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PROPERTY · GUIDE

How much home can I afford?

A home budget depends on more than a bond repayment. Deposit, interest, term, rates, insurance, maintenance and other monthly commitments all affect the picture.

Educational guideReviewed: 28 September 2026

Start with the housing payment you can sustain

Work backwards from a monthly housing budget that fits comfortably alongside your other essential expenses, debt repayments and savings goals.

Account for the deposit

A larger deposit means a smaller amount to finance in the basic repayment model. It also means more cash is committed upfront, so compare the repayment benefit with your remaining cash buffer.

Interest rate and term change the result

For the same amount financed, a different interest rate or term can materially change the scheduled repayment and the total interest shown by a calculator.

Don't stop at the bond repayment

Home ownership can involve costs beyond the bond, including insurance, rates, maintenance and transaction costs. A repayment calculator does not automatically include all of them.

Use affordability as a scenario, not an approval

A calculator can help you explore a range of prices and repayments, but lenders can apply their own affordability, credit and underwriting criteria.

Related calculators

Review note

This article is general educational information. Calculator outputs are scenario estimates and are not lender approvals or personalised financial advice.