Real Estate Glossary

What is Debt Service?

Debt service is the total amount of money that is required to be paid on a debt over a given period of time. Debt service typically includes both the principal, or the amount of money that was borrowed, and the interest, or the cost of borrowing the money. Debt service can be calculated on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, and it can be used to determine the affordability of a loan or the risk of default.