Buying
How much can I borrow for a home loan?
Understand the main inputs behind borrowing power before using a calculator or speaking with a broker.
Reviewed for general guidance
Reviewed for general guidance. Reviewed by emoney broker team. Last updated 15 June 2026. Sources are listed below so borrowers can check the public references behind this general information before speaking with a broker.
Key checks before you decide
- Income for each borrower and how stable it is.
- Living expenses, dependants, rent, and regular commitments.
- Credit-card limits, personal loans, car loans, HELP debt, and buy now pay later accounts.
- Deposit, savings history, property price range, and expected buying costs.
- Overtime, bonus, commission, casual, rental, and self-employed income may be treated differently.
- Unused credit-card limits can still reduce assessed capacity.
Full guide
Now read the full guide
Checklist
Start with borrowing power as an estimate
Borrowing power is an estimate of how much a lender may be prepared to lend after assessing income, expenses, existing debts, deposit, property type, loan term, and lender policy. It is useful for planning, but it is not final approval.
- Income for each borrower and how stable it is.
- Living expenses, dependants, rent, and regular commitments.
- Credit-card limits, personal loans, car loans, HELP debt, and buy now pay later accounts.
- Deposit, savings history, property price range, and expected buying costs.
Guide
Understand why lenders can give different answers
Two lenders can assess the same borrower differently. Accepted income, expense benchmarks, credit limits, policy buffers, loan term, property type, and debt treatment can all change the lender view.
- Overtime, bonus, commission, casual, rental, and self-employed income may be treated differently.
- Unused credit-card limits can still reduce assessed capacity.
- Some debts are assessed on limits rather than current balance.
- A lender may need a stronger explanation when income is variable or recently changed.
Watch out
Check repayment comfort before the maximum number
The highest loan estimate is not always the most useful number. Test repayments at a few interest rates and keep room for strata, rates, insurance, repairs, moving costs, and normal life changes.
- Run repayments at the rate you expect and at a higher rate.
- Leave room for ownership costs beyond the loan repayment.
- Check whether a smaller loan creates a calmer purchase range.
- Avoid making offers just because a calculator produced a large number.
Example
Use the calculator to find the assumptions
A borrowing power calculatorBorrowing power calculatorEstimate a practical borrowing range before narrowing a property search or pre-approval conversation.Early budget setting before a buyer gets attached to a price range.Open calculator is most useful when it shows what needs checking next. Treat the estimate as a draft, then ask which income, debts, expenses, and loan settings need lender policy review.
- Run the estimate with all credit limits included.
- Try a conservative income scenario if your income varies.
- Compare a 25-year and 30-year term if relevant.
- Save the assumptions you used before speaking with a broker.
Next step
Want a broker to check this against your situation?
Answer a few questions so emoney can route your enquiry to the right broker conversation.Check borrowing capacityBroker note
Prepare before pre-approval
If the estimate looks workable, the next step is usually document preparation and a pre-approvalHome Loans / Start hereHome loan pre-approvalReview what pre-approval can and cannot confirm before a buyer relies on it during inspections or offers.Open page conversation. The lender or broker will need to verify the details before a purchase budget is relied on.
- Recent payslips, tax documents, or business records.
- Bank statements, savings history, liabilities, and credit limits.
- Deposit source, gifts, grants, or government pathway details.
- Any expected property type, suburb range, or contract timing.
Broker note
Ask what could reduce the number
A broker review can help identify the parts of the file that may reduce assessed capacity before you are emotionally attached to a property. This is especially useful when income is variable, debts are changing, or a low-deposit pathway is involved.
- Which debts or limits are hurting capacity most?
- Which income types need extra history?
- Would clearing or reducing a commitment change the lender view?
- Does the deposit pathway create LMI, scheme, or valuation issues?
Calculator next step
Borrowing power calculator
Estimate a practical borrowing range before narrowing a property search or pre-approval conversation.
- Best for
- Early budget setting before a buyer gets attached to a price range.
- What it calculates
- A rough borrowing range from income, expenses, debts, dependants, loan purpose, term, and rate assumptions.
A broker still needs to test income treatment, credit limits, deposit, property type, documents, and lender policy.
Open Borrowing powerSources used
This guide is general information and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. A broker can review your circumstances before any recommendation.
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