收入與負債率
Maggie: How am I supposed to know how much money I can get for a mortgage?
瑪姬：我要怎麼知道我可以借到多少錢的房貸？
Bank Teller: Well, we will look at your debt-to-income ratio.
行員：我們會看您的債務收入比。
Maggie: Here comes a big word.
瑪姬：那是什麼意思？
a big word=艱澀難懂的字
Bank Teller: A DTI ratio is about how much debt you have compared to your income; the lower it is, the better mortgage terms you’ll get.
行員：債務收入比依據收入計算出負債率。比率越低，貸款條規就越寬鬆。
compared to=相較於term(n.)條規;規定
Maggie: How do you work out the figure?
瑪姬：那個比率是怎麼算出來的？
work out=計算
Bank Teller: The percentage is found by dividing your debt by your income. Let’s say, if your total debt is $1,500 a month, and your gross income is $6,000 a month, then your DTI would be 25%.
行員：用債務除以收入得出百分比。比方，如果您每月的負債總額為1,500元，而每月稅前收入是6,000元，那您的債務收入比就是25%。
divide(v.)用…除gross(adj.)毛的;總的gross profit=毛利
Maggie: If that is the case, would it be good enough for me to take out a larger mortgage?
瑪姬：這樣的話還能不能申請高額房貸？
apply for=申請
Bank Teller: Of course. Lenders typically prefer DTI lower than 36%. Some types of mortgages may allow for a ratio of as high as 50%.
行員：當然可以，貸款方通常要求低於36%的債務收入比。有些房貸規定的比率可能會高達50%。
lower(adj.)較低的
Maggie: What can I do if I already have a high DTI ratio?
瑪姬：如果債務收入比本來就很高的話可以怎麼辦？
Bank Teller: To lower your DTI, you can pay down your debt or bring in more income.
行員：您可償還部分債務或增加收入來降低債務收入比。
lower(v.)降低pay down=償還部分債務pay off=還清