Texas VA debt-to-income & residual income calculator
Texas has no state income tax, which leaves more money in your budget than in most states. That shows up in residual income, the number VA cares about most.
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- My team reviews your application as soon as it comes in.
- If you qualify, you get a pre-approval letter and a full itemized estimate.
- If you’re not there yet, you get a clear plan to get ready.
VA underwriting looks at two things when it decides whether a payment fits: your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and your residual income. DTI is a ratio. Residual income is real dollars, the money left over each month after taxes, the new house payment, maintenance and utilities, and your other debts.
Texas sits in VA’s South region, and VA publishes a minimum residual income for each household size. Enter your numbers below to see where you land. If you came here from the payment calculator, your payment is already filled in.
DTI & residual income check
Uses VA’s residual income table for loans of $80,000 or more and VA’s $0.14 per square foot estimate for maintenance and utilities. Count only debts with more than 10 payments left, plus minimum card payments. Estimate only; an underwriter makes the final decision.
For illustration only. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and general assumptions, and may not reflect your situation. This is not a Loan Estimate, pre-approval, rate quote or commitment to lend. Any rate shown is an example, not a current rate or an offer. Your actual eligibility, loan amount, rate, payment and costs depend on your credit, income, property, appraisal and underwriting, and can change without notice. Not all applicants qualify. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029. Equal Housing Opportunity. Full disclaimer.
How Texas changes the math
- No state income tax. Your monthly income taxes are federal, Social Security and Medicare only, so your residual income is usually higher here than it would be on the same salary in a state with an income tax.
- Property taxes are high. Texas makes up for the missing income tax with property tax. Combined rates in many suburbs, especially newer neighborhoods with a MUD or PID, are often well above the national average. A higher tax bill raises your payment and lowers your residual income, so use the real rate for the address you’re looking at.
- Homeowners insurance runs high. Hail and wind push premiums up across much of the state. Get a real quote before you rely on the result.
- Tax-free income counts. VA disability compensation and BAH can both be counted. Active duty at Fort Hood, Fort Bliss or Joint Base San Antonio? Check your rate on the Texas BAH page.
Residual income comes first
Many lenders treat debt-to-income as the deciding number. VA doesn’t, and neither do we. VA’s guidelines put residual income first, and that’s what my team qualifies you on. When residual income is comfortably above VA’s minimum, a higher debt-to-income ratio is often fine. My team reviews every application against VA’s guidelines, not a one-size-fits-all cutoff.
Questions Texas veterans ask
What residual income do I need for a VA loan in Texas?
It depends on your household size and the loan amount. Texas uses VA’s South region table. For loans of $80,000 or more, the minimum for a family of four is $1,003 a month. The calculator applies the right figure when you pick your household size.
Does my spouse’s income help?
Yes, if your spouse is on the loan. Add both incomes and both sets of debts. Texas is a community property state, so a spouse’s debts can matter even when they aren’t on the loan; my team will walk you through how that applies to you.
Which debts do I include?
Car payments, student loans, personal loans, child support and the minimum payments on your credit cards. Leave out utilities, phone and insurance, and leave out debts with 10 or fewer payments left.
Talk it through with my team
A calculator gets you close. A real review gets you the answer. Applying takes about 15 minutes and is a soft credit pull only.
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