How Much House Can You Afford?
Real B-20 stress test math. GDS + TDS ratios, insured vs uninsured, rate sensitivity across 3 scenarios.
Your Financial Picture
Inputs
B-20 stress test
Federally regulated A-lenders (Big 6, monolines) must qualify you at the greater of contract rate + 2% or 5.25%. B-lenders and credit unions have looser rules.
Max Purchase Price
$594,102
Down payment: $80,000 (13.5%)
Max Mortgage Amount
$514,102
Qualified at 6.29%
Ratio Health
Where you stand
Housing costs ÷ income
Housing + all other debts ÷ income
Rate Sensitivity
How much house at 3 different rates
at 3.29%
$639,971
at 4.29%
$594,102
at 5.29%
$553,787
Summary
These numbers are a good estimate. A licensed IndiBrick advisor will tune them against your actual file and current lender rates.
Get a real pre-approval
Personally reviewed by
Nitish Gupta
Co-Founder · Mortgage Agent Level 1
I personally review every purchase + renewal files, business development and respond within 2 business hours.
Questions you probably have
What is GDS and TDS?+
GDS (Gross Debt Service) = housing costs (mortgage + property tax + heating + 50% of condo fees) ÷ gross monthly income. Max 39% under B-20. TDS (Total Debt Service) = GDS + all other monthly debt payments (car, LOC, credit cards). Max 44% under B-20. You have to pass BOTH ratios to qualify with a Canadian A-lender.
What is the stress test?+
Federal B-20 requires you to qualify at the greater of your contract rate + 2% or 5.25% (the "minimum qualifying rate"). It exists to make sure you can still afford payments if rates rise mid-term. Only federally regulated A-lenders enforce it — provincially regulated credit unions and B-lenders often do not.
How can I qualify for more house?+
Three main levers: 1. Reduce monthly debts — a $400/mo car payment costs you about $80,000 of mortgage qualification. 2. Add a co-signer — blending incomes lowers your GDS/TDS ratios. 3. Larger down payment — reduces the mortgage amount you need to qualify for, and if it takes you over 20% down you also drop CMHC insurance costs.
Should I use the "safe" number or the "max"?+
The number this calculator shows is your MAX under A-lender rules — the bank ceiling. Your "safe" number depends on what else is in your budget: daycare, savings goals, travel, emergency reserves. A common rule: keep total housing cost below 30% of your take-home (post-tax) income for real financial breathing room.
What if I fail the stress test?+
A-lenders will decline. Options: (1) reduce purchase price so you fit within stress-tested ratios, (2) increase down payment, (3) reduce other debts, (4) use a B-lender (rates 100–200 bps higher but no stress test), (5) add a co-signer. A broker can route the file — a single decline at your bank does not mean the deal is dead.
Real numbers, real broker.
The math above is a good estimate — a licensed IndiBrick advisor will tune it against your file and current lender rates.
Get a real pre-approvalFSRA-licensed · Response within 2 business hours