Lower DTI, or save down payment?

[donkort]

You should have put your wife's gross monthly income, too.  That would make the DTI even less.

That is a good question----how would the mortgage provider feel about your IRS debt in relation to DTI, in light of the fact that FHA considers 1% of your student loan debt to be part of your DTI, even though you might only owe about 0.3% of your student loan debt per month.

If I were going for an FHA mortgage, they would add $650 into my DTI, even though I only pay $190 a month for my student loan debt.

[Anonymous]

That is true.  I have a little habit of understating my income - even in my bill pay spreadsheet - to try to cover any shortages.  I figure even if I am off a few hundred with the insurance thing, or even the tax thing, what I understated could help cover it and not budge the numbers much (such as the 400/mo I left off the income).  At least until I actually go to apply and have a better idea of things.

That's unpleasant about the student loans.  When I go for this in September I'll definitely update on the tax thing!  (I admit I hope it is not going to be treated like a student loan).  I just hope it doesn't scare them off because my scores are not bad but they aren't great.