What do Conventional Qualifying Ratios help determine?

Conventional Qualifying Ratios play a critical role in assessing a borrower's financial stability by comparing their income to their expenses. These ratios primarily evaluate how much of a borrower's monthly income is allocated to housing expenses and other debt obligations, thereby determining whether the borrower can comfortably manage additional debt, such as a mortgage.

The front-end ratio looks at housing costs (like principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) compared to gross income, while the back-end ratio includes all monthly debts. By analyzing these ratios, lenders can gauge the borrower's overall financial health and capacity to repay a loan, which directly influences their eligibility for a mortgage. This ensures that borrowers are not overextending their finances and helps in making informed lending decisions.

The other aspects like credit scores, loan limits, and interest rates play essential roles in the borrowing process but are not directly addressed by Qualifying Ratios, which focus specifically on income versus expenses.