How much can I borrow?
A plain English guide.

One of the most common questions we get from Adelaide buyers is simple: how much can I actually borrow? The answer is more nuanced than most people expect — and understanding it can make a real difference to your property search.

It's not just about your income

Lenders assess your borrowing capacity using a serviceability test — they calculate whether you can afford the repayments at a buffer rate (typically 3% above the loan rate). That means a 6% loan rate is tested at 9%. This is the main lever that determines how much you can borrow.

Beyond income, lenders look at your living expenses, existing debts, credit card limits, number of dependants, and employment stability. Two people with identical incomes can have very different borrowing capacities depending on their circumstances.

What actually affects your borrowing power

The key factors lenders assess are:

• Income type and stability — PAYG employees are assessed differently to self-employed applicants
• Living expenses — lenders use a combination of your declared expenses and a benchmark figure (HEM)
• Existing debt — personal loans, car loans, and HECS all reduce your capacity
• Credit card limits — even unused cards reduce borrowing power. Cancel cards you don't use before applying
• Number of dependants — each dependant reduces your capacity by roughly $50,000-$80,000 depending on the lender

How different lenders assess the same application differently

This is where working with a broker makes a real difference. Different lenders apply different expense benchmarks, treat different income types differently, and assess your application against their own specific policies. The same application can result in a borrowing capacity that varies by $100,000 or more between lenders.

We know which lenders will maximise your capacity for your specific situation — and which lenders are the best fit for your income type, deposit size, and goals.

Get your actual number

Use our borrowing power calculator for a quick estimate, or book a free chat and we'll give you your precise borrowing capacity across the lenders most likely to suit your situation — with no impact on your credit file.