How is the front-end ratio calculated?

The front-end ratio is specifically calculated by dividing the applicant's monthly mortgage obligation by their gross monthly income. This ratio is a crucial factor used by lenders to determine how much of a borrower's income will be used to cover housing costs, which typically include the mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any homeowners association fees.

Using gross income, which is the total income before any deductions like taxes or other payroll deductions, provides a clearer picture of the borrower's capacity to manage housing expenses. Lenders typically prefer this approach because it evaluates an applicant's income source on a pre-tax basis, which assists in ensuring that borrowers can afford their housing costs comfortably before taking into account their other financial responsibilities.

This ratio is pivotal in assessing financial risk and is generally considered a component of the underwriting process, helping to prevent over-leveraging by ensuring that housing expenses remain within a manageable limit relative to income.