Calculator
How much can I borrow?
Get an indicative borrowing capacity in about a minute — then read what lenders actually assess behind that number, because the two are rarely the same.
Get an indicative borrowing capacity in about a minute — then read what lenders actually assess behind that number, because the two are rarely the same.
Enter your income, commitments and household details below. The result is a broad guide based on standard assumptions — not a lender assessment and not an offer of credit.
This calculator provides an estimate only. It does not take into account your full financial position, individual lender policy, or the credit assessment a lender will perform. Results are not an offer of credit or a pre-approval. Speak to us for an assessment based on your circumstances.
Lenders assess the same file very differently. We’ll model your capacity across several of them and tell you which ones actually work for your situation.
Lenders discount, or “shade”, income they consider less reliable. Overtime, bonuses, commissions and casual earnings are often counted at a reduced rate, and some lenders require a two-year history before counting them at all. Rental income from an investment property is typically shaded as well, to allow for vacancy and costs. Two lenders looking at the same payslips can arrive at materially different assessable incomes.
Under APRA guidance, lenders assess your ability to repay at an interest rate above the actual rate on the loan — a serviceability buffer. This is why your borrowing capacity is lower than a simple repayment calculation would suggest, and why a small change in the buffer or in market rates can move your capacity by a large amount.
Lenders compare your declared living expenses against a benchmark measure of household spending, and generally use the higher of the two. Declaring unrealistically low expenses does not increase your capacity; it usually just delays the assessment.
An unused credit card with a $20,000 limit is generally assessed as though it were drawn to the limit. Closing or reducing unused facilities before you apply is one of the few genuinely quick ways to improve borrowing capacity. Buy-now-pay-later accounts, personal loans, car finance and study debt are all captured too.
Beyond the numbers, individual lenders differ on employment type, probation periods, self-employed income assessment, postcode restrictions, apartment sizes and acceptable deposit sources. A file that is declined by one lender can be straightforward at another. Matching the file to the right lender is most of what we do.
The calculator uses standard assumptions. A lender applies its own income shading, expense benchmark, serviceability buffer and credit policy, and verifies everything against documents. The estimate is a useful starting point for planning; it is not a substitute for an assessment.
Compulsory study loan repayments are an ongoing commitment and most lenders factor them into serviceability. How much they affect capacity depends on your income and the size of the balance, and lender treatment has been changing — it is worth checking current policy rather than assuming.
No. Calculators involve no credit check at all, and an initial conversation with us does not either. A credit enquiry is only recorded when a formal application is lodged with a lender, which happens with your consent and after you have decided how to proceed.
Usually, though not always proportionally. A second income increases assessable income, but it also brings that person’s debts, commitments and dependants into the assessment. It is worth modelling both scenarios before deciding whose name the loan goes in.
Less so. Self-employed assessment depends heavily on how income is drawn, what add-backs a lender will accept, and whether recent or averaged figures are used. The variation between lenders is wide. See our self-employed borrowers page, or get in touch for a proper look.
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