Which financial ratio indicates how much of a borrower’s income goes to servicing debt?

The Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI) is a crucial financial metric because it provides insight into a borrower’s ability to manage monthly debt obligations relative to their income. Specifically, DTI measures the percentage of a borrower's gross monthly income that goes toward paying debts, including mortgages, credit cards, and other obligations.

A lower DTI indicates a healthier financial situation, suggesting that the borrower has more disposable income available after servicing their debts, which can be a positive sign for lenders when assessing creditworthiness. Conversely, a higher DTI may suggest that a borrower is over-leveraged, which could pose a risk to their financial stability and make it more challenging to qualify for further credit.

Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV), while important in assessing risk and how much equity a borrower has in their property, does not directly reflect their income level or debt servicing capabilities. The Capital Ratio (CR) is not a commonly used metric in personal finance contexts and typically applies to corporate finance or capital requirements for financial institutions. The Risk Assessment Ratio (RAR) is not a standard financial metric in assessing individual borrowers in the context of housing finance.

Therefore, the Debt-to-Income Ratio is the only option that directly illustrates the relationship between a borrower’s income