Glossary term

TDS ratio

TDS ratio, or total debt service ratio, compares housing costs plus other debt obligations with gross household income.

Plain meaning

What TDS ratio means

TDS ratio is a mortgage qualification measure. It starts with housing costs and adds other debt obligations, then compares the total with gross income.

Formula role

How OpenBook uses it

Mortgage qualifier calculators estimate housing costs, add entered debt payments, and compare the result with gross household income. The result is then compared with the selected TDS limit.

TDS is broader than GDS ratio because it includes non-housing debt payments.

Common boundary

Debt inclusion can differ

Credit cards, car loans, lines of credit, student loans, support payments, and other debts may be treated differently by lender or insurer policy. OpenBook calculations are screening estimates.

Primary references