Mortgages & Home Loans First-Time Homebuyers What Is a Qualified Mortgage? Qualified Mortgage Explained in Less Than 5 Minutes By Anna Baluch Updated on May 15, 2022 Reviewed by Doretha Clemon In This Article View All In This Article Definition/Example of a Qualified Mortgage How a Qualified Mortgage Works Types of Qualified Mortgages Qualified Mortgage vs. Non-Qualified Mortgage Photo: FG Trade / Getty Images Definition A qualified mortgage is a mortgage that meets all the consumer protection requirements outlined in the Dodd-Frank Act. A qualified mortgage is a mortgage that meets all the consumer protection requirements outlined in the Dodd-Frank Act. A qualified mortgage has become the underwriting standard for the mortgage industry. Definition and Example of a Qualified Mortgage A qualified mortgage is a long-term loan for a home that meets all the consumer protection requirements outlined in the Dodd-Frank Act. This type of mortgage is the underwriting standard for the mortgage industry. Compared to other types of financial products, a qualified mortgage is fairly new. It was created in 2014 to increase the chances a borrower would be able to repay their loan. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, a qualified mortgage requires a lender to evaluate a borrower's ability to pay back what they borrow. Borrowers, for their part, must meet strict requirements. Acronym: QM loan, QM Let's say you're in the market for a house. If you work a fairly traditional job and have a good handle on your debt, a qualified mortgage, as opposed to a non-qualified mortgage (which we'll discuss in detail below), is likely your best bet. It can protect you from taking on a loan you can't afford and help you avoid foreclosure. Note The Dodd-Frank Act, officially known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act, was created in 2010 in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Its purpose is to regulate financial markets and protect consumers. How a Qualified Mortgage Works Lenders must meet certain rules for their product to be considered a qualified mortgage. First and foremost, the loan must be free of any risky features or temporarily low monthly payments at the start of the term. It must also be clear of expensive upfront costs and loan terms that exceed 30 years. In addition, a qualified mortgage generally limits the acceptable debt-to-income ratio (how much you owe each month divided by how much you earn) to no more than 43%. Lastly, it requires lenders to adhere to "ability to repay rules" or ask you about your finances so they determine in "reasonable and good faith" whether you can repay the loan. Note Points and fees for a qualified mortgage must be capped at 3% for loans of $100,000 or more. Types of Qualified Mortgages There are four types of qualified mortgages. General A general qualified mortgage is one in which a lender makes a good-faith effort to ensure a borrower can repay their loan on time. It doesn't have any risky features like negative amortization, includes borrower restrictions on income and debt, and places limits on points and fees. A borrower's maximum debt-to-income ratio is 43%. Temporary When a loan is known as a temporary qualified mortgage, it meets the same requirements as a general qualified mortgage. The difference between a general qualified mortgage and temporary qualified mortgage is that a temporary qualified mortgage is eligible for purchase or guarantee by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and isn't subject to the 43% debt-to-income ratio threshold. Small Creditor A small creditor qualified mortgage is made by a small creditor or a mortgage lender with less than $2 billion in assets that originates 2,000 or fewer mortgages per year. It needs to meet the same requirements as a general qualified mortgage, except it is open to borrowers with any debt-to-income ratio. Balloon Payment Even though balloon payments typically aren't allowed in qualified mortgages, small creditors in rural or underserved areas may offer a balloon payment qualified mortgage. This is the result of the Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities (HELP) Act. Qualified Mortgage vs. Non-Qualified Mortgage Unlike a qualified mortgage, a non-qualified mortgage doesn't have to conform to standards in the Dodd-Frank Act. If you're having trouble qualifying for a qualified mortgage, you may get approved for a non-qualified mortgage, which can accept alternatives to proof of income, such as bank statements or tax returns. There are a number of situations in which a non-qualified mortgage might make sense for a buyer. If you're an unconventional borrower—for example, because you're self-employed and your income fluctuates from month to month—a non-qualified mortgage can help you secure the financing you need to buy a home. It may also be a good fit if you don't have the best credit or have gone through bankruptcy or foreclosure. While a qualified mortgage won't have any risky features like an interest-only period, negative amortization, or balloon payments, a non-qualified mortgage could have those features. Note Even though interest rates vary from lender to lender, they tend to be higher with non-qualified mortgages, which have looser restrictions. Key Takeaways A qualified mortgage, now the industry standard, meets the lender and borrower standards in the Dodd-Frank Act.A qualified mortgage is designed to increase the likelihood of borrowers repaying their loans.If you're not eligible for a qualified mortgage, you may opt for a non-qualified mortgage, which may come with risky features and higher interest rates. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "The Effects of the Ability-to-Repay/Qualified Mortgage Rule on Mortgage Lending." Commodities Futures Trading Association. "Dodd-Frank Act." Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "My Lender Says It Can't Lend to Me Because of a Limit on Points and Fees on Loans. Is This True?" Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Qualified Mortgage Definition Under the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z): General QM Loan Definition." Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Small Creditor Qualified Mortgages." Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "CFPB Rule Broadens Qualified Mortgage Coverage of Lenders Operating in Rural and Underserved Areas."