Dollar Scholars Foundation

Ịzụta ụlọ ma zụta ụlọ · Ihe 1 nke 3

Get Mortgage-Ready: A 12-Month Plan

A month-by-month plan to strengthen your credit, savings, and paperwork before you apply for a mortgage, with a worked debt-to-income example.

  • Ihe dị ka nkeji 16
  • Ajụjụ: 5
  • Ikpeazụ nyochaa: Septemba 2026
  • Emeli: Money Smart for Adults, Module 13: Buying a Home (Section 1, Getting Ready to Own Your Home)

A sụgharịbeghị akụkụ nke nkuzi a n'asụsụ gị, n'ihi ya, a na-egosipụta ha n'asụsụ Bekee.

Na nkuzi a

Ihe ị ga-amụta

  • Calculate your debt-to-income ratio and see how paying off a debt changes it.
  • Follow a 12-month plan to strengthen your credit, savings, and paperwork before you apply.
  • Gather the documents lenders ask for, including extra papers for self-employed and ITIN borrowers.
  • Tell pre-qualification from pre-approval, and find a HUD-approved housing counselor.

Kedu ka nke a si jikọọ na klaasị anyị: Our class covers the steps to buying a home and how to calculate a debt-to-income ratio. This lesson turns those steps into a 12-month plan, with worked numbers and document lists for different kinds of workers.

Okwu ndị ị ga-amata

Ụgwọ-na-ego ruru (DTI) (Debt-to-income ratio (DTI))
Ngụkọta ụgwọ gị kwa ọnwa kewara site na ego ị na-enweta kwa ọnwa, gosipụtara dị ka pasent. Ndị na-agbazinye ego na-eji ya ekpebi ma ị nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ ọhụrụ.
Nnukwu ego kwa ọnwa (Gross monthly income)
A na-ewepụ ihe ị na-enweta n'ime otu ọnwa tupu ụtụ isi na mbelata ndị ọzọ.
Ịkwụ ụgwọ ala (Down payment)
Akụkụ nke ọnụahịa ụlọ ị na-akwụ ụgwọ site na ego nke gị ma ọ bụ site n'enyemaka nke mmemme. Ego ahụ na-akwụ ụgwọ ndị fọdụrụnụ.
Tupu ntozu (Pre-qualification)
Onye na-agbazinye ego na-achọpụta ego ole ị nwere ike ịgbazite. Ọ na-adabere na ozi ị na-enye na-enweghị ihe akaebe.
Tupu nkwenye (Pre-approval)
Akwụkwọ ozi na-ekwu na onye na-agbazinye ego dị njikere ịgbazinye gị ruo otu ego, na-abụkarị mgbe ị nyochachara kredit gị na ụfọdụ akwụkwọ. Ọ bụghị onyinye mgbazinye ego ikpeazụ.
Onye na-ahụ maka ụlọ obibi nke HUD (HUD-approved housing counselor)
Onye ndụmọdụ a zụrụ azụ na ụlọ ọrụ nke Ngalaba Ụlọ na Mmepe Obodo nke United States (HUD) kwadoro. Ha na-enye ndụmọdụ n'efu ma ọ bụ dị ọnụ ala maka ịzụta, ịgbazite, na izere ịkwụsị.

What lenders look at

Before a lender gives you a mortgage (a loan to buy a home), it wants to know that you can make the payments for many years. Lenders look at four main things:

  • Credit: your credit reports and scores show how you have paid bills and loans in the past.
  • Income: how much you earn, and whether you can prove it.
  • Debts: what you already pay each month, compared with your income.
  • Savings: money for the down payment, the closing costs, and emergencies after you move in. Closing, often called settlement in the DC area, is the meeting at the end of a home purchase where you sign the loan papers, pay your cash to close, and get the keys.

You cannot change these in one month. But in a year, you can make real progress. This lesson gives you a plan.

