Debt-income ratio too high for loan approval

[Rachel Murphy]

Hello everyone,

I recently got in touch with a mortgage broker so he could run my numbers and tell me what I could afford to purchase. He came back and told me that my debt-income ratio is already at 58% WITHOUT considering a home loan, so I have no chance of getting approved without a cosigner which isnt an option for me. I have $100,000 in (mainly private) student loans which is exactly what is killing me. I'm still enrolled in school so my loans are "deferred" until I graduate and my naive self hadnt realized the benefit paying on them while enrolled until now. 

What is my next step here towards being able to start investing? I have money saved up that I was intending to put towards a down payment...that I'm now sitting on. But isnt a big enough contribution to lower my loans enough to get my own place. 

Can I invest a portion in a deal with others? How do I find those? Are they legitimate?

Are there other options/other loans? What resources do I have in this situation? 

I'm a single mother living at my parents so moving out is a high priority for me. 

Thank you in advance for any resources or information you share below.