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Lenders usually will lend the borrower up to a certain percentage of the appraised value of the property, such as 80 or 90 percent, and will expect a down payment making up the difference. If the appraisal is below the asking price of the home, the down payment you planned to make and the amount the lender is willing to lend you may not be enough to cover the purchase price. In that case, the lender may suggest a larger down payment to make up the difference between the price of the house and its appraised value.

When looking at your projected mortgage payment and existing debt, some lenders might use ratios such as �28 and 36� to determine whether you qualify for the loan. These are commonly used ratios.

In the case of "28 and 36," the 28 refers to the percentage of your gross income (before taxes) that may be spent on housing expenses, including principal and interest on the mortgage, real estate taxes, and insurance. The 36 refers to the income that may be spent for payments on all your debts (including the mortgage): the monthly payments on your outstanding debts, when added to the monthly housing expenses, may not exceed 36 percent of your gross income. When you talk to a lender, find out what ratios will be used to evaluate your application. Then use Worksheet 2 to calculate whether you are within the lender�s guidelines.