For debts, the key number is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). It is all your monthly debt payments, including the new home payment, divided by your gross monthly income (your income before taxes). Each loan program and lender sets its own DTI limit. For example, in September 2026 the DC Open Doors program listed a maximum DTI of 50%, or 45% for some FHA loans. An FHA loan is a mortgage backed by the Federal Housing Administration. It lets buyers put down as little as 3.5% and can be easier to get with lower credit. A lower DTI leaves more room in your budget for food, transportation, and surprises.

Ihe Nlereanya

Nkowasi: Jikwaa gị gam akporo ngwaọrụ tupu na mgbe ị na-akwụ ụgwọ.

Marisol na Luis na-agbazite ụlọ na Hyattsville, Maryland. Ha na-enweta $ 6,500 kwa ọnwa tupu ụtụ isi. Otu onye na-agbazinye ego na-eme atụmatụ na ụlọ obodo ha chọrọ ga-efu $ 2,100 kwa ọnwa maka mgbazinye ego, ụtụ isi ụlọ, na mkpuchi. Mgbazinye ụgbọ ala ha nwere ụgwọ 12 fọdụrụnụ.

Marisol na Luis: ụgwọ kwa ọnwa ma ọ bụrụ na ha na-etinye ugbu a ma ọ bụ n'ime ọnwa 12
Ịkwụ ụgwọ kwa ọnwaTinye ugbu aTinye akwụkwọ n'ime ọnwa 12.
Home Tags Onyeka Okongwu$ 2,100$ 2,100
Mgbazinye ụgbọ ala$ 450$ 0
Kaadị akwụmụgwọ kacha nta$ 150$ 150
Mgbazinye ego ụmụ akwụkwọ$ 200$ 200
Ụgwọ zuru ezu kwa ọnwa$ 2,900$ 2,450

Ugbu a: $ 2,900 ÷ $ 6,500 = 0.446, ma ọ bụ ihe dịka 45% DTI

Mgbe mgbazinye ụgbọ ala kwụsịrị: $ 2,450 ÷ $ 6,500 = 0.377, ma ọ bụ ihe dị ka 38% DTI

Site n'ichere ruo mgbe a kwụrụ ụgwọ mgbazinye ụgbọ ala, DTI ha na-ada site na ihe dị ka pasent 7. Nke a nwere ike inyere ha aka iru eru maka mgbazinye ego. Mgbe ha zụrụ, ọ na-ahapụkwa $ 450 ọzọ kwa ọnwa na mmefu ego ha maka ụgwọ nke inwe ụlọ, dị ka nrụzi. Rịba ama na mgbazinye ego ha adịghị na tebụl. Mgbazinye na-akwụsị mgbe ha zụrụ, na ịkwụ ụgwọ ụlọ ọhụrụ na-ewere ọnọdụ ya.

Ọnwa 12-6: Dozie akwụmụgwọ gị ma wuo ego

Ọnwa 12-9: Lelee ma hichaa akwụmụgwọ gị

  • Nweta akụkọ akwụmụgwọ gị n'efu site na ụlọ ọrụ kredit atọ niile na AnnualCreditReport.com. Ị nwere ike ịlele ha n'efu kwa izu.
  • Chọọ mmejọ, dị ka akaụntụ ndị na-abụghị nke gị ma ọ bụ ịkwụ ụgwọ mbubreyo ị na-emebeghị. Esemokwu njehie na ederede. Ihe mmụta anyị banyere ịgụ akụkọ akwụmụgwọ gị na-egosi otú.
  • Na-akwụ ụgwọ ọ bụla n'oge. Hazie ịkwụ ụgwọ ma ọ bụ ncheta.
  • Na-akwụ ụgwọ kaadị akwụmụgwọ. Iji obere ókè akwụmụgwọ gị nwere ike inyere akara gị aka. Hụ ihe na-emetụta akara akwụmụgwọ gị.
  • Enweghị akụkọ kredit ma? Malite ugbu a site na nkuzi anyị banyere ịgbazinye ego. Ụfọdụ mmemme mgbazinye ego, dị ka mgbazinye ego FHA, nwere iwu na-eme ka onye na-agbazinye ego lelee ndekọ ndị ọzọ, dị ka mgbazinye ego na ịkwụ ụgwọ.

