What is LTV?

Loan-to-value (LTV) is a ratio that depicts the relationship of a loan amount with the value of a property. This ratio is obtained by dividing the amount of a loan by either the sale price of the property or the property’s appraised value. The lower of the two amounts is used.

LTV is one of the many factors used by lenders in determining whether or not to approve a mortgage. LTV is expresses as a percentage. For example, a loan of $50,000 on a $100,000 home has an LTV of 50 percent. A mortgage can be said to have a high LTV when the amount of money lent is high in relation to the down payment of the borrower or the equity held in the property. For example, if a borrower provides a down payment of five percent and the mortgaged amount is 95 percent of the sale price, the loan is considered to have a high LTV.

Lenders typically view loans with high LTVs as more risky than those in which borrowers offer more substantial down payments or have larger amounts of equity. From a lender’s point of view, a borrower with less money invested in a home has less to lose by defaulting on a loan than an individual who has given a larger down payment or who has significant equity in a property. Often, lenders require borrowers of loans with high LTVs to obtain mortgage insurance. This type of insurance helps to protect the interests of the lender if the borrower defaults on the loan.

When the borrower of a high LTV loan is required to purchase mortgage insurance, the total cost of the mortgage is increased. High LTV loans often carry higher interest rates as well. In some cases, borrowers may find it more difficult to qualify for high LTV loans than for loans with lower LTVs.

An appraisal can play an important role in any type of mortgage loan. With a high LTV loan, the appraised value is particularly important, as it can place the transaction at risk. For example, if a buyer has a five percent down payment on a $200,000 home, he or she needs a loan in the amount of $190,000. If a lender agrees to provide a loan for 95 percent of the appraised value and the property appraisal comes in at only $195,000, the loan amount would be just $185,250. That’s $4,750 less than the borrower needs to close on the property.

If a property appraises for less than the amount of loan money the buyer needs, the entire real-estate purchase may fall apart. Sometimes, however, a borrower may be able to move the transaction over to a different, more lenient lender in time to keep the deal from falling through. Using a mortgage broker may make moving to a new lender easier, as brokers typically have numerous lender contacts and can often help borrowers switch lenders fairly quickly.