What Is Residual Income — and Why Does the VA Care More About It Than Your Debt-to-Income Ratio?

Residual income is the money left after your mortgage, taxes, debts, and living costs — and for a VA loan it matters more than your debt-to-income ratio. In Florida, a family of four needs $1,003 a month left over. Here's the table, the 41% rule, and the math on a real Jacksonville example.