Akara nke onye na-agbazinye ego na-eji nwere ike ọ gaghị adaba na akara n'efu na ngwa ụlọ akụ gị. Ka ọ na-erule Septemba 2026, ndị na-agbazinye ego na-ere mgbazinye ego na Fannie Mae na Freddie Mac nwere ike iji akara Classic FICO ma ọ bụ VantageScore 4.0, dabere na akụkọ sitere na ụlọ ọrụ atọ ahụ. Lelee akụkọ atọ ahụ.

Ọnwa 9-6: Zọpụta maka ihe atọ

  • Ịkwụ ụgwọ: ụfọdụ mgbazinye ego chọrọ ihe dị ka 3% ma ọ bụ 3.5% nke ọnụahịa. Mmemme na DC, Maryland, na Virginia nwere ike inyere aka.
  • Ụgwọ mmechi: ụgwọ maka mgbazinye ego, aha, ụtụ isi, na ihe ndị a kwụrụ akwụ ụgwọ. Onye na-agbazinye ego gị ga-edepụta ha na Loan Estimate.
  • Ego mberede: ego ị ka nwere mgbe ị kwagara, maka nrụzi na ihe ịtụnanya.

Debe ego gị n'ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ akaụntụ ụlọ akụ. Ndị na-agbazinye ego na-ajụkarị maka nkwupụta ụlọ akụ na-adịbeghị anya, ha nwere ike ịjụ ebe nnukwu ego si bịa. Ego echekwara n'ụlọ na-esiri onye na-agbazinye ego ike ịgụta, n'ihi na ọ nweghị ike ịhụ ebe ego ahụ si bịa. Debe ya n'oge ma debe ndekọ. Ọ bụrụ na onye òtù ezinụlọ ga-enye gị ego, jụọ onye na-agbazinye ego akwụkwọ ọ chọrọ, dị ka akwụkwọ ozi onyinye bịanyere aka na ya.

Nke a bụkwa oge iji chọọ enyemaka maka ịkwụ ụgwọ gị. Lelee Enyemaka Ịkwụ Ụgwọ na Ụdị Mgbazinye ego na DC, Maryland, na Virginia.

Ọnwa 6-3: Chịkọta akwụkwọ gị

Ndị na-agbazinye ego ga-elele na ego ị na-enweta dị adị ma nwee ike ịga n'ihu. Malite nchekwa, na akwụkwọ ma ọ bụ na ekwentị gị, ma gbakwunye akwụkwọ ka ị na-enweta ha.

Akwụkwọ ọtụtụ ndị na-agbazinye ego na-arịọ maka

  • Foto ID, dị ka akwụkwọ ikike ịnya ụgbọ ala ma ọ bụ paspọtụ.
  • Nọmba Social Security gị ma ọ bụ ITIN
  • Na-akwụ ụgwọ maka ụbọchị 30 gara aga
  • Ụdị W-2 site na afọ abụọ gara aga
  • Gọọmenti etiti na-akwụ ụgwọ ụtụ isi n'ime afọ abụọ gara aga
  • Nkwupụta ụlọ akụ site na ọnwa abụọ gara aga, na peeji nke ọ bụla.
  • Ihe akaebe na ị na-akwụ ụgwọ ụlọ n'oge, dị ka ndekọ ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ ozi kọntaktị nke onye nwe ụlọ gị
  • Ndepụta nke ụgwọ gị na ụgwọ ị na-akwụ kwa ọnwa

Ndị na-arụ ọrụ onwe ha, ndị na-arụ ọrụ na ndị na-arụ ọrụ

Ọ bụrụ na ị na-anya ụgbọala maka ngwa, hichaa ụlọ, na-agba ọsọ obere azụmaahịa, ma ọ bụ na-arụ ọrụ nkwekọrịta, ị ga-achọ ihe akaebe ọzọ. Fannie Mae, nke na-azụta ọtụtụ mgbazinye ego US, na-achọkarị afọ abụọ nke ego onwe onye na nloghachi ụtụ isi gị. Ọtụtụ ndị na-agbazinye ego na-ajụ:

