To qualify you for a conforming loan, lenders evaluate your debt ratios. There are two debt ratio measures, sometimes expressed as 28/36: the front-end and back-end.The front-end ratio measures how much of your gross monthly income is allocated to your mortgage, including the monthly payment (principal and interest), property taxes, insurance and HOA fees (if applicable). Typically, lenders look for a front-end ratio of 28 percent or less. The back-end ratio, also called the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, includes the front-end ratio plus other monthly debt obligations, such as auto loan, student debt, personal loan and credit card payments. (To derive your DTI, use this handy calculator). To be considered a conforming loan, the maximum back-end ratio is 36 percent. It’s possible to get a conforming loan with higher debt ratios, but lower is generally the better case for both borrower and lender.