Can I Swap Renting for Home Ownership?
Enter your savings, rent, and target house price. We'll work out stamp duty, deposit, loan repayments, and whether you can make the jump from renting to owning.
Can I afford to buy a house?
You can afford to buy a house when your savings cover the upfront costs, including stamp duty and deposit, and the resulting mortgage repayments fit within your budget. For many Australians, the cleanest test is whether repayments are manageable compared with current rent plus regular monthly savings.
Next step: compare stamp duty, LMI, and our full affordability guide.
A Lending Specialist can compare dozens of lenders and help you find the right loan for your situation. Get a free callback.
Calculate by state
Each state has different stamp duty rates and first home buyer concessions. Use a state-specific calculator for pre-set rates:
How this calculator works
We take your total savings and subtract stamp duty (based on your state, property type, and first home buyer status). The remaining savings become your available deposit. You choose how much deposit to put down using the slider.
The loan amount is the house price minus your deposit. We calculate monthly and fortnightly repayments at your chosen interest rate, then compare that to your current rent plus regular savings — because that's what you'd have available for repayments if you stopped renting and redirected your savings.
The interest rate slider lets you stress-test: what happens if rates go up 1–2%? Can you still afford it?
What's NOT included
- LMI (Lenders Mortgage Insurance): If your deposit is less than 20%, you'll likely need LMI — which can add $5,000–$40,000. Use our LMI Calculator for estimates.
- Legal and conveyancing fees: Budget $1,500–$3,000.
- Building and pest inspection: $500–$800 per property.
- Council and water rates: Ongoing costs that renters don't pay.
- Maintenance: Budget 1–2% of property value per year.