  • A na-akwụ ụgwọ ụtụ isi maka afọ abụọ gara aga, yana usoro ihe omume niile.
  • A na-akwụ ụgwọ maka azụmahịa gị ma ọ bụrụ na azụmahịa gị na-akwụ ụgwọ n'onwe ya.
  • Ụdị 1099 sitere na ụlọ ọrụ ndị kwụrụ gị ụgwọ
  • Ruo ugbu a, a na-akwụ ụgwọ maka uru na mfu maka afọ a.
  • Nkwupụta ụlọ akụ azụmahịa, ma ọ bụrụ na ị nwere akaụntụ dị iche.

Ihe dị mkpa: maka ndị na-arụ ọrụ onwe ha, ndị na-agbazinye ego na-agụtakarị ego na nloghachi ụtụ isi gị mgbe mmefu azụmahịa, ọ bụghị ahịa gị. Ọ bụrụ na ị na-enweta ego ma ghara ịkọ ya, onye na-agbazinye ego enweghị ike iji ya nyere gị aka iru eru. Lee nkuzi anyị banyere ụtụ isi maka ndị ọrụ gig na ndị ọrụ onwe ha.

Ndị na-agbazinye ego na ITIN

ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) bụ nọmba ụtụ isi sitere na IRS maka ndị na-enweghị ike ịnweta nọmba Social Security. Ụfọdụ ụlọ akụ, ụlọ ọrụ kredit, na ndị na-agbazinye ego obodo na-enye ndị na-agbazinye ego ITIN. Mgbazinye ego ndị a nwere ike ịchọ ịkwụ ụgwọ buru ibu ma ọ bụ na-efu karịa, yabụ jiri nlezianya tụlee enye. Ndị na-agbazinye ego na-ajụkarị maka:

  • Akwụkwọ ozi gị sitere na IRS
  • Paspọtụ ma ọ bụ ID foto gọọmentị ọzọ
  • Nloghachi ụtụ isi gọọmentị etiti na-etinye na ITIN gị, na-abụkarị afọ abụọ
  • Ihe akaebe nke ọrụ na-adịgide adịgide na ego, dị ka ndekọ ụgwọ ma ọ bụ nkwupụta ụlọ akụ.
  • Ndekọ nke ịkwụ ụgwọ na ịkwụ ụgwọ n'oge

Gbaa mbọ hụ na ITIN gị ka na-arụ ọrụ. IRS na-ekwu na ITIN ga-agwụ ma ọ bụrụ na ejighị ya na nloghachi ụtụ isi gọọmentị etiti maka afọ ụtụ isi atọ n'usoro. Mara na kemgbe Mee 25, 2025, mgbazinye ego FHA anaghịzi emeghe maka ndị bi na-adịgide adịgide, dị ka ndị nọ na visa ọrụ. Ụmụ amaala US na ndị bi na iwu kwadoro (ndị nwere kaadị akwụkwọ ndụ akwụkwọ ndụ) ka nwere ike itinye akwụkwọ.

Kemgbe June 2026, ndị na-achịkwa gọọmentị etiti arịọla ụlọ akụ ka ha lebakwuo anya na ndị ahịa na-eji ITIN. Ha kwukwara na ndị na-agbazinye ego nwere ike ileba anya na ọnọdụ mbata na ọpụpụ gị mgbe ha kpebiri ma ị nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ mgbazinye ego. Fọdụ nwere ike ịrịọ maka akwụkwọ ndị ọzọ ma ọ bụ sị mba, yabụ jụọ tupu itinye akwụkwọ. Onye na-ahụ maka ụlọ nwere ike inyere gị aka ịchọta ndị na-agbazinye ego na-agbazinye ego ITIN.

