How much mortgage can you afford in BC? This affordability calculator applies the real stress test, GDS/TDS caps, and insurance rules to give you an honest maximum, and shows what would raise it.
A real Kelowna example
Household income of $150,000, no debts, 10% down. Lenders cap housing costs at 39% of gross income, which is $4,875 a month. Take out roughly $450 for property tax and heat and about $4,425 remains for the mortgage payment. Stress-tested at 6.24%, that carries a mortgage around $675,000, which lands the purchase near $750,000.
Now add a $900 truck payment. Total debts are capped at 44% of income, and that payment eats the room between the two caps, trimming about $40,000 off the ceiling. Vehicles cost buying power before they cost gas.
What the calculator holds you to
The insured math everywhere in Canada: 39% gross debt service, 44% total, qualification at your rate plus 2% (today that means 6.24%), and property tax, heat and half of any strata fee inside the housing number. It’s deliberately conservative. The gap between what you qualify for and what you can comfortably carry is yours to keep.
Sources and method
The rules and figures on this page are checked against primary sources: OSFI (mortgage underwriting and the stress test), CMHC (mortgage loan insurance), Bank of Canada (policy rate). Rates come from the live lender sheet Ash lends from, and carry their own as-of date. Spot an error? Email [email protected] and it gets fixed.
Frequently asked questions
How much mortgage can I afford in BC?
Lenders cap housing costs at 39% of gross income (GDS) and all debts at 44% (TDS), tested at the stress-test rate. This calculator applies both caps plus insurance rules to give you an honest ceiling.
What is the stress test in 2026?
You qualify at the greater of your contract rate plus 2% and the 5.25% floor. Since January 2026, straight lender switches at renewal no longer re-take the test.
What would raise my maximum?
Paying down debts helps most: a $500 monthly car payment costs roughly $70,000 to $90,000 of mortgage room. More down payment, a longer amortization, or added income all move the ceiling too.