How Much House Can I Afford?

For aspiring homeowners, be it a first-time buyer, downsizer, or investor, picturing your idea of homeownership bliss is the easy part. But before deliberating on furniture choices or scouting for that perfect neighbourhood coffee, understanding your purchasing power stands out as the most important step in ensuring your success in homeownership.

And with the Australian property market gaining momentum in 2024, there’s never been a better time to come to grips with your financial options.

In 2023, amid the changing financial landscape that saw rising interest rates and the cost of living skyrocket, among other factors, the total amount borrowed for property purchases across Australia was estimated at $300.9 billion, a 12.7 percent decrease from the previous year, according to PEXA’s latest Mortgage Insights Report.

Each mainland state also experienced a decline in new lending, according to the report, with Victoria and New South Wales seeing the biggest drops to $84.1 billion and $109.5 billion, respectively.

While this trend reflects the repercussions of such financial hardships on the everyday Australian, John Morello, director and auctioneer at Jellis Craig, said we’re seeing renewed confidence in the property market during the first quarter of 2024, particularly in Melbourne.

“Auction clearance rates have started the year strongly and consumer sentiment is rising. This lift is driven by cooling inflation and an improved outlook on interest rates. At Jellis Craig, as with the rest of the market, we are experiencing an increase in volume of property compared to the same period in March last year (up 28% in 2024),” Mr Morello said.

“Melbourne’s property market, in particular, is showing its ongoing evolution and resilience.”

PEXA’s report revealed that, while borrowing saw a decrease in 2023 in Australia, Australians still invested $613.0 billion in property purchases in 2023. In 2024, purchasing confidence is only going up, as prospective first home buyers, seasoned downsizers, and savvy investors look to capitalise on a flood of new property hitting the market, coupled with the lowering of interest rates across the board.

“With more certainty in the economic outlook, along with an increase in volume of property available, we are seeing these factors translate to early signs of a boost in confidence in both buyers and sellers,” said Mr Morello.

“Further encouraging data shows that whilst there is more property available to purchase, more people are inspecting property, again indicating that demand has increased broadly across our marketplace.”

If you’re in the market for a new property, the biggest question you must ask yourself is how much house can I afford?

A great starting place is to speak with your mortgage broker or financial professional, who can guide you on your lending options. This is critical, as you need to know what your future repayment options might look like, and ultimately, what you will typically be able to afford.

A useful tool for judging whether you can afford a specific property is to factor in the 28/36 rule — a rough guide that suggests you should not spend more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income on housing, and no more than 36 percent on all debts. Another useful tool is the idea of a debt-to-income ratio (DTI); a formula whereby an individual can divide all of their monthly debt payments by gross monthly income to arrive at a number that one can measure as a way of managing monthly mortgage payments.

Mr Morello emphasised the need to understand affordability and what’s feasible for each individual when looking to make a purchase, no matter the budget, on a property in 2024.

“It’s pivotal to work out what you can afford. Get your finances in order. Consider all associated costs with buying, and research what concessions and grants are available,” said Mr Morello.

“It’s easy for individuals to begin the process today. Start actively searching potential properties on a weekly basis, and research areas you are interested in. Check weekly sales results, attend inspections and auctions, to get a feel for the process. Just remember, it’s important to be really comfortable in understanding your living expenses, and what the ongoing expenses will be once you have bought a property.

“For example, mortgage repayments, council rates, water, power, owners corp fees, insurances, maintenance costs; if you are buying as an investment, the Land Tax payable on that property which is an ongoing tax. There’s many factors to consider.”

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To see what’s possible for your specific circumstances, visit our Finance Portal for specific tools, guides and tips—as well as our own mortgage calculator—to assist you on your property journey.

Property has always been about more than buying and selling. A home can represent a fresh start, a long-term investment, an architectural idea or a connection to a particular neighbourhood. Even when people are not planning a move, many still enjoy following the market, researching local areas and discovering the stories behind remarkable homes.

Atlas Real Estate is responding to that wider interest by creating more ways for people to engage with property. Bringing listings, market information, local perspectives and lifestyle stories together, Atlas offers a destination for anyone curious about homes and the communities surrounding them.

It reflects the reality that people approach real estate with different needs and motivations. One visitor might be actively searching for a new home, while another may want to understand recent results in their suburb. Others might be keeping an eye on changing market conditions, exploring an unfamiliar area or simply appreciating thoughtful architecture and premium residential design.

At atlas.com.au, those interests meet in one place. Visitors can browse properties for sale and recent results, while also exploring market insights, featured homes, local stories and introductions to the people behind Atlas. The result is an experience designed to remain relevant before, during and after a traditional property transaction.

“We’re reimagining real estate around how people actually engage with property today — bringing together market insight, exceptional homes, local perspective and lifestyle in a way that feels more relevant and useful,” says Michael Coombs, Director of Atlas Real Estate.

That approach recognises that an interest in property rarely begins on the day someone decides to buy or sell. A future buyer may spend months learning about suburbs, monitoring prices and refining their sense of what they want. A homeowner might follow nearby sales to understand the changing value and character of their area. An investor may be looking for broader market context, while a design enthusiast may be drawn to an exceptional renovation or a distinctive piece of architecture.

By accommodating those different forms of curiosity, Atlas aims to make engaging with real estate feel less transactional and more connected to everyday life. Property is shaped by its surroundings: the streets, businesses, landscapes and people that give a place its identity. Understanding a home therefore means looking beyond its floor plan or sales history to consider the lifestyle and community that come with it.

This broader perspective also gives local stories a meaningful role. Suburbs are constantly evolving, influenced by new businesses, changing demographics, design trends and the people who choose to make them home. Content that explores these forces can help readers build a richer understanding of an area, whether they are preparing to move there or simply want to stay informed about their own neighbourhood.

The same is true of market information. Sales results and property data are most useful when they are accessible and supported by context. Bringing recent results together with insights and local knowledge can help people follow the market on their own terms, without suggesting that every visit must lead immediately to a transaction.

For Atlas, this thinking forms part of “Real Estate, Reimagined”, its broader brand campaign focused on using brand, creativity and technology to deliver a more relevant, useful and human real estate experience. Rather than treating technology as an end in itself, the emphasis is on how it can make property easier and more engaging to explore.

That human focus matters because real estate decisions are often closely tied to significant moments in people’s lives. A move may be connected to a growing family, a new job, a change in lifestyle or a long-held ambition. Even outside those milestones, homes and neighbourhoods remain a source of interest because they reflect how people live and how communities develop.

Atlas’s approach makes room for both the practical and aspirational sides of that interest. Readers can seek out information with a clear goal in mind or browse simply because a property, place or story captures their attention. In either case, they can move easily between homes, results, market perspectives and local inspiration.

The ambition is not to redefine why people care about property, but to reflect the many reasons they already do. By combining useful information with engaging editorial content, Atlas is creating a place for buyers, sellers, homeowners, investors and the property-curious alike.

Whatever brings you to property, discover more at atlas.com.au

How Much House Can I Afford?

Expert tips for prospective buyers looking to purchase a home in 2024.

Atlas Real Estate is reimagining how people connect with property, combining listings, market insights, local stories and lifestyle content in one destination for those buying, selling or simply exploring the market.