How Much Can I Borrow? NZ Home Loan Estimator

An estimate, not an approval. Only a lender can tell you what you can borrow.

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What comes in

Household take home pay

Other regular income

a week a fortnight a month

After tax, KiwiSaver and student loan. Include a partner if you are buying together. Working for Families counts as other income.

What goes out

Living costs, same period

Loan and hire purchase payments

Total credit card limits

Everything except rent, since the mortgage replaces it. Your card limit counts against you even at a zero balance, which catches a lot of people out.

The loan

Deposit you will have

Term, years

The assumptions

Test rate the bank uses

Buffer kept back, per period

Banks do not test you at today's rate, they test you well above it, and they each pick their own number. Change these and watch what happens. That sensitivity is the real lesson here.

Fill in your income and outgoings.

This is a guide only and is not a loan offer, a pre-approval, or personalised financial advice. Every lender assesses differently, using their own test rate, their own living cost floors, and their own view of your income. Self employed, casual and contract income is treated differently again. The only way to find out what you can borrow is to apply. Book a free chat.

Worth knowing

Why the bank's number is lower than you expect

They test you at around 8 to 9%, not at the advertised rate. They want to know you can still pay if rates climb.
They use their own living cost minimums. If you say you live on very little, they will often override it with their own figure.
Card limits count, not balances. A $10,000 limit you never touch can cost you tens of thousands of borrowing power. Reducing it is the cheapest thing you can do before applying.
Under a 20% deposit narrows the field. Fewer lenders, and usually a margin added to your rate.

Read the first home guide

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