What the numbers mean
Financial advisors often say housing should be under 30% of gross income. That rule is outdated and based on gross, not take-home. A more useful measure: if total housing costs are under 35% of your take-home pay, you have room to breathe. Between 35% and 45%, it is tight but manageable. Over 45%, you will feel it every month.
The costs most people miss
LMI is the big one. If your deposit is under 20%, lenders mortgage insurance can add $10,000 to $25,000 to your upfront costs. Some lenders let you add it to the loan. That means you pay interest on it for 30 years.
HELP/HECS comes straight off your take-home pay. At $95,000 income, that is about $5,200 a year or $430 a month less in your pocket. The calculator accounts for this if you toggle it on.
Maintenance averages 1% of the property value per year. On a $750,000 house, that is $625 a month. Some years nothing happens. Other years the roof needs work and the hot water system goes.
Interest rates change
If rates go up by 1%, your monthly repayment on a $675,000 loan jumps by about $450. Use the interest rate slider to stress test your budget. The calculator lets you see the impact instantly.
On housematch, every listing shows estimated monthly repayments so you can compare the total cost across properties, not just the sticker price.
housematch shows this data on every listing.
Bushfire ratings, school catchments, flood zones, transit times, comparable sales, and true ownership costs. All before you visit.