How to Buy a Home Even with Student or Other Debt

Is student loan debt holding you back from being a homeowner?
You’re not alone. Many first-time buyers are worried that their debt takes them out of the game when buying a home. But, most of the time, it doesn’t!

 
So, don’t automatically assume you’re facing a roadblock to homeownership if you have student loan debt, most everyone does, even people who have bought a home.
There are ways to work with lenders and assistance programs to make your first home purchase a reality -- and even more affordable despite your student loans. I highly recommend you speak with a great mortgage broker who can take a deep dive into your personal financial situation and make recommendation on lenders and products based on your needs. And remember, there are more lenders available to you outside of the Big 5 Banks!
I understand that you may be grappling about whether you should pay off your student loan debt first before you even purchase a home. That could be an option but don’t make it your only one.
There are some other options for you to consider so you don’t have to delay years until becoming a homeowner, especially if you have substantial student or other loans.
And always remember to please consult with your own financial advisor and or a mortgage broker to determine what is best for your situation.

How Lenders Look at Student Debt
Let’s get to the basics first. When you buy a home, a lender will look at your debt-to-income ratio or DTI.
It’s the amount of recurring debt you have monthly compared to your gross monthly income. In a lender’s eyes, your DIT is more important than your credit score or how much money you have for a down payment.

A lender needs to consider your recurring debt -- such as a car loan, credit card payments AND your student loan(s) -- in order to determine if you can afford more debt with a monthly mortgage payment. 

However, most lenders like to stick to the 28/36 rule. And that’s where the 36% DTI from above comes into play.

 
• The 36% is the back-end ratio and equals your entire monthly housing costs expenses (principal, interest, mortgage insurance, property taxes) plus other debts (student loan, car loan, credit cards, etc) divided by your gross monthly income. It’s the DTI we explained above, and you don’t want to go above 36%.

• The 28% is part of the front-end ratio equals your monthly housing expenses (principal, interest, mortgage insurance, property taxes) divided by your gross monthly income. Your other recurring debt is not included. Again, a lender doesn’t want to see it above 28%.

Keep in mind, your DIT and the 28/36 rule has nothing to do with your credit score or how well you pay back your debt. It’s looking at the amount of debt obligation you currently when compared to your income. Not whether you’ve been good at paying your student loan and other debt each month. (But keep doing that too!)
And that’s why it can be frustrating for many first-time buyers with student loan debt who have good credit scores.

 
How to Lower Your DTI

If you need to lower your monthly debt and obligations, start with your student or other loan lender(s). Here are some options to consider. Remember to always consult with your own financial advisor before pursuing.
• Graduated repayment plan – payments start low and rise every two years as your income should rise.
• Loan consolidation – if you have more than one student loan, combine them into one with a lower interest rate.
• Lengthen your payback term – spread out your loan repayment over more years to lower your monthly obligation. This will increase you long-term interest payments so carefully way the pros and cons of this strategy.
Examine all of your financial obligations and find other ways to lower you DTI:
• Consider bumping up your monthly income with a side job … every little bit could help your cash flow and savings.
• Don’t buy a car and use public transit to eliminate a recurring car loan debt.
• See if you can negotiate a lower minimum monthly repayment requirement on your credit cards, especially one that is on the higher side. Some credit card companies are willing to work with you if you have a good credit score and payment history.
• Look into a line of credit that will have a much lower interest rate than a credit card. You can then use this line of credit to pay down loans with higher interest rates.

When you have student loan debt, you need to find a mortgage lender who is willing to work with you and offer programs that may be geared toward borrowers just like you.
Steer clear of lenders whose underwriters just look at your entire balance of student loan debt and not your current monthly payments compared to your income. You will likely not qualify for a mortgage loan with them.
It won’t matter to them if you have lowered your monthly payments with a graduated repayment plan – they will calculate your DTI by using the percentage of your total loan balance.
Many lenders work with state and federal assistance programs, and may have a better track record when dealing with first-time buyers with student debt. Your college or graduate degree is worth something and it should continue to advance your career and your earnings.
These programs below will help jump start your ability to make home ownership a reality.

 
Are You Ready?

Evaluate if you’re truly ready to be a homeowner even though you have student loans to pay back. Homeownership is both a big financial and lifestyle commitment.
You may already be handling sizeable monthly housing costs because of the higher rents Calgary. You may be ready to invest that money in your own home and not a rental.
Honestly answer questions about yourself. Do you have a good job with steady income with expectations of more earning power? Do you plan to remain in the area for the next 5 years minimum? Have you been paying back your student loans each month and have some money saved? Is your DTI not too high and you’re willing to find an assistance program that could help?
As a first-time buyer with student debt, you may need to lower your expectations for your first home, maybe change locations or buy a townhome instead of a single-family house.
Focus on getting your first home and clear that hurdle. If you do it right the first time and aren’t house poor, you’ll be able to move up to your next home in later years.
You invested in your education and it took time to get your degree and start your career. It’s almost the same with becoming a homeowner. It takes time but your first home can lead to your next and so on as you get more financially secure.

We are here to help you determine if homeownership is right for you now or in the near future. It does take some planning even if you don’t have student loans, so give us a call and we can come up with a plan based on your timeframe.

So, don’t let student loan slow your home buying dreams come true.
In fact, I know of many people who have ended up paying off their student loans in FULL with the equity they received from their first home purchase. Buying a home could possibly help you pay off your student loans even more quickly! No guarantees, but I’ve known people to have that experience.
Up next week is our final article in My 7 Little Secrets to Buying a Home series. You’ll find out why Buying a Home Is Like Falling In Love! It’s a topic you don’t want to miss.