What is an LTV ratio?

The LTV ratio, or Loan-to-Value ratio, is defined as the ratio of the loan amount to the property's appraised value. This ratio is a critical factor in mortgage lending as it assesses the level of risk that a lender faces when providing a loan. A higher LTV ratio indicates that the borrower is financing a larger portion of the property's value with a loan, which can signal increased risk to the lender because there is less equity in the property.

For example, if a property is appraised at $200,000 and the borrower is seeking a loan of $150,000, the LTV ratio would be calculated as 150,000 / 200,000 = 0.75 or 75%. Lenders often use this ratio to determine eligibility for a mortgage and to establish the terms of the loan, including interest rates and insurance requirements.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different aspects of mortgage finance: the percentage of income dedicated to housing costs is a measure of affordability, the total outstanding balance on loans refers to the overall debt, and the length of time a loan is held pertains to the loan’s term, which does not directly relate to evaluating risk in mortgage lending like the LTV ratio does.