Get Into the Game or Wait Based on DTI?

[Anthony Jacques]

Let's say before I purchase any house, I have a combined DTI with my wife of 13% (Assuming gross income is used to calculate DTI). Let's say we use our combined income to then purchase a property we will live in and NOT rent out for at minimum 4 years, potentially 8. Our DTI is now 32%. Now in this scenario I may have maybe $10K to $20K for both a down payment (on an actual rental property which I will rent out) and repair/CapEx/Vacancy costs. I can either
A) Attempt to get a loan with that amount of money, with a 32% DTI OR
B) Drop my combined DTI to 22% and having about $50K but this would mean waiting until 2029.
Overall question: is it worth to start now and get into the game or wait a few years?