You're not crazy. A 46% DTI is a qualifiable number, and whether it feels comfortable depends on your trajectory more than the ratio itself. We can't tell anyone what they can personally afford, only what they qualify for, and lenders extending credit in the mid-40s have the data to back it: ratios at that level haven't historically carried undue long-term risk, especially with solid credit. Two things are worth mapping out: - Income direction. Raises you expect, career growth, anything that shrinks the payment as a slice of your income over time. - Debts about to fall off. A car loan close to payoff, or student loans that could be forgiven within a couple of years, can turn a currently snug 46% into something that breathes a lot easier before long. Just don't confuse qualifying with comfortable. The underwriting number says the loan is approvable; it says nothing about how the month actually feels. Build a full personal budget at the real payment, including savings and the occasional surprise expense, and let the budget cast the deciding vote. If the budget works, 46% is a fine place to be.