Before you start house-hunting, it helps to know roughly what you can afford. Enter your gross monthly income, any existing debt repayments, and your expected interest rate and loan term to estimate the bond amount you could realistically qualify for.
Based on a common guideline that monthly bond repayments and debt commitments should not exceed about 30% of gross income. Your bank's own affordability assessment may differ.
This calculator gives a rough guide to borrowing capacity. Banks are required by the National Credit Act to perform a full affordability assessment that considers your actual living expenses, credit record and other commitments.
How to improve what you can afford
Affordability isn't fixed - small changes to your finances before you apply can make a real difference to the amount a bank is willing to lend you.
Check your credit score first
You can get a free credit report from South African credit bureaus once a year. Check for errors, old accounts that should be closed, and your overall credit score before applying for a bond.
Pay down short-term debt
Reducing or settling vehicle finance, credit cards and store cards before you apply lowers your monthly commitments and frees up more of your income for a bond repayment.
Avoid new credit before applying
Opening new credit accounts, increasing credit limits or applying for store cards in the months before your bond application can lower your affordability and your credit score.
Apply through a bond originator
A bond originator can submit your application to multiple banks at once, increasing your chances of approval and helping you find the bank willing to offer the highest amount or best rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 30% rule?
Many South African banks use roughly 30% of your gross monthly income as a guideline for how much you can comfortably spend on housing costs (including bond repayments and existing debt). This calculator uses that guideline as a starting point, but actual offers vary by bank and applicant.
What counts as an existing monthly debt repayment?
Include any recurring credit commitments such as vehicle finance, personal loans, credit card minimum payments, store card instalments and other bond or rental payments. You don't need to include day-to-day living expenses like groceries or transport - the bank will assess those separately.
Will the bank definitely approve this amount?
No. This is only an estimate. Under the National Credit Act, banks must complete a full affordability assessment that looks at your net income, living expenses, credit history and the specific property before approving a home loan.
How does my credit score affect affordability?
A higher credit score can help you qualify for a larger loan amount, a better interest rate, or both. A lower score may mean a bank offers you less than this estimate, asks for a bigger deposit, or charges a higher interest rate to offset the risk.
Explore our other calculators
Bond Repayment Calculator
Work out your estimated monthly bond repayment and the total interest you will pay over the loan term.
Transfer Cost Calculator
Estimate transfer duty, conveyancing fees and bond registration costs when buying a home.
Extra Payments Calculator
Find out how much time and interest you could save by paying extra into your bond every month.
Deposit Savings Calculator
Calculate how much you need to save each month to reach your home deposit goal.
Amortisation Calculator
See a year-by-year breakdown of how your bond balance reduces over the life of the loan.