Borrowing Capacity Calculator

This calculator gives a general estimate only. It is not a loan offer, quote, pre-approval or lending commitment. Your actual borrowing capacity depends on a full credit assessment, individual lender policy, fees and your personal circumstances, and doesn’t include statutory costs like Victorian stamp duty. This is not financial or credit advice. Speak with one of our licensed Melbourne mortgage brokers before signing anything

It comes down to your income, existing debts, living costs and deposit. Lenders combine these to set your maximum loan amount. A unit in the inner north and a house in the outer east sit in very different price brackets, so run the calculator above for a starting figure, then speak with a Melbourne broker about what that number actually buys in your target suburbs.

Lenders add a serviceability buffer, typically around 3% above your real rate to confirm you could still make repayments if rates rose. This buffer, plus each bank’s own rules on bonuses, overtime, rental income and credit limits, is why your approved amount can vary significantly between lenders. Our Melbourne brokers work through this with every client before they apply.

Two lenders can look at the exact same application and land tens of thousands of dollars apart, so no calculator figure can promise what you’ll actually be approved for. The gap usually comes down to how each lender treats things like overtime, bonuses, HELP debt or your credit card limits, not just the headline numbers this tool uses. Rather than bank on the figure here, it’s worth pressure-testing it against the lenders whose criteria genuinely suit your income type, which is the part a broker handles for you.