Clear the card before a mortgage? Check DTI first
Lenders add the card minimum to your debt-to-income. Paying the card down can move a denial to an approval.
On $6,000 monthly income, a $200 card minimum is 3.3 points of DTI — enough to miss a 43% cap.
The number you need before you pay
The debt to income before mortgage is for this decision, not a definition. On $6,000 monthly income, a $200 card minimum is 3.3 points of DTI — enough to miss a 43% cap.
Enter Monthly Debt Payments, Monthly Income. The page returns Debt-to-Income Ratio. Nothing is stored unless you copy it.
What to enter
Use the real quote, bill, or salary — not a round number you wish were true. If a field is a rate, use the one on the offer, not last month’s headline average.
The next check
After this number, run best credit card payoff calculator, extra payment credit card or loan. The cluster page is best credit card payoff calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does credit card debt hurt a mortgage application?
Yes. The minimum payment counts in DTI even if you pay more. A lower balance usually means a lower minimum.
What DTI do lenders want?
Many cap around 43% including the new mortgage. Rules vary. Use the calculator, then ask the lender.
Clear the card before a mortgage? Check DTI first is part of the Finance cluster on Qalculators. Use the related tools below to run the numbers instead of estimating by hand.
Results depend on the values you enter. Treat them as planning estimates and confirm important decisions with a professional when needed.