Bond Affordability Calculator
Find out the maximum SA home loan you qualify for. Enter your gross monthly income, existing monthly debt, and deposit; the calculator applies the NCA 30% housing-cost rule and the 36% total-debt rule, then derives your max bond at the current SA prime rate.
Your salary BEFORE tax. Joint applicants: combine both incomes.
Sum of car finance, credit card minimums, personal loans, store cards. Excludes rent / living expenses.
Cash you'll put down. Bigger deposit = bigger home you can afford.
SA prime is 10.25% (May 2026). Default prime + 1% reflects a typical buyer offer.
You can afford a home up to
R 824 323
R 724 323 bond + R 100 000 deposit
Max monthly bond
R 7 600
22% of gross
Max loan amount
R 724 323
At 11.25% / 20yr
Binding rule
Total-debt 36%
Total-debt rule (36% of income, less existing debt)
How we got there
- 30% housing rule: R 10 500 max monthly bond
- 36% total-debt rule: R 7 600 max monthly bond after subtracting R 5 000 existing debt
- Binding cap: R 7 600 (the lower of the two)
- Max loan at 11.25% over 20 years that produces this monthly: R 724 323
Affordability ratios from National Credit Act Regulation 23A: banks may extend up to 33% housing / 40% total-debt for strong applicants but the 30% / 36% benchmark is the universal minimum. Banks also weigh your credit score, employment stability, and reasonable living expenses (food, transport, utilities) — this calculator covers the income-and-debt math only. Try the bond calculator to see what the monthly looks like at different home prices.
Data: National Credit Act Reg 23A · SARB repo rate · See methodology
How SA bond affordability works
SA banks size your bond against your gross income using two independent affordability checks drawn from the National Credit Act. The first is the 30% housing-cost rule: your monthly bond instalment cannot exceed 30% of your gross monthly income, regardless of your other debts. The second is the 36% total-debt rule: your bond instalment plus all other monthly debt repayments combined cannot exceed 36% of gross income.
The two rules interact. For someone with no existing debt the housing-cost rule (30%) is binding — they qualify for the full 30% × gross income as bond instalment. For someone with significant existing debt, the total-debt rule (36% minus existing debt) becomes binding and shrinks the bond they qualify for.
Once the maximum monthly instalment is known, the calculator works backwards through the bond amortisation formula at the current interest rate and chosen term to derive the maximum loan amount that produces that instalment. Adding your available deposit gives the maximum home price you can shop for with confidence.
Affordability examples
Six worked examples covering common SA income brackets. All assume 11.25% (prime + 1%) over 20 years, no deposit unless stated.
R20,000 income, no debt
Entry-level — first job buyer
Qualifies for an entry-level home or sectional-title flat.
R35,000 income, R3,000 debt
Mid-career, modest car finance
Total-debt rule binding (36% × 35k − 3k = R9.6k).
R50,000 income, R5,000 debt
Mid-senior — car + credit cards
With R200k deposit, can shop up to R1.44m.
R75,000 income, R8,000 debt
Senior professional, joint applicant
Total-debt cap (36% × 75k − 8k) below housing cap (R22.5k).
R100,000 income, no debt
Senior — debt-free, no other loans
Housing rule binding — qualifies for the full 30%.
R150,000 joint, R12,000 debt
Couple, R8k car + R4k cards
R500k deposit unlocks shopping in the R4.5m range.
Frequently asked questions
How do SA banks decide what bond I qualify for?
Banks apply two affordability rules drawn from National Credit Act Regulation 23A. First, your monthly bond repayment must not exceed 30% of your gross monthly income (the 'housing-cost rule'). Second, your total monthly debt — bond plus all other credit instalments combined — must not exceed 36% of gross income (the 'total-debt rule'). Whichever cap is more restrictive wins. So someone earning R30,000/month with no other debt qualifies for ~R9,000/month bond (housing-cap binding); someone earning R30,000 with R5,000 of other debt qualifies for only ~R5,800/month (total-debt-cap binding).
What counts as 'monthly debt' in the calculation?
Anything that shows up on your credit report as a monthly contractual repayment: vehicle finance, personal loans, credit card minimum payments, store cards (Edgars, Mr Price), retail accounts, study loans, and existing bond instalments if you own other property. It does NOT include rent (you'll be replacing it with the bond), utilities, school fees, food, fuel, insurance premiums, or medical aid — those count as 'living expenses' which banks evaluate separately when assessing your overall affordability picture.
Does my deposit affect what bond I qualify for?
Yes, but indirectly. Your deposit doesn't change the maximum monthly repayment you qualify for (that's purely income-driven). What it changes is the maximum HOME PRICE you can buy: max home price = max loan amount + deposit. So a R200,000 deposit on top of a R1.5m bond qualification means you can buy a R1.7m home. A bigger deposit may also unlock a slightly better interest rate (banks reward lower loan-to-value ratios), which in turn lets you stretch the bond a bit further at the same monthly.
Why does the calculator use 30% and 36%?
These are the historical benchmarks set by the NCA and applied by every major SA bank (FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Capitec) and bond originator (Ooba, BetterBond). Banks may stretch to 33% / 40% for strong applicants — high credit score (above 700), stable employment in a senior role, clean payment history, professional qualification, large deposit. They may tighten below 30% for weaker profiles. The 30% / 36% benchmark is the conservative number that almost everyone qualifies for. If you want a more optimistic view, run the calculator with 33% × income as your max monthly and see what bond that supports.
Joint application — can my partner's income count?
Yes. SA banks routinely combine spouses' or partners' incomes for joint bond applications. Both applicants' gross incomes add together, and both applicants' monthly debt obligations add together. The 30% / 36% rules then apply to the combined figure. A couple each earning R25,000 with R3,000 debt each effectively qualifies for the same bond as one person earning R50,000 with R6,000 debt. Use the combined number in the income field of this calculator.
What about my credit score?
This calculator assumes a credit score sufficient to qualify (650+ on the standard SA bureau scale). Your credit score affects two things the calculator can't model: (1) whether the bank will approve the bond at all, and (2) the interest rate you're offered (top scores get prime − 0.5% to prime − 1%; weaker scores get prime + 1% to prime + 2%). To check your score before applying: TransUnion, Experian, and ClearScore all offer free SA credit reports. Improve a borderline score by paying down credit card balances (most impactful), making every payment on time for 6+ months, and keeping old credit accounts open.
Should I use my gross or net income?
Always gross (before tax). SA banks use gross monthly income as the basis for affordability ratios, not your take-home pay. Use your CTC monthly figure or, if you're paid a basic plus commission, your average gross over the past 6–12 months. Self-employed buyers use the latest income tax assessment from SARS (banks usually want 2 years of returns). If you have a 13th cheque or guaranteed annual bonus, divide it by 12 and add to your monthly figure.
What about First Home Finance (formerly FLISP)?
If you earn between R3,501 and R22,000 gross per month, you may qualify for a First Home Finance subsidy from the Department of Human Settlements — between R30,000 and R130,000, paid directly into your bond, reducing the loan amount. This is a once-off subsidy for first-time buyers only. The calculator doesn't yet model FHF; the easiest way to incorporate it is to add the subsidy amount to your deposit and run the calculation again to see your higher max home price.
Sources: Affordability ratios from National Credit Act Regulation 23A and major SA bank affordability calculators (FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Capitec, Ooba). SA prime rate (10.25%) and repo rate (6.75%) sourced from SARB and Ooba, verified May 2026. Calculator is a planning estimate only — your bank's actual decision also depends on your credit score, employment stability, proof of income, and reasonable living expenses. Not financial advice.
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