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On a $250,000 gross salary with minimal debts and average expenses, your estimated borrowing power is approximately $1,240,000–$1,485,000. This puts you in the top tier of individual borrowing capacity, accessing premium property in every Australian market.
Use our Borrowing Power Calculator for a personalised estimate based on your income, debts, and expenses.
It's at the upper boundary. With zero debts and low expenses, some lenders may approve $1.45M–$1.5M. More realistically, expect $1.24M–$1.35M as a comfortable approval range. A joint application with dual high incomes significantly increases capacity.
Buying below your maximum provides a financial buffer for rate rises, lifestyle changes, or income disruptions. A common recommendation is borrowing 70–80% of your maximum capacity. On $250K, that means targeting $1M–$1.2M even though you can borrow more.
At $250,000, HECS repayments are approximately $17,500/year ($1,458/month) — reducing borrowing capacity by $150,000–$170,000. If your HECS balance is small, paying it off before applying can significantly boost capacity.
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