Affordability Calculator

What can you actually qualify for?

Standard Canadian lending math — the same GDS/TDS ratios a lender would run — to estimate your realistic price range before you fall in love with something out of reach.

Why this matters

It's easy to start house-hunting around a number that feels right, then find out from a lender months later that you don't qualify for it. Lenders don't just look at what you can afford emotionally — they run two specific ratios against your income, and both have to pass.

GDS (Gross Debt Service) checks your housing costs alone against your income. TDS (Total Debt Service) checks your housing costs plus all your other debts — car payments, credit cards, loans — against that same income. Fail either one, and the number changes.

Running this before you shop means you're looking at homes you can actually get approved for, not homes you'll fall for and then lose.

Your Finances

Annual household incomegross, before tax

Monthly debtscar, credit cards, loans

Down payment available

Qualifying / stress-test ratecontract rate + 2%, or 5.25% min

Amortization

25 years30 years

30-year amortization is only available to first-time buyers or buyers of a newly-built home, on an insured mortgage (under 20% down) — not a universal option.

Est. monthly property tax + heat

You Likely Qualify For

At your limit on one or both ratios

$571,474

Estimated max purchase price

Max mortgage amount$511,474

Est. monthly payment$3,550

GDS ratio39.00% / 39%

TDS ratio43.00% / 44%

You're near the ceiling on GDS (housing costs alone) — this is close to the maximum a lender would typically approve at these numbers.

What these numbers mean

GDS ratio

Gross Debt Service — your monthly mortgage payment plus property tax and heat, divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders typically cap this at 39%.

TDS ratio

Total Debt Service — the same housing costs, plus all your other monthly debts (car, credit cards, loans), divided by income. Lenders typically cap this at 44%.

Stress-test rate

Canadian lenders must qualify you at a higher rate than your actual contract rate — either your rate + 2%, or a fixed minimum (5.25% as of recent guidelines), whichever is higher. This protects against rate increases after you've bought.

30-year amortization

Stretches payments over 30 years instead of 25, lowering the monthly payment but increasing total interest paid over the life of the loan. Currently restricted to first-time buyers or buyers of a newly-built home, on an insured mortgage — not available to everyone.

Estimates for planning purposes only — not financial advice. Actual approval depends on credit score, employment history, and lender-specific policies not modeled here. Confirm with a mortgage broker or lender for a real pre-approval.

Why this matters

Running this before you shop means you're looking at homes you can actually get approved for, not homes you'll fall for and then lose.