How to Overcome DTI Ratio Issue?

[Marissa Weil]

Hi there,

My boyfriend and I are trying to start out with our first real estate investment by purchasing a duplex. We live in Raleigh, NC and the duplexes that we are interested in look to be 3-4 bed/unit around 200-300k. We have 25k saved, my credit score is 787 and his is 695. The idea is to rent out the other side of the duplex on a 12 month lease, and potentially list any extra rooms on our side on airbnb.

It looks like we'll be able to get an FHA loan, except for one problem. As recent college graduates, my boyfriend and I do not have consistent work histories. I am taking a gap year before starting law school, and I will be nannying in the meantime. I will make $800/week before taxes, and it looks like it will be a W4 tax form. My boyfriend, however, works on commission, and his pay does not count for the DTI until he has two years under his belt, which he does not.

It does not look like our DTI ratio will be good. Any creative solutions to this problem and any extra insight/advice at all would be greatly appreciated! We have our hearts set on a duplex and want to make it work any way possible.