Two people with the same paycheck can qualify very differently. It comes down to what a lender can document, how long it has lasted, and how each debt is counted.
Find your situation below. For the rules by loan type, see the conventional, FHA and VA pages, or compare them side by side.
Loan program pages: Debt to income by loan · conventional · VA income rules · FHA income rules · Debt rules
Buying before you sell
Buying before you sellRead: Can You Buy a House Before Selling Your Current
Buying before you sellRead: Rental Income From Your Departing Home
Income that is not a plain salary
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Bonus, Overtime, Commission, Part Time and Second
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Can You Get a Mortgage After Changing Jobs? 2026
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Using Social Security or Retirement Income for a
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Can Trust Income Be Used to Qualify for a Mortgage?
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Investment Income for a Mortgage
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Can You Get a Mortgage While on Maternity or
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Can Long Term Disability Income Qualify for a
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Can Child Support or Alimony Count as Mortgage
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Rental Income to Qualify for a Mortgage
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: Can Schedule K1 Income Be Used for a Mortgage? 2026
Income that is not a plain salaryRead: RSU Income for a Mortgage
Debts and how they count
Debts and how they countRead: How Student Loans Affect Mortgage Qualification in
Debts and how they countRead: Debts You Can Leave Out of Your DTI
Debts and how they countRead: How Car Lease Payments Affect Mortgage
Debts and how they countRead: Can You Get a Mortgage With an IRS Payment Plan?
Debts and how they countRead: Paying Off Credit Cards Before a Mortgage
Special situations
Special situationsRead: Nonoccupant Coborrower
Special situationsRead: Self Employed Conventional Mortgage
Special situationsRead: Divorce Mortgage Buyout