29/09/2026
I used to think that if a bank approved someone for a certain amount, that was what they could afford to spend on a house.
But I’ve seen plenty of first-home buyers get a pre-approval and then look at the repayments and think, “Hang on. That doesn’t leave us much room to actually live.”
The bank’s number is useful. It tells you what you may be able to borrow. It doesn’t tell you whether you’ll still feel comfortable paying the mortgage when the rates bill arrives, the car needs fixing, or you want to go away for the weekend.
That’s why I like to talk through the repayments before we get too attached to a purchase price. Sometimes the number that feels right is lower than the number on the pre-approval letter.
Buying your first home is exciting. You should still be able to enjoy life once you’re in it.