Prior to the 2021 General QM Final Rule, what was the maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio permitted for a loan to qualify as a General Qualified Mortgage?

Correct answer: 43%

The original General QM rule established by the CFPB set a hard DTI cap of 43% as one of the criteria for General QM status. A borrower whose DTI exceeded 43% could not receive a General QM loan under the original rule (though GSE and other QM categories had different standards). "43%" (36%) is a common conventional lending guideline but was not the QM DTI cap. "50%" (41%) is associated with FHA loan DTI limits in some scenarios. "36%" (50%) exceeds the original General QM DTI cap and would disqualify a loan from General QM status under the old rule.