The servicing test rate
Banks don't qualify you at your real rate. They test what you could pay if rates were 7.5% to 8%. That single decision moves your maximum borrow by $100k+.
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How much can I actually borrow?
The number your bank quotes you depends on whose servicing test you run. Each major NZ lender uses a different stress rate, different living-cost benchmarks, and different debt-handling rules. Drop your numbers in, get an illustrative range per lender, and a sense of which bank is likely the best fit.
How NZ banks decide
The four things that move your borrowing number.
Dependants and living costs
Each lender uses a different living-cost benchmark per dependant. ANZ and BNZ run higher assumed costs than ASB; that gap alone can shift your borrow by $50k.
Existing debt
A $400/month car loan eats about $50k of borrowing capacity. Banks treat existing debt as fixed expense at the test rate, not the real rate.
Deposit and LVR
Anything under 20% deposit is a high-LVR loan with extra hoops. Kāinga Ora First Home Loan lets you buy with 5% but income caps apply. KiwiSaver withdrawal counts toward deposit.
Per-salary scenarios
What can I borrow on a typical salary?
Salary-specific landing pages with pre-filled scenarios. Pick the income band closest to yours.
Single income
$60,000 NZ
What a single-income earner on $60k can typically borrow, with and without dependants.
See the $60k scenario Single income$80,000 NZ
Most common first-home single-income band. Borrowing range and per-lender breakdown.
See the $80k scenario Couple or solo$100,000 NZ
Top of single-income territory, bottom of dual-income. Each lender treats it differently.
See the $100k scenario Dual income$120,000 NZ
Typical first-home dual-income range in 2026. With and without Kāinga Ora eligibility.
See the $120k scenario Dual income$140,000 NZ
Above first-home grant cap in most regions. What that does to the maths.
See the $140k scenario Dual income$160,000 NZ
Comfortable dual-income territory. Borrowing range expanding past $1m.
See the $160k scenario Dual income$180,000 NZ
What banks lend at this level, plus how rental income changes the picture.
See the $180k scenario Investor band$200,000 NZ
Investment property territory. How banks treat multiple properties.
See the $200k scenario
Common questions
Things people ask before they trust the number.
How much can I borrow on my income in NZ?
As a rough rule, 4 to 5 times your gross household income, less existing debt commitments, adjusted for living costs. The exact number depends on each bank's servicing test rate (currently 7.5% to 8% as of May 2026). A household on $120,000 combined income with no significant debt typically borrows in the $480k to $600k range, depending on lender.
Why does each bank give me a different borrowing number?
Each lender uses a different servicing test rate (the stress rate they assume your repayments would be at, even if your actual rate is lower) and different living-cost benchmarks. ANZ, BNZ, ASB, Westpac and Kiwibank all differ by a few percent. A broker can model against all of them at once.
Does this calculator give me a pre-approval?
No. This is a directional estimate. A real pre-approval requires application, full income verification, and lender-specific underwriting. Book a 15-minute call with Craig to start that conversation.
Does KiwiSaver count toward my deposit?
Yes. If you've been a KiwiSaver member for 3+ years and are buying a first home, you can withdraw most of your balance (leaving a minimum of $1,000) as part of your deposit. The Kāinga Ora First Home Grant adds up to $5,000 per buyer in some cases.
What about the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan?
The Kāinga Ora First Home Loan scheme lets eligible first-home buyers borrow with 5% deposit at the same rate as a 20% deposit loan. Income caps apply ($95,000 single, $150,000 couple/joint as of 2026, illustrative). House price caps vary by region.
Want a real, lender-specific number?
15-min call. Craig will model your scenario against all 5 major banks plus the non-banks, and tell you which one is the best fit for your situation.