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How Much Can I Borrow For a Home Loan?

John Tran
I
September 5, 2022
How Much Can I Borrow For a Home Loan?

Once you're ready to start shopping for a home the first thing you'll need to do is figure out how much you can afford to borrow for a mortgage because this will give you a decent indication of what kinds of homes are within your budget. That is why when deciding how much you can borrow there are a few things to take into account.

In this article, we will go through the important things you need to consider when borrowing a home loan and how you can successfully get one.

How much can I borrow for a home loan?

Your income, debts, and the loan type you're interested in should all be taken into account when determining how much you may borrow for a home loan.

Your income has the most impact on how much you can borrow. Lenders will look at your employment history, pay stubs, and tax records to establish your income. If you receive any other income, such as alimony or child support, they will also check to see if you receive that as well.

Debts factor into how much you can borrow from lenders since they'll take into account things like credit card liabilities, car debts, and student loans. When your debt burden rises you will be able to borrow less money for a home loan.

Also, the amount you can borrow will depend on the type of loan you are interested in. For instance, the borrowing restrictions for FHA loans and conventional loans differ. Hence, you must be aware of the precise borrowing restrictions for an FHA loan if you're considering one.

In general, you can borrow more money for a home loan the more you earn and the less debt you have. But, other variables also come into play, so it's always advisable to discuss your particular circumstances with a lender.

How much deposit do I need for a home loan?

The size of your deposit will have a direct impact on the amount you need to borrow from a lender and the amount of interest you'll end up paying. It's important to try to save as much money as possible before buying a home so that you can reduce the size of your loan and minimize your interest payments.

Most lenders require a minimum deposit of 10% of the purchase price, but it's ideal to aim for a 20% deposit if possible. If you're borrowing more than 80%1 of the property value, you'll likely need to take out Lenders' Mortgage Insurance or Low Deposit Premium. By increasing your deposit size, you can avoid these additional costs and save money in the long run. (source: commbank)

How to get a home loan?

It can be tricky to get a home loan, but it's definitely possible with the right research and preparation. Here are a few tips to help you get started

1. Gather the documents needed

2. Compare different home loans provider

3. Have a preliminary assessment with the lender

4. Submit your application to the lender

5. The lender will have a property evaluation

6. The lender will approve or reject your home loan application

7. They will send you an offer

8. The loan will be settled and the funds are advanced to you

How to get pre-approved for a home loan?

1. Gather up some financial documentation. The first thing you need to do to get pre-approved for a home loan is to gather the documents that your lender or mortgage broker will want to look at to check your finances. You should be able to provide the following: (source: ozstudies)

  • House deposit
  • Good credit history
  • Steady Income
  • Credit card statements
  • Tax returns
  • List of liabilities such as credit card debts, vehicle loans, personal loans, and other debts
  • 100 points of ID (driver’s license, passport, Medicare card)
  • Income proof such as Payslips 
  • Savings proof as Bank statements  
  • Council rates for existing properties that you own
  • List of existing assets such as a vehicle, immovable property, jewelry, etc.
  • List of monthly expenses 
  • First homeowner grant document
  • A completed home loan application form

2. Find a lender you are comfortable working with. When looking for a lender, it's important to find one that you're comfortable with because you'll be working closely with them throughout the loan process. 

3. Fill out your loan application. The next step after finding a lender is to fill out a loan application. This is where you'll provide detailed information about yourself and your finances, including your income, debts, and assets. The lender will use this information to determine whether or not you qualify for a loan and, if so, how much they are willing to lend you.

4. Receive your pre-approval letter. A pre-approval letter from a lender is one of the best ways to know how much money you can borrow for a new home. This letter will state the maximum amount that you're approved to borrow, based on your income, employment history, and other factors. Once you have your pre-approval letter, you can start shopping for your new home with confidence!

How to calculate loan repayment?

Assuming you have a home loan with a principal of $300,000 and an interest rate of 5%, your monthly repayments would be approximately $1,610. To calculate this, you would need to use a loan repayment calculator.

To find out how much you would need to pay each month, enter the loan amount, interest rate, and term into the calculator. The term is the length of time it will take to repay the loan, and is typically 25 years.

You can also use the calculator to see how making extra repayments would affect your loan. For example, if you made an extra repayment of $100 each month, you would save almost $30,000 in interest and pay off your loan four years and nine months sooner.

Extra repayments are one way to help reduce the amount of interest you pay on your loan and pay off your debt sooner. Another way is to make sure you have a competitive interest rate.

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