Borrowing Power Calculator: How Much Can I Borrow?

About you

Who is applying?

Just me Two of us

Your income

Salary before tax, per year

Other regular income before tax, per year (optional)

Overtime, allowances, bonuses or rent you receive.

Has a HELP (HECS) study loan

Number of dependants (children or others you support)

Your spending and debts

Living expenses, per month

Groceries, bills, transport, insurance, childcare, entertainment. Leave out rent and loan repayments.

Repayments on other loans, per month (optional)

Car, personal and buy now pay later loans.

Total of all credit card limits (optional)

The limits, not what you owe. Lenders count them even if you pay them off.

The loan

Interest rate, % per year

A rate you're considering, for example one you've seen advertised. We don't suggest a rate.

Not sure what rate to enter?

If you have a loan, your rate is on your loan statement or in your banking app.
If you're buying or refinancing, use a rate a lender has offered you or one you've seen advertised.
For reference, the average variable rate on new home loans in August 2026 was about 6.2% for owner-occupiers and 6.4% for investors (Reserve Bank of Australia). Your rate depends on the lender, the loan and your situation. This is a market average, not a rate we're offering.
Not sure what rate you'd get? Ask Nabita

Loan term

Your estimate

Fill in your details and press Estimate my borrowing power.

How we worked this out

Take-home pay: 2026–27 resident income tax rates, the 2% Medicare levy and the low income tax offset, plus compulsory HELP repayments if you ticked the box. Other regular income is counted at 80% (60% for the lower figure), because lenders usually count only part of it.
Living expenses: we use what you entered or a minimum, whichever is higher. Our minimum is $2,000 a month for one person or $3,000 for a couple, plus $600 for each dependant (10% more for the lower figure). These are MoneyGenie's illustrative figures, similar in purpose to the expense benchmarks lenders use; they aren't any lender's actual benchmark.
Credit cards: 3% of your total limits each month (3.8% for the lower figure).
Assessment rate: your interest rate plus 3 percentage points, the buffer APRA expects banks to use, with principal and interest repayments over the loan term you chose.
Result: the loan your monthly surplus could repay at that rate, rounded down to the nearest $5,000. It doesn't include your deposit, so the price you could pay is higher.
Not included: rental income from the property you buy, lenders' own minimum assessment rates, other tax offsets and deductions, and lenders mortgage insurance.

Estimate only. This is an estimate based on the figures you entered and the assumptions shown. It isn't a quote, a loan offer or an approval, and it doesn't take into account your full financial situation. Lenders apply their own policies, and all applications are subject to lender approval.

How MoneyGenie helps

Nabita compares options from MoneyGenie's panel of 35+ lenders, tells you upfront which are realistic for your situation, and handles the application with you through to settlement. Our service is generally at no cost to you, as we're paid a commission by the lender, which we disclose to you upfront. Details are in our Credit Guide, available on request. Talk to Nabita: call 040 110 1608 or send an enquiry.

Call 040 110 1608 Send an enquiry

Frequently asked questions

How do lenders work out how much I can borrow?

Lenders look at your income after tax, your living expenses, your other debts and your credit card limits, and check that you could still make the repayments if interest rates rose. They each have their own policies, so the amount can differ from one lender to another.

What is the APRA serviceability buffer?

APRA, the banking regulator, expects banks to check that you could afford your repayments at an interest rate at least 3 percentage points above your loan's rate. This calculator does the same. APRA confirmed the 3 percentage point buffer on 28 May 2026.

Why does the calculator show a range?

Lenders don't all treat income, expenses and credit cards the same way. The higher figure uses typical assumptions; the lower one uses stricter settings that some lenders apply. Your actual borrowing power depends on the lender and your full situation.

Do credit cards reduce how much I can borrow?

Usually, yes. Lenders count a monthly repayment on your full credit card limit, even if you pay the card off every month. Closing or reducing cards you don't need can increase your borrowing power.

Figures checked 26 October 2026 by Nabita, mortgage broker, MoneyGenie Finance.

Official sources

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