2 names on 1 title: issues with qualifying for new property

[Ben Schembri]

My brother and I hold title to our house as joint tenants (joint tenancy). I am now trying to qualify for a rental duplex to purchase by myself.

The problem is the loan officer told me that he has to count the entire mortgage on our house as my debt. We each pay half the mortgage on our house and have for the last 5 years. Counting the entire house mortgage against my debt makes my debt to income look out of whack. Is there a way to get around counting our entire mortgage against my debt?

[Dion DePaoli]

Your rental income should be able to offset the debt if it rented.