Lenders’ chief focus will be on your ability to repay your mortgage with your various sources of non-paycheck income. “When you qualify for a mortgage, it’s all based on your income,” said Melissa Cohn, regional vice president at William Raveis Mortgage. That ratio falls to between 43% and 45% if you’re taking out a jumbo loan, she added. What you should consider before taking out a mortgageEven before seeking a mortgage, get a good grasp on your expected monthly income and expenses in retirement. To get the truest reading on what makes financial sense, compare mortgage expenses to your investment returns on an after-tax basis, Stork noted.

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Persons: ”, Jim Stork, homebuyers, you’ve, Melissa Cohn, we’ll, Fannie Mae, ” Cohn, Cohn, Mark Luscombe, Cohen, Lori Trawinski, Trawinski, you’re, Stork, ” Stork Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Association of Realtors, William, Mortgage, Social Security, Wolters, Kluwer, Accounting, AARP Locations: New York, Illinois, Florida