downward. Add this to your monthly budget plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid allocating any new debt while you focus on paying off your existing debt. That way, you can stay focused on meeting the 28\/36 rule and building a better financial portfolio for home buying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s included in housing expenses?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Housing expenses include all costs associated with renting or owning a home.&nbsp; Housing expenses vary if you rent or own the home, but these are the most common for homeowners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Monthly mortgage payment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mortgage insurance premium (MIP)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Property taxes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Homeowners association (HOA) fees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home maintenance and repairs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Homeowners insurance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of mortgages, renters can include rent payments, renters insurance and utilities as some of their housing expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is gross income?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gross income is the total income you earn before deductions and taxes are taken out. After deductions are taken out, the result is considered your \u201cnet income.\u201d This is the amount you take home to pay off expenses and debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your total debt from all loans should not exceed what percentage of your gross monthly salary?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your total debt from all your loans should not exceed the 28\/36 rule. Exceeding the rule puts you at a higher risk and may sway your lender to not approve you for a home loan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to alternative mortgage options, it\u2019s important to consider what type of loan you want to pursue, whether it\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/loans\/home-equity-loan-vs-line-of-credit-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">home equity loan or a line of credit<\/a>. How you\u2019re going to buy a home is one of the most significant life decisions to make. As such, it\u2019s important that you do your due diligence and think ahead. From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/credit-repair-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">improving your credit<\/a> with the help of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/credit-101\/what-is-credit-monitoring.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">credit monitoring service<\/a> to paying off debt, there are a wide variety of ways to practice good personal finance in order to potentially qualify for the mortgage you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lexingtonlaw.com\/disclaimer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Note:<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em> Articles have only been reviewed by the indicated attorney, not written by them. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, reviewers, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective agents or employers.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re considering a mortgage, you\u2019ve probably heard of the 28\/36 rule. Take a look at what it is and what it means for your ability to borrow money.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":16046,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[534],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v18.1 (Yoast SEO v18.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is the 28\/36 Rule? | Lexington Law<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re considering a mortgage, you\u2019ve probably heard of the 28\/36 rule. 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