Borrowing power calculator Australia

Estimate a workable home-loan range from your monthly comfort budget before you start treating lender ceilings as targets.

Pre-approval decision planner

Start from cashflow reality, not maximum borrowing headline

Reverse-engineer a safer purchase range using your repayment comfort zone and stress-rate assumptions.

Ceiling versus target

A borrowing result is a planning boundary, not a permission slip to spend every last dollar on the property search.

Cash buffer first

Keep room for insurance, council rates, strata, repairs, and rate movement before you treat a property range as safe.

Property budget is smaller

Stamp duty and settlement costs reduce what you can actually commit to the purchase price. Check those costs before you narrow your search.

Buying budget reality

Borrowing power still needs a stamp duty adjustment

A borrowing estimate can look comfortable until transfer duty and registration costs are added. Use your state stamp duty calculator before you lock a purchase cap.

A real purchase budget is not just deposit plus repayments. It also includes stamp duty, transfer registration, and mortgage registration before settlement.

NSW stamp duty

Transfer duty and upfront costs

VIC stamp duty

Land transfer duty by buyer type

QLD stamp duty

Home concession and investor rates

SA stamp duty

Transfer duty and registration fees

WA stamp duty

General duty and settlement costs

TAS stamp duty

Duty estimate for Tasmania purchases

ACT stamp duty

Owner-occupier and investor duty

NT stamp duty

Duty plus transfer and mortgage fees

First home buyer? Check the state-specific concession and exemption pages from the main stamp duty calculator once you choose your state.

Start with first-home buyer plan

Pull state duty and settlement cash into the same decision before you trust the borrowing range.

Validate repayments

Confirm the property range still works when translated into principal-and-interest repayments.

Stress-test rates

Check whether the same budget survives +1% and +2% rate scenarios.

Use the checklist

Move from rough estimate into lender-facing preparation only after the numbers still work.

Related Mortgage tools

First Home Buyer

Deposit + duty + repayment stress in one view

Repayment

Monthly, fortnightly, or weekly payment breakdown

Buying Costs

Deposit, duty, and upfront cost planning

FAQs

Is borrowing power the same as lender pre-approval?

No. Borrowing power is a planning estimate. Formal pre-approval also depends on lender policy, credit checks, and documentation.

Should I use maximum borrowing power as my budget?

Usually no. A safer range leaves room for rates, insurance, rates notices, strata, and other housing costs.

Do I need stamp duty before trusting the result?

Yes. Your property budget and your borrowing budget are not the same once stamp duty and settlement costs are included.