According to a 2018 Student Loan Hero survey, 43% of college-educated Americans with student loans said they postponed buying a home because of their debt. But student loans don’t have to keep you from buying a house.

Here’s what you need to do when buying a house with student loan debt.

1. Improve your credit score and check your credit report

The most important factor financial institutions consider when deciding whether to lend you money is your credit score. Fortunately, you can maintain a good credit score even if you have student loan debt.
In fact, your student loan debt probably won’t drag down your credit score unless you’ve been missing payments.

Here’s a few tips to keep your credit score in good standing:
‍
Pay your bills on time. On-time payments are the most important factor in your credit score. Pay the minimum in full before or on your due date, and you can build a solid financial reputation.

Manage your credit utilization. The ratio of your credit balances to your total available credit line is called your “credit utilization.” For example, if you have credit lines totaling $3,000 and your credit balances total $1,000, your credit utilization is 30%. Ideally, you want to use as little of your available credit as possible.

Don’t close old accounts. You might think that closing a credit card account is the way to go when trying to fix your credit score, but this often isn’t the case. An old account, especially if it is in good standing, can help your credit. The longer your credit history and the older the average age of your accounts, the better your credit score.

Use different types of credit. If you have a “thin file” with little credit in your past, there isn’t much for lenders to make a judgment about. A mix of revolving credit (like
credit cards) and installment loans (like car payments or student loans) show that you can handle different types of debt.

It’s also important to keep tabs on your credit score and to check your credit report before buying a home. Make sure your report is accurate and up-to-date.

2. Decrease your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio*

When buying a house with student loan debt, you need to be aware of the impact your loans have. Many lenders follow what is called the “28/36 qualifying ratio” to determine if you’re eligible for the best rates. This means that you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on total housing expenses, and no more than 36% on the total debt service (including the new mortgage payment).

You can still buy a home if you don’t meet the 28/36 rule, and many lenders will still loan you money if your DTI is high. But you have to decide if you’re really comfortable taking on a loan when you have a high DTI.

If your DTI is on the high side, here are a few steps you could take to reduce it:

- Increase your income by taking on a second job, setting up a side gig, or asking for a  
 raise.

- Refinance or consolidate your student loans to obtain a lower monthly payment. You
 might also get a better interest rate.

- Enroll in an income-based repayment program to lower the monthly payments on your
 federal student loans.

By boosting your income and trimming down your debt payments, you could free up your cash flow and make your home more affordable on a monthly basis.

3. Apply for pre-approval** and determine your home-buying power

Pre-approval from a lender can help you see what the costs and down payment requirements are. To determine what you qualify for, most lenders consider your two-year employment history, credit history, income and assets.

Here are some important things to keep in mind as you apply for pre-approval when buying a house with student loan debt:

- A lender must look at most aspects of your financial history, at least in the short term.
 All funds need to be sourced and explained. Any large deposits outside of normal
 payroll will be closely scrutinized, and any major loans will be considered as well.

- Gifts from family are not unusual for first-time homebuyers. These also need to be
 sourced and accompanied by a lender’s gift letter. Lenders aren’t supposed to accept
 loans as down payments, so if a relative is lending you the money for a down payment
 it’s not going to work — the down payment needs to be a gift if it’s not from your own
 funds, and it should be from someone with whom you have a close relationship.

- Check with the lender to ensure that you’re giving all documents needed for a
 comprehensive decision on your pre-approval. Some documents require you to
 submit two years’ worth of W-2s, two years of federal tax returns, along with 30
 days’ worth of pay stubs and two months of asset statements (including bank and
 retirement account statements).

- If you’re self-employed, you might need additional paperwork to verify your income.
 You could be required to go through an income audit, where an accountant reviews
 your records and verifies your income.

- Additional documents may be required once the loan is underwritten, so make sure to
 check with your mortgage advisor about any further materials you’ll need to get ready if you go ahead with the loan.

Once you have your pre-approval, you can use it to help gauge which homes you can afford. Additionally, sellers are likely to take you more seriously once you have a pre-approval in place because they know the bank has already committed to providing you with financing.

4. Consider down-payment assistance programs***

There are a number of down-payment assistance programs that are acceptable to lenders. Many states and cities offer these, including some that allow you to use sweat equity if you want to build a new home.

It’s also possible to take advantage of federal loan programs, even if you have student loans. You may qualify for an FHA loan, which would mean a down payment of as little as 3.5%.

If you choose to buy in a more rural area, you might also qualify for a USDA loan, which requires no down payment at all. And don’t forget about VA loans if you have served in the military.

Student debt is common and people are approved daily for a mortgage. Make a plan with your mortgage advisor and home ownership is within reach!

*Debt-To-Income (DTI) ratio is monthly debt/expenses divided by gross monthly income.

**Pre-approval is based on a preliminary review of credit information provided to Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation which has not been reviewed by Underwriting. Final loan approval is subject to a full Underwriting review of support documentation including, but not limited to, applicants’ creditworthiness, assets, income information, and a satisfactory appraisal.

***Eligibility subject to program stipulations, qualifying factors, applicable income and debt-to-income (DTI) restrictions, and property limits. Fairway is not affiliated with any government agencies. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency.

‍

Written by: Miranda Marquit