To determine if a buyer is eligible for a loan based on Front End criteria, which formula is used?

The formula used to assess a buyer's eligibility for a loan based on Front End criteria focuses on the proportion of a borrower's income that goes toward housing-related expenses. The correct choice includes PITII, which stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, and any applicable Homeowners Association (HOA) fees.

In this scenario, the formula calculates the total monthly housing costs (which include all of these expenses) and divides that sum by the gross monthly income of the borrower. This assessment helps lenders understand the percentage of a borrower's income that is committed to housing costs, which is crucial for determining whether the borrower can afford the mortgage payments in addition to any other debts.

Other options do not align with the Front End ratio's focus on housing expenses exclusively. For instance, including recurring debts would pertain to the Total Debt Service (or Back End) ratio instead, which considers all monthly debts alongside housing costs. Similarly, other permutations of the formula that omit HOA fees or only include certain components of housing expenses fail to fully represent the holistic picture that lenders need when evaluating a borrower's ability to manage homeownership costs.