What Is A Loan To Value Ratio (LTV)?

A loan to value ratio (LTV) is a ratio used by mortgage lenders to figure out what amount of a mortgage they will loan you based on the appraised value of the property (or purchase price of the property, whichever of the two numbers is lower). Lenders consider the LTV ratio whether you are purchasing new property or refinancing property you currently own. The loan to value ratio may depend on the type of property - commercial or residential, or primary home, secondary home or investment property. The loan to value ratio may even vary depending on whether the property is a single family home or a condominium. As an easy example, let's assume that a couple is purchasing a single family primary residence. The couple walks into the local bank to apply for a mortgage. The lender tells the couple that it can loan up to an 80% loan to value on the purchase price or the appraised value of the home the couple is looking to purchase. Let's say that the purchase price is $100,000. So, in this ...