Ọnwa 3 ruo 0: klaasị, nkwado, na njedebe ọnụahịa gị

Nweta klaasị agụmakwụkwọ n'ụlọ

Ọtụtụ mmemme chọrọ klaasị. Dịka ọmụmaatụ, mgbazinye ego Maryland Mortgage Program na ọtụtụ mgbazinye ego Virginia Housing chọrọ klaasị akwadoro tupu emechie. Fannie Mae chọrọ agụmakwụkwọ ụlọ maka ụfọdụ mgbazinye ego dị ala mgbe ndị niile na-azụ ahịa bụ ndị na-azụ oge mbụ. Ndị na-ahụ maka ụlọ na-ahụ maka ụlọ na-akụzi klaasị ndị a, na-abụkarị n'efu ma ọ bụ obere ego. Virginia Housing na-enye klaasị n'efu, n'ịntanetị ma ọ bụ n'onwe ya.

Ntughari Ntu

Ndị na-agbazinye ego na-eji okwu ndị a eme ihe n'ụzọ dị iche iche. A tupu ntozu abụkarị atụmatụ ngwa ngwa dabere na ihe ị na-agwa onye na-agbazinye ego. A tupu nkwenye na-apụtakarị na onye na-agbazinye ego enyochala kredit gị na ụfọdụ akwụkwọ. Ọ dịghị onye na-agbazinye ego na-ekwe nkwa. Ndị na-ere ahịa na ndị na-ere ahịa na-ajụkarị ka ha hụ akwụkwọ ozi tupu nkwenye na onyinye gị.

Debe ọnụahịa nke gị

Onye na-agbazinye ego nwere ike ịkwado gị karịa ka ị nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ. Gụọ ụgwọ ọnwa zuru ezu nke inwe: ịkwụ ụgwọ mgbazinye ego, ụtụ isi ụlọ, mkpuchi ụlọ, condo ma ọ bụ ndị nwe ụlọ (HOA) ụgwọ, ngwa ọrụ, na ego maka nrụzi.

  1. Jiri atụmatụ mmefu gị iji chọpụta ihe kachasị ị nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ maka ụlọ kwa ọnwa.
  2. Jụọ onye na-agbazinye ego gị ma ọ bụ onye na-ahụ maka ụlọ ihe ọnụahịa ụlọ dabara na ịkwụ ụgwọ ahụ, yana ụtụ isi, mkpuchi, na ụgwọ gụnyere.
  3. Lelee naanị ụlọ na ma ọ bụ n'okpuru ọnụahịa ahụ, ọbụlagodi ma ọ bụrụ na nkwenye gị dị elu.

Enyemaka n'efu site n'aka ndị na-ahụ maka ụlọ obibi nke HUD kwadoro

Onye na-ahụ maka ụlọ nwere ike nyochaa kredit gị na mmefu ego gị, soro gị mee atụmatụ, kọwaa onyinye mgbazinye ego, ma gwa gị banyere mmemme ịkwụ ụgwọ mpaghara. Ha nwere ike inye gị ndụmọdụ onwe ha banyere ma mgbazinye ego dị mma maka gị. Enyemaka na-abụkarị n'efu ma ọ bụ dị ala.

  • Kpọọ HUD na 800-569-4287 ịchọta ụlọ ọrụ dị gị nso.
  • Chọọ site na koodu zip na CFPB Housing Counselor search.
  • Jụọ onye ndụmọdụ na-asụ asụsụ gị, ma jụọ ma ha na-ezute site na ekwentị ma ọ bụ n'ịntanetị.

