Understanding Debt-to-Income (DTI) Comfort Zones
What comfortable, manageable, stretched, and high-pressure mean — the four affordability zones, a worked example, and the PTI/DTI formula.
To help you assess financial risk, Ipotekebi.ge categorizes each loan match into one of four affordability zones: Comfortable, Manageable, Stretched, or High-Pressure.
These categories are determined by your Payment-to-Income (PTI) or Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio, which measures your monthly debt obligations (including the new mortgage) against your net monthly income.
The four affordability categories
Comfortable (DTI ≤ 30%). The ideal financial state. Your monthly mortgage payment is 30% or less of your net monthly income (after subtracting other debt payments). You retain a strong cash buffer for emergencies, utility spikes, or savings. Georgian banks view this profile highly favorably.
Manageable (DTI 30%–40%). The loan is fully serviceable, but your budget will feel tighter. While you can absorb a single financially challenging month, multiple difficult months may require cutting back on discretionary spending. Most banks lend in this range, especially with a co-borrower.
Stretched (DTI 40%–50%). You are at or near the absolute regulatory limit. Lending in this zone is highly dependent on factors like employment stability, source of income, and property type. Our platform displays specific warnings for matches in this range.
High-Pressure (DTI > 50%). Your monthly debt service exceeds safe regulatory limits. While our system shows these offers for informational purposes, banks will likely decline the application. To move forward, you must add a co-signer, increase your down payment, or select a cheaper property.
A worked example makes the split concrete. On a ₾2,000 net monthly income with ₾300 of existing debt, a ₾510 mortgage payment leaves ₾1,190 of spending margin — a comfortable-band profile (DTI = ₾510 / ₾1,700 = 30%):
<TrueCostBar principal={510} interest={300} fees={1190} labels={{ principal: "Mortgage ₾510", interest: "Existing debt ₾300", fees: "Margin ₾1,190" }} height={28} />
The math
DTI = (monthly mortgage payment) / (net monthly income − existing monthly debts)
The bands are indicative. Different banks apply different cut-offs. We surface warnings ("buffered income below estimated payment") so you can spot stress before submitting.
Next step
If you are in the stretched or high-pressure band, use the salary tab of the home calculator — it estimates the maximum property price that puts you back in the comfortable band.