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Understanding your mortgage servicing ratio is crucial for Singapore homeowners. It's a measure of how much of your monthly income goes towards paying your mortgage.
The total debt servicing ratio (TDSR) is 60% of your monthly gross income, which includes your mortgage payments, car loans, and other debt obligations. This is the maximum amount of debt you can service.
To calculate your TDSR, you'll need to consider your gross income, mortgage payments, and other debt repayments. For example, if your gross income is $10,000 and your mortgage payments are $2,000, your TDSR would be 20% ($2,000 ÷ $10,000).
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What Is the Mortgage Servicing Ratio?
The Mortgage Servicing Ratio is a crucial concept to understand when it comes to your mortgage. It's a measure of how much of your income goes towards paying off your mortgage.
The ratio is calculated by dividing your gross monthly income by the total amount of your monthly mortgage payments, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. This result is expressed as a percentage, which lenders use to determine how much mortgage you can afford.
Typically, lenders require that your Mortgage Servicing Ratio be no higher than 35%. This means that your mortgage payments should not exceed 35% of your gross monthly income.
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Calculating the Mortgage Servicing Ratio
The Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR) is a crucial measure of a borrower's ability to repay their mortgage. It's calculated by dividing the monthly mortgage repayment by the gross monthly income and multiplying by 100.
To calculate the MSR, you'll need to know your monthly mortgage repayment and your gross monthly income. The formula is straightforward: MSR (%) = (Monthly Mortgage Repayment ÷ Gross Monthly Income) × 100.
Here's a simple example to illustrate how it works: if your monthly mortgage repayment is $2,500 and your gross monthly income is $10,000, your MSR would be 25%. This means that 25% of your income goes towards paying off your mortgage.
Lenders typically consider a MSR of 25% or less to be acceptable. However, this can vary depending on the lender and other factors, such as your credit score and debt-to-income ratio.
In general, it's essential to keep your MSR as low as possible to ensure you can afford your mortgage payments. You can do this by choosing a lower mortgage amount, paying more towards your principal each month, or exploring alternative mortgage options.
Here's a table to help you understand the MSR calculation:
Meeting the Requirements
To qualify for a mortgage, you need to meet the Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR) limit of 30% of your gross monthly income. This means that your monthly mortgage obligation should not exceed 30% of your income.
You can increase your cash down-payment to lower the amount you borrow, making it easier to meet the MSR limit. This is a good option if you want to reduce your loan amount and improve your financial position.
To calculate your MSR, lenders use a formula: MSR = Monthly Mortgage Obligation / Gross Monthly Income x 100% ≤ 30%. They also consider other factors like variable income, rental income, and eligible financial assets.
What Is Total Service?
Total debt service is a crucial aspect of meeting the requirements for a mortgage. It's calculated by adding your gross debt service (GDS) ratio to any other debt you may have.
Lenders set a limit of 40-44% for your total debt service (TDS) ratio. This means that if you're purchasing a home, your total debt payments should not exceed 40-44% of your gross income.
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Other types of debt that are included in your TDS ratio are auto loans, student debt, credit card payments, and child support/alimony.
If you're purchasing a home with someone else, it may be possible to exceed the recommended TDS and GDS ratio limits. This is because lenders look at the combined income and debts when determining mortgage affordability.
Here are some examples of debt that are included in your TDS ratio:
- Auto loans
- Student debt
- Credit card payments
- Child support/alimony
Meeting Requirements
To get approved for a mortgage, you need to meet certain requirements. Lenders want to see that you can afford your housing costs, which is where the gross debt service ratio comes in.
Your gross debt service ratio is a calculation of how much you're spending on housing compared to your pre-tax income. It's a key factor in determining mortgage affordability.
The calculation includes your mortgage payments, property taxes, heating costs, condo maintenance fees, secondary financing payments, and ground rent. Lenders typically don't want your GDS ratio to exceed 39% of your income.
Worth a look: Commercial Mortgage Lenders
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You also need to consider your total debt service ratio, which includes all your debt obligations. This includes auto loans, student debt, credit card payments, and child support/alimony.
To give you a better idea, here's a breakdown of what's included in the GDS and TDS ratios:
Lenders typically set a limit of 40-44% for your TDS ratio. Meeting these requirements will help you get approved for a mortgage and ensure you can afford your housing costs.
Exceeding 30% Limit
Exceeding the 30% Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR) limit can be a challenge, but there are options available. You can try to extend the loan tenure to lower the monthly home loan repayment.
To calculate the MSR, lenders use the formula: MSR = Monthly Mortgage Obligation / Gross Monthly Income x 100% ≤ 30%. If you exceed this limit, you'll need to reduce your loan amount or improve your financial position.
One way to reduce your loan amount is to increase the cash down-payment. By doing so, you can lower the amount you borrow, making it easier to meet the MSR limit.
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You can also try to reduce your other mortgage obligations, such as by paying down debt or reducing your budget. According to the guidelines, if you reduce your debt, your Total Debt Service (TDS) ratio will decrease.
Here are some options to consider if you exceed the MSR limit:
- Reduce your loan amount
- Improve your financial position
- Extend the loan tenure
- Buy a property with a lower price quantum
- Sell or reduce the repayments on any other properties
Remember, it's always a good idea to speak with your financial institution or mortgage broker to discuss your options and find a solution that works for you.
Sources
- https://newlaunch.properties/mortgage-servicing-ratio/
- https://www.ourhome.sg/complete-guide-to-mortgage-servicing-ratio-msr-in-singapore/
- https://www.newcondolaunchonline.com/how-to-calculate-total-debt-servicing-ratio-tdsr/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/ca/mortgages/what-are-debt-service-ratios
- https://vocal.media/families/difference-between-debt-servicing-ratio-and-total-debt-servicing-ratio
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