How much can I borrow for a home loan in Australia?

Your borrowing power depends on your gross income, living expenses, existing debts, credit card limits, and the APRA 3% serviceability buffer. Lenders assess your loan at your actual rate plus 3% (e.g. a 6.5% loan is stress-tested at 9.5%). Use our Borrowing Power Calculator above for a personalised estimate, then book a free consultation to confirm with a broker.

How is stamp duty calculated in NSW?

In NSW, stamp duty is calculated on the property purchase price using a tiered rate schedule. First home buyers are exempt on properties up to $800,000 and receive a concession on properties up to $1,000,000. Our Stamp Duty Calculator covers all Australian states and territories.

What is LMI and when do I need to pay it?

Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is required when you borrow more than 80% of the property value (LVR above 80%). It protects the lender — not you — if you default. LMI costs typically range from $3,000 to $30,000+ depending on the loan amount and LVR. Some lenders offer LMI waivers for certain professions.

Do fortnightly repayments really save money?

Yes. Paying fortnightly means you make 26 half-payments per year, which equals 13 full monthly payments instead of 12. The extra payment reduces your principal faster, saving years off your loan term and tens of thousands in interest over the life of the loan.

What is the APRA 3% serviceability buffer?

APRA requires lenders to assess your ability to repay at your actual interest rate plus 3%. So a 6.5% variable loan is stress-tested at 9.5%. This buffer ensures you can still afford repayments if rates rise, and is the single biggest reason your borrowing capacity may be lower than expected.

How much could I save by refinancing?

On a $450,000 loan with 22 years remaining, switching from a 7.24% rate to 5.99% saves approximately $349 per month — $4,188 per year — and over $90,000 in total interest. Use our Refinancing Savings Calculator to model your exact situation.

Free Tools

Home Loan Calculators

Plan your property purchase with our free, easy-to-use calculators. Get instant estimates for borrowing power, repayments, stamp duty, and more.

Jump to a calculator

Borrowing Power

How much can you borrow based on income and expenses?

Repayment

Monthly, fortnightly, or weekly repayment estimates.

Refinancing Savings

How much could you save by switching lenders?

Stamp Duty

State-by-state stamp duty with first home buyer concessions.

Rate Comparison

Compare two loan scenarios side by side.

LMI Cost

Lenders Mortgage Insurance estimate for deposits under 20%.

Extra Repayments

See how extra repayments save time and interest.

Mortgage Stress

Impact of a rate rise on your monthly repayments.

Borrowing Power Calculator

Industry-standard methodology — APRA serviceability buffer applied

Your Situation

Buying with

Dependants

Property purpose

Your Income

Employment type

Your gross annual income *

Before-tax annual salary. Include base salary and guaranteed allowances only.

Rental income (optional)

Gross annual rent. Lenders apply 80% shading.

Other annual income (optional)

Regular bonuses, dividends, government payments (80% assessed).

Expenses & Debts

Monthly living expenses *

HEM benchmark for your household: $2,346/month. Lenders use whichever is higher — entering less than HEM won't help.

Other loan repayments / month

Car loans, personal loans, HECS/HELP, other mortgages.

Total credit card limits

Enter combined limit, not balance. Lenders assess 3.5% of limit p.a.

Other monthly commitments

Buy now pay later, maintenance payments, investment margin loans, etc.

Loan Details

Loan term

Assessment rate: 9.50% (6.50% current variable + 3.00% APRA buffer). All lenders are required by APRA to assess your ability to repay at this higher rate. Repayments shown use the 6.50% display rate.

Enter your income to get started

Your result updates in real time as you fill in each section. The more detail you add, the more accurate your estimate.

Gross income (after tax net assessed)

Household size & dependants (HEM applied)

Credit card limits reduce capacity immediately

APRA 3% buffer tested at 9.50% assessment rate

This calculator uses industry-standard methodology: APRA 3% serviceability buffer, Australian tax rates 2025–26, and Household Expenditure Measure (HEM) benchmarks from the Melbourne Institute. Results are indicative only and not a credit assessment or loan approval. For an accurate borrowing capacity assessment speak with one of our brokers.

Repayment Calculator

Monthly, fortnightly or weekly — see what you actually pay

Loan amount

Interest rate (% p.a.)

Loan term

Repayment type

Payment frequency

Monthly Repayment

$3,792

Total repaid

$1,365,267

Total interest

$765,267

Interest vs Principal — Year by Year

The earlier you make extra repayments, the more interest you save.

Refinancing Savings Calculator

See how much you save by switching to a lower rate

Current loan balance

Current rate (% p.a.)

New rate (% p.a.)

Remaining term

Refinancing costs ($)

Typical costs: discharge (~$350), application (~$300–$600), valuation (~$300), legal fees (~$500–$2,000).

Monthly Saving

$341

$4,093 per year

Total interest saved

$90,036

Break-even point

Current monthly payment$3,412

New monthly payment$3,071

Cumulative Net Savings Over Time

Starts negative (refinancing costs), turns positive at break-even, then every month is pure saving.

Stamp Duty Calculator

Estimate stamp duty and transfer fees by state

Property Value

State

Buyer Type

First Home BuyerCheck if you're eligible for exemptions

Enter property details to calculate costs

Loan Comparison Calculator

Compare different interest rates and see potential savings

Loan Amount

Loan Term

Current Rate (%)

New Rate (%)

Enter rates to compare

LMI Calculator

Estimate your Lenders Mortgage Insurance cost

Property Price

Your Deposit

Buyer Type

Enter property details to calculate your LMI

This calculator provides estimates only. Actual LMI premiums vary by insurer and lender. Professional packages may offer LMI waivers for eligible occupations.

Extra Repayment Calculator

See how extra payments can save you money and time

Loan Amount

Interest Rate (%)

Loan Term (years)

Extra Monthly Payment

Enter your loan details to see how extra payments can help

This calculator provides estimates only. Check with your lender about any limits on extra repayments, especially for fixed-rate loans which may have restrictions.

Mortgage Stress Calculator

Rate Rise Scenarios

See exactly how a rate change affects your repayments. Choose your loan type below.

Standard repayments that reduce the loan balance each month. Models how a rate rise increases your ongoing P&I payment.

Current Loan Balance

Current Interest Rate (%)

Total Remaining Loan Term

Quick rate rise scenarios

Stressed Interest Rate (%)

Current repayment

$3,010

per month at 4.35%

At stressed rate

$3,328

per month at 5.35%

Extra per month$318

Extra per year$3,815

Total extra over 25 yrs$95,385

Moderate Impact

Review your budget — savings may be needed

Repayments rise 10.6% on a +1.00% rate move

Repayment Across Rate Scenarios

— coloured by stress level

CurrentLow impact (<8%)Moderate (8–16%)High (16–25%)Severe (>25%)

Ready to Take the Next Step?

These calculators provide estimates. For a personalized assessment of your borrowing capacity and loan options, book a free consultation with our expert brokers.