Lee anya

Ntughari nke nwere ike igbochi akaụntụ gị

  • Ụgwọ ọhụrụ tupu imechi. Azụla ụgbọ ala ma ọ bụ arịa ụlọ na kredit, ma emeghela kaadị ọhụrụ, ruo mgbe ị mechiri emechi. Ịkwụ ụgwọ ọhụrụ na-ebuli DTI gị, onye na-agbazinye ego nwere ike ịlele akwụmụgwọ gị ọzọ tupu imechi.
  • Ego na-abụghị na nloghachi ụtụ isi gị. Ndị na-agbazinye ego na-enwekarị ike ịgụta ya.
  • Ụlọ ọrụ na-arụzi kredit na-ebu ụzọ na-akwụ ụgwọ. Ọ bụ iwu na-akwadoghị ka ha na-akwụ gị ụgwọ tupu ha arụ ọrụ ahụ. Ọ dịghị onye nwere ike iwepu ozi na-adịghị mma na akụkọ gị. Ị nwere ike ịgbagha njehie n'onwe gị n'efu.

Ndụmọdụ

Bido nsomebefaịlụ ụlọ taa

Kwa ọnwa, chekwaa akwụkwọ ịkwụ ụgwọ gị, nkwupụta ụlọ akụ, na akwụkwọ mgbazinye ego n'otu folda. Mgbe onye na-agbazinye ego na-arịọ akwụkwọ, ị nwere ike izipu ha n'otu ụbọchị kama otu ọnwa.

Key takeaways

  • Lenders divide all your monthly debt payments, including the new home payment, by your income before taxes. Paying off a debt before you apply can lower this number a lot.
  • Start about a year ahead: check your credit reports first, then build savings, then gather your papers.
  • Lenders can usually count only income you can prove, such as the income on your tax returns.
  • A pre-approval letter is not a guaranteed loan. Do not take on new debt before closing.
  • HUD-approved housing counselors give free or low-cost help. Call 800-569-4287 to find one.

Lelee nghọta gị

Zaa ajụjụ ndị ahụ, wee họrọ Lelee azịza m. Nweta 4 nke ikike 5 iji mezue nkuzi a. Nke a bụ omume: enweghị oge ọ bụla, anyị anaghị edebe azịza gị.

Ajụjụ 1 nke 5 Amara bụ onye enyemaka ahụike n'ụlọ na Silver Spring. Ọ na-enweta $ 5,000 kwa ọnwa tupu ụtụ isi. Ịkwụ ụgwọ ụgbọ ala ya bụ $ 400 na kaadị akwụmụgwọ ya kacha nta bụ $ 100. Onye na-agbazinye ego na-eme atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ ụlọ ọhụrụ ya na $ 1,500 kwa ọnwa. Kedu ihe bụ ụgwọ ya na ego (DTI)?
Ajụjụ 2 nke 5 Kwame chọrọ ịzụta ụlọ n'ihe dị ka otu afọ. Mgbe atụmatụ ọnwa 12 gasịrị, gịnị ka ọ ga-ebu ụzọ mee?
Ajụjụ 3 nke 5 Beatriz na-ehicha ụlọ na Arlington ma na-akwụ ụgwọ ego karịsịa. Nloghachi ụtụ isi ya na-egosi $ 22,000 kwa afọ mgbe mmefu azụmahịa, mana ọ na-enweta ego karịa. Ego ole ka onye na-agbazinye ego na-agụkarị?
Ajụjụ 4 nke 5 Daniel na-enweta akwụkwọ ozi tupu oge eruo maka $ 320,000. Kedu nkwupụta bụ eziokwu?
Ajụjụ 5 nke 5 Fatima chọrọ enyemaka ịzụta ụlọ mbụ ya na DC. Ebee ka ọ ga-enweta ndụmọdụ onwe ya n'efu ma ọ bụ na ọnụ ala?

Gaa n'ihu

Ebe nrụọrụ weebụ ndị a tụkwasịrị obi ebe ị nwere ike ịmụtakwu ihe. Njikọ ndị a na-aga na weebụsaịtị ndị ọzọ nke Dollar Scholars anaghị agba ọsọ.

Ihe mmụta a bụ agụmakwụkwọ ego izugbe, ọ bụghị iwu, ụtụ isi, ma ọ bụ ndụmọdụ ego. Iwu na ego na-agbanwe, yabụ lelee nọmba dị mkpa na isi mmalite gọọmentị.