Has the May 2026 rate rise reduced my borrowing power?
June 1, 2026
The May 2026 RBA rate rise directly impacts your borrowing power, reducing your assessed capacity as serviceability buffer rates adjust upward.
Read More →Knowledge Base Category
Borrowing Power Calculator
12 articles
← All Topics
7 Biggest Mistakes When Choosing a Mortgage Broker
Borrowing Power Calculator
Breaking Your Current Loan
Building Your Portfolio
Buying Your First Home in Melbourne
First Home Buyer Grants & Schemes
How Long Does It Take to Buy a Home
Investment Loan Strategies
Partial Guarantor for First Home Deposit
Property Settlement
Saving Your Deposit
So You Have $100,000 in Equity
Switching to Better Rates
Tax & Deductions
Understanding Your Borrowing Power
When & Why to Refinance
How much can a couple borrow on a combined $200,000 salary in 2026?
May 31, 2026
Couples earning a combined $200,000 in 2026 can often borrow between $900,000 and $1,100,000, though factors like dependents and debts can significantly alter this.
Read More →How much can I borrow on a $100,000 salary in Australia in 2026?
May 30, 2026
A $100,000 salary in 2026 generally allows you to borrow between $480,000 and $600,000, assuming you have a clean financial profile without HECS debt.
Read More →How much can I borrow on an $80,000 salary in Australia in 2026?
May 29, 2026
In 2026, an $80,000 salary typically supports a loan of $360,000 to $450,000, making debt reduction and government schemes essential for first home buyers.
Read More →How much can I borrow on a $120,000 salary in Australia in 2026?
May 28, 2026
A $120,000 salary in 2026 typically supports a home loan between $550,000 and $700,000, depending heavily on your debts, credit limits, and chosen lender.
Read More →I’m Self-Employed — How Do Lenders Assess My Income When Working Out How Much I Can Borrow?
May 7, 2026
Self-employed income is assessed on a 2-year average, not current earnings — and documentation structure matters as much as the income itself. Here's how lenders approach it.
Read More →How Do Lenders Calculate Borrowing Capacity for a Couple Applying Together?
May 6, 2026
Joint applications combine both incomes — but also both sets of debts, HECS, and credit cards. Here's how lenders calculate borrowing capacity for couples and what affects the outcome.
Read More →Will Closing My Credit Card Before Applying Actually Increase My Borrowing Power?
May 5, 2026
An unused $10,000 credit limit can reduce borrowing capacity by $50,000–$80,000. Closing cards before applying removes that liability — here's the timing and what it doesn't fix.
Read More →How Does a HECS Debt Affect How Much I Can Borrow for a Home Loan?
May 4, 2026
HECS reduces borrowing capacity through the compulsory repayment, not the balance itself. Here's how lenders treat it, the repayment rates by income, and whether paying it off first makes sense.
Read More →Why Does My Borrowing Capacity Look So Much Lower Than I Expected?
May 3, 2026
Online calculators consistently overstate what lenders actually approve. Here's why — the serviceability buffer, credit card limits, HECS, BNPL accounts, and the HEM benchmark explained.
Read More →How much can I borrow for a home loan in Australia?
March 10, 2026
Most people walk into this question thinking the answer is about their salary. It partly is. But for many borrowers, the bigger variable isn’t how much they earn — it’s…
Read More →What is the average borrowing capacity in Australia in 2026?
March 10, 2026
The same applicant — same income, same deposit — can be approved for $100,000 more or less, depending on which lender assesses the file. That gap is real, and most…
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