What can I afford?
A free guide to the homes you could look at, and what each one would cost a month
Your budget
Tell us your income, debts and deposit. We’ll show the most you could look at, the likely monthly mortgage cost, and the stamp duty and fees on top. Your figures stay on your device and are never sent to us.
A guide only, not mortgage advice or an offer to lend. Lenders decide how much they will lend. Speak to a mortgage adviser before you commit.
How much could I borrow?
Most lenders offer somewhere around 4 to 4.5 times your yearly income. Some go higher for certain jobs or high earners, and some go lower. Your regular debts and costs, such as loans, car finance, credit cards and childcare, are taken into account and reduce what you are offered. So do your credit history and the size of your deposit.
| Yearly income | 4 times income | 4.5 times income |
|---|---|---|
| £30,000 | £120,000 | £135,000 |
| £40,000 | £160,000 | £180,000 |
| £50,000 | £200,000 | £225,000 |
| £60,000 | £240,000 | £270,000 |
| £80,000 | £320,000 | £360,000 |
| £100,000 | £400,000 | £450,000 |
Those are the amount a lender might lend, before your deposit is added. The tool takes £12 off your yearly income for every £1 a month you pay in debts and childcare, and uses 4 times income for pension income.
What will the mortgage cost each month?
The monthly cost depends on how much you borrow, the interest rate and how many years you take. As a rule of thumb, here is the monthly repayment for every £100,000 borrowed over 25 years on a repayment mortgage:
| Interest rate | Monthly repayment per £100,000 |
|---|---|
| 4% | £528 |
| 5% | £585 |
| 6% | £644 |
Rates also move with the size of your deposit: a bigger deposit usually means a lower rate. The tool shows what happens to the monthly cost if rates rise by 1, 2 or 3 percentage points, which is worth checking before you buy. For a full repayment schedule, use our mortgage calculator.
What do I pay on top of the price?
Your deposit has to cover more than the home itself. In England and Northern Ireland, stamp duty on a home you will live in is charged in bands (rates checked 11 October 2026):
| Part of the price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 to £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Above £1,500,000 | 12% |
First-time buyers pay nothing up to £300,000 and 5% on the part up to £500,000, but get no relief on homes priced above £500,000. Buying an additional home adds 5 percentage points to every band. Scotland has its own tax (LBTT) and Wales has its own (land transaction tax); the tool uses the right one when you choose where you are buying.
There are other costs too. For a home around £250,000, expect roughly £1,950 to £3,900 for legal fees and searches, a survey and removals. The tool counts a typical figure for these, plus about £1,000 of mortgage fees (you can switch that off), before it works out how much you need to borrow.
What about running costs?
The mortgage is only part of the monthly bill. Each property page on Movuda UK adds estimated council tax, energy, water and insurance (and service charge and ground rent on leasehold homes) so you can see an all-in monthly figure. If a lease has fewer than 80 years left, we flag it, because some lenders will not lend on short leases and extending one can be costly.
Questions people ask
How much deposit do I need?
Most lenders want at least 5% of the price, and the more you put down the better the rates tend to be. Your deposit also has to cover stamp duty and buying costs, which is why the tool counts those first.
Does the tool store my income?
No. What you type stays in your own browser on your own device. It is never sent to us and never saved on our servers. The only side effect is that a different phone or computer starts blank.
I am selling a home as well. Can I include that?
Yes. If you are moving home, add the likely sale price and what you still owe. We take off about 2% for selling costs and add what is left to your deposit. Not sure what your home is worth? Check recent sold prices near you.
Can I use it if I want to rent?
Yes. Landlords usually ask for a yearly income of about 30 times the monthly rent, so the tool shows the most rent that fits your income and marks rental listings within budget, a stretch or over budget.
Is this mortgage advice?
No. It is a guide to help you search, based on typical lending rules and the assumptions explained on this page (last reviewed 15 October 2026). A lender will look at much more than this, and the real offer could be higher or lower. Speak to a mortgage adviser before you make an offer.