Buying guide

NZ debt to income ratios: The essential guide

Everything you need to know about the new DTI rules

Ben Tutty
Last updated: 2 September 2024 | 6 min read
AI

AI summary

From July 1, 2024, new Reserve Bank Debt-to-Income (DTI) rules will limit bank lending based on gross income. Owner-occupiers can borrow up to six times their income, and investors up to seven times.

These rules aim to ensure financial stability and moderate property booms. While the immediate impact is expected to be minimal due to current interest rates, they will likely curb future price spikes. Banks can still offer 20% of loans above these limits.

NZ Debt to income ratios explained

The new DTI rules mean:

Annual income x DTI Ratio - Maximum borrowing

Exemptions to the DTIs

Why did the Reserve Bank introduce DTIs?

DTIs won't affect most buyers until the next upturn.

How could DTIs affect the property market?

Why DTis won’t affect prices right away

DTIs won’t affect every market the same

DTIs may moderate prices during a boom

DTIs will affect borrowers differently

Stuff you need to know about NZ debt to income ratios

Non bank lenders don’t have to adhere to DTI rules

You may be able to still get a mortgage from banks with a high DTI

Got a high DTI? There are ways to improve it.

You can improve your DTI

Examples of NZ DTIs

Let’s say you want to buy a home

Now, let’s say you want to increase your home loan

Author

Ben Tutty Ben Tutty
Content Writer