Guides
Plain-English guides to borrowing power for Australian first home buyers. · Back to the calculator
The 5% Deposit Scheme and your borrowing power
How the First Home Guarantee works, why a small deposit does not make the lender's test any easier, and what to check before you make an offer.
Help to Buy and your borrowing power
How the government's share lowers the loan you need, the income limits and price caps, the catches, and how it compares with the 5% Deposit Scheme.
First home buyer borrowing checklist
A review list to tick off: what to gather, tidy up, save and compare before you apply.
How much can a first home buyer borrow?
The six things that decide your borrowing power: income, expenses, debts, the lender's test rate, your deposit and which lender you choose.
HECS/HELP debt and your borrowing power
How lenders count HELP repayments, what changes the impact, and whether to pay the debt off before you apply.
Credit card limits and your borrowing power
Why unused card limits count against you, and how to tidy them up before you apply.
Single vs couple: how your application changes borrowing power
What a second applicant adds, how dependants and uncertain income change the result.
Deposit size, LMI and your borrowing power
How your deposit changes the loan you need, whether you pay LMI, and the price you can afford.
These guides are general information only, not credit advice or a recommendation. Lender policies and scheme rules change; confirm current details with a licensed broker.