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Borrowing power

Links Property Finance · Mortgage broker in Sydney: Borrowing Power Assessment

The same income gets very different answers from different lenders. Get your real range before you start looking.

Reviewed by Charles Touma Updated 18 October 2026

$0broker fee on most loans
5.0from 32 Google reviews
70+lenders on our panel
Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property Finance

Charles Touma Sydney mortgage brokerYou deal directly with Charles.

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What is your real borrowing power, not a website guess?

Your real borrowing power is the figure a lender produces from your verified income, debts and living costs, tested at a rate about 3 per cent above the one you would pay.

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Every lender calculates it differently, so the same person gets a range of answers. A borrowing power assessment runs your figures across the panel before you make an offer.

An empty room with a view, ready to move into

Recent Links clients

  • Two Links Property Finance clients standing inside the timber frame of their new home Building · Sydney
    Their new home, at frame stage. Walls next. The frame is up.
  • A family in front of the sold sign at the home they bought together Family buy · Inner West
    The whole family turned up. A parents’ guarantee, done properly.
  • Next one

    Your sold sign could be next.

    One short call tells you what you can borrow and what to do first.

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How much could you borrow?

How much could you borrow?

$140,000
None

What moves the number

Choose any that apply. Each shows roughly how much it changes the figure, the way a lender’s assessment would.

$635,000

is an indicative borrowing figure at today’s typical rates. Lenders typically count around 80% of rental income, which is why an investment purchase can lift your number, your real figure comes from a proper assessment.

Confirm your numbers.

Borrowers who have worked with Charles.

★★★★★
Charles at Links Property Finance made buying our first home so much easier than we expected. As first home buyers, we had a lot of questions around borrowing capacity, our deposit and the different government schemes available to us. Charles explained everything clearly, compared different lenders and kept us updated throughout the whole process. He was always easy to reach and made sure we understood what was happening from pre approval right through to getting our home loan approved. We would definitely recommend Links Property Finance to anyone looking for a mortgage broker, especially first home buyers who want someone to guide them through the process.
Michael Google review
★★★★★
I honestly couldn’t recommend Links Property Finance and Charles highly enough. After speaking with others who weren’t able to help me, Charles went above and beyond to understand my situation…
Evangelos Google review
★★★★★
Had a great experience with Charles at Links Property Finance. He made the whole home loan process straightforward and easy to understand, kept me updated throughout and was always quick to answer any questions.
Louie Google review

Why lenders differ so much

Policy spread

Lender policy can produce materially different borrowing figures for the same applicant.

Policies

Each lender shades income and expenses its own way. We model many at once.

Real range

You leave with a range you can shop with, and the repayment it means each month.

★★★★★
Charles looked after us really well and his knowledge gave us the confidence to purchase our property. He wasn’t pushy and always ensured we felt comfortable with the repayments.
Sandra5.0 from 32 Google reviews
A Federation home behind a picket fence

Your real range, checked against real lender policy, not a website guess.

Want Charles to turn that figure into a lender-checked range?First name and mobile is all it takes. Everything else comes later.
What are you looking to do? (optional)

★★★★★ 5.0 from 32 Google reviews · Takes about 20 seconds · No documents

No documents needed. No credit check. About a 30-minute conversation, and Charles calls within one business day.

Prefer to pick a time? Book a 30-minute call

Member of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA)Connective aggregator memberCredit Rep 580078 · ACL 389328

How does a borrowing power assessment run, step by step?

  1. 1
    Gather the figures oncePayslips or tax returns, statements, and every loan and card limit.
  2. 2
    Run them across lender calculatorsEach lender’s test rate, living cost benchmark and income treatment.
  3. 3
    See the rangeThe highest figure, the lenders that produce it, and what is limiting it.
  4. 4
    Work the leversCut unused limits, clear small debts, or choose the lender that reads your income best.
  5. 5
    Pre-approvalThe chosen lender assesses the file and confirms the figure.

Why do borrowing power calculators give different answers?

Each lender applies its own living expense benchmarks, assessment rate buffers, income shading and debt treatment, so the same income produces different figures. Online calculators use one set of assumptions.

A broker assessment runs your file across the panel and shows the range, not a single guess.

What reduces borrowing power the most?

Credit card limits, car loans, HECS debt and dependants are the usual culprits, along with living expenses above the benchmark. Lenders also test repayments at a buffer above the actual rate. Cutting card limits and clearing small loans before applying often lifts the figure quickly.

How do lenders assess living expenses?

Lenders compare your declared expenses against a benchmark for your household size and income, then use the higher figure. Bank statements over three months are checked for consistency. Regular spending that looks like a commitment, such as buy now pay later plans, is counted.

How accurate is a broker borrowing power assessment?

A broker assessment uses each lender’s real calculator and policy, so it is close to the formal figure for that lender. It is still conditional on a valuation and verified documents. Treat it as a reliable range rather than a final approval.

Frequently asked questions

Does checking my borrowing power affect my credit score?

No, the assessment stage involves no credit check and no obligation. A credit check only happens later, if and when you apply with a lender.

How accurate is the number?

Far more reliable than an online calculator, because it’s built on verified documents and real lender policy, but it’s still a range, not an approval. The lender always makes the final decision.

How long does it take?

Usually a few days once your documents are in: we verify income and expenses, model you across the panel, and talk you through the result.

How is this different from the online calculator?

The calculator applies general assumptions to numbers you type in. An assessment checks your actual income evidence, your real commitments and your credit position against the written policy of specific lenders.

One gives you a range to plan with; the other gives you a figure you can make an offer on.

Does it cost anything?

No. The conversation is free, and if you go ahead with a loan, the broker fee is $0 on most loans.

Why do different lenders give such different numbers?

Three settings mostly: the assessment rate they test your repayments at (the serviceability buffer), the minimum living expenses they assume (usually HEM), and how much of any variable income they count. Each lender sets its own, and together they routinely move the same household's figure by six figures.

Have Charles check your borrowing range

Get advice on borrowing power assessment

Thirty minutes is usually enough to know the right path, and what it will cost.

Or leave your name and number and Charles calls within one business day.

A Links Property Finance client in front of the sold sign at the first home she bought
Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property Finance
Reviewed by Charles Touma Director & Mortgage Broker · MFAA member · Credit Representative 579003 under ACL 389328 About Charles · MFAA register · ASIC register · Complaints processEvery page is reviewed by Charles before it is published and checked against current lender policy and the official scheme pages linked where figures appear.

General information only, not credit or financial advice. Lender policies and government scheme criteria differ and change over time. All lending is subject to individual assessment and approval.