Question 1

How much can I borrow based on my salary?

Accepted Answer

Most lenders offer 4 to 4.5 times your gross annual income. Some specialist lenders may stretch to 5 or 5.5 times for higher earners or certain professions, but affordability checks still apply.

Question 2

What is a mortgage stress test?

Accepted Answer

Lenders check whether you could still afford payments if interest rates rose, typically by 3 percentage points above the revert rate. This ensures you can cope with higher payments in the future.

Question 3

What is a good debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage?

Accepted Answer

Below 35% is generally comfortable. Most lenders prefer total monthly debt payments (including the new mortgage) not to exceed 40-45% of gross monthly income.