Borrowing capacity calculator Australia
Find out what a lender might let you borrow. Then work out what you'd actually want to.
Plug in the basics and get an estimate of your borrowing capacity before you've even had time to open the app and start scrolling listings.
It's a genuinely useful starting point, whether you're eyeing off your first home, your next one, or an investment property you keep insisting you're "just looking at."
One thing though: borrowing capacity and comfortable budget are not the same number. Ask anyone who's done the maths in the car park after an auction. We'll get to that bit too.
Find out what a lender might let you borrow. Then work out what you'd actually want to.
Borrowing capacity calculator Australia
Plug in the basics and get an estimate of your borrowing capacity before you've even had time to open the app and start scrolling listings.
It's a genuinely useful starting point, whether you're eyeing off your first home, your next one, or an investment property you keep insisting you're "just looking at."
One thing though: borrowing capacity and comfortable budget are not the same number. Ask anyone who's done the maths in the car park after an auction. We'll get to that bit too.
Just because a lender might lend it doesn't mean you should spend it.
Your result is an estimate of what a lender might be willing to lend, based on what you've told the calculator.
Useful? Genuinely.
A final answer? Not quite.
It won't factor in childcare, school fees, the trip you're not giving up, or any of the other things that make up your actual life. Maximum borrowing capacity is one number. Your comfortable purchase range is a different one, and knowing the gap between them before you fall in love with a listing is just better business than finding out afterwards.
Your result is a starting point, not a shopping budget
existing debts and credit limits
household expenses
dependants
Give five lenders the same person and you might get five different answers.
Lenders don't all assess borrowing capacity the same way. Rude of them, but true.
The result can shift depending on things like:
This is where calculators and lenders start disagreeing
rental income
your income and how it's earned
the type of property or loan you're applying for
That's why an online calculator is a great orientation tool and a bad place to make a final decision. It's not a substitute for running your actual situation across real lenders.
One bank's number is not the market's number. It's one bank's opinion of you, on one particular day.
lender assessment rates and policy
other properties you already own
Basically, before the listings start making financial decisions for you.
Basically, before the listings start making financial decisions for you.
This calculator is useful if...
This calculator is useful if...
You're planning your next move and want an early read on what your income and existing loan might allow
You're eyeing off your first home and want to know if what you're looking at is roughly in range
You're weighing up an investment property and want a starting borrowing position
Your income's changed and you want to see what that might mean
You've paid down debt or built equity and you're wondering if your position's shifted
You've been browsing property for months and would quite like a number that isn't based on vibes
You're eyeing off your first home and want to know if what you're looking at is roughly in range
You're planning your next move and want an early read on what your income and existing loan might allow
You're weighing up an investment property and want a starting borrowing position
Your income's changed and you want to see what that might mean
You've paid down debt or built equity and you're wondering if your position's shifted
You've been browsing property for months and would quite like a number that isn't based on vibes
Put in what you know.
The calculator does the boring bit.
Two minutes. No mortgage degree required.
01
Whatever the calculator's asking for, plug in the real numbers, not the ones you're hoping for.
Add your income
Add your expenses and existing commitments
02
Current loans, credit cards, regular household costs, all of it. Lenders look at what's already leaving your account before deciding what else you can take on, so the calculator needs to as well.
Enter the property and loan details requested
03
The more accurate the inputs, the more useful the estimate. Garbage in, guesswork out.
04
Get your borrowing-capacity estimate
A starting figure to work from, not a number to get a tattoo of.
Decide whether you want to test it properly
05
If you're getting serious, that's when we look at your real numbers across real lenders and work out what the result actually means for you.
Here's what your result actually helps you decide.
Got a number? Good. Now don't spend all of it immediately.
Got the answer?
Here's what to do with it.
If it's lower than you expected
Don't take that as the final word.
Online calculators run on assumptions, and lenders treat income, debts and expenses differently. The number might reflect where you're at, or there might be other lender options worth a look. Either way, finding out now is more useful than finding out once you've already made an offer.
If it's roughly what you expected
Good, you're in a solid starting position.
Next step: confirm how the estimate holds up once your real numbers are tested against actual lender policy, then work out the purchase range you're comfortable with.
If it's higher than you expected
Nice. That doesn't mean the property budget needs to follow it up there.
The next question is: what repayment would still leave room for the rest of your actual life? A bigger approval creates options. It doesn't create an obligation to use all of them.
When we look at borrowing capacity with you, we're not trying to push the number as high as it'll go. That's how people end up house-poor and afraid to check their banking app.
We'll look at your income, debts, deposit or equity, repayments and what you're actually trying to buy, then compare your position across 40+ lenders.
You'll see what moves the number, what the trade-offs are, and what we genuinely think makes sense for your circumstances. Not the biggest loan. Just enough clarity to make the next decision with confidence instead of a spreadsheet and a prayer.
Because "you can borrow this much" is only half an answer.
The calculator gives you a number. We tell you what to do with it.
7+ years broking · 250+ clients · 40+ lenders · 100+ 5-star reviews · 7+ years broking · 250+ clients · 40+ lenders · 100+ 5-star reviews · 7+ years broking · 250+ clients · 40+ lenders · 100+ 5-star reviews · 7+ years broking · 250+ clients · 40+ lenders · 100+ 5-star reviews · 7+ years broking · 250+ clients · 40+ lenders · 100+ 5-star reviews ·
When the calculator turns into an actual plan
If you want us to run the real numbers.
step FOUR | DECIDE
Knowing the maximum is useful. Knowing what you're actually comfortable borrowing is better.
step one | Quick Chat
Twenty minutes to understand where you're at, what you're looking to buy and whether now is the right time to dig deeper.
step TWO | Discovery
We get into the real figures: income, expenses, debts, deposit or equity and the property goal.
step THREe | Loan Strategy
We compare the relevant lender options side by side and show you the numbers, including the reasoning behind the recommendation, all captured in your Game Plan.
step one | Quick Chat
Twenty minutes to understand where you're at, what you're looking to buy and whether now is the right time to dig deeper.
step TWO | Discovery
We get into the real figures: income, expenses, debts, deposit or equity and the property goal.
step THREE | Loan Strategy Meeting
We compare the relevant lender options side by side and show you the numbers, including the reasoning behind the recommendation, all captured in your Game Plan.
step FOUR | Decide what feels right
Knowing the maximum is useful. Knowing what you're actually comfortable borrowing is better.
Before you turn the calculator number into a property budget
Ready to put a number on it?
Find out what you could borrow before those property tabs multiply
Start with the calculator and get your indicative borrowing capacity. Two minutes, no commitment, no calls, just a number to work with.
Then, when you're ready to turn that estimate into an actual buying plan, we'll run your real numbers across the lenders, explain what moves what, and help you land on the number that actually makes sense for you.
