BC Mortgage Affordability Calculator — How Much Can You Afford?

Calculate how much mortgage you qualify for in BC under 2026 stress test rules. Includes Gross Debt Service (GDS) and Total Debt Service (TDS) ratios plus BC-specific costs. Results are estimates only.

Your Income & Debts

Gross annual household income (CAD)

Down payment available

Monthly debt payments (cards, loans, car)

Expected mortgage rate (%) Stress test adds 2% on top for qualifying

Amortization (years)

Property tax (annual, BC) Typical BC: $3K-$8K depending on property value and city

Monthly heating estimate

Your Affordability

Max monthly housing cost (GDS 39%)$4,875

Max monthly housing + debt (TDS 44%)$5,500

Stress test qualifying rate7.25%

Max mortgage at A-lender$595,000

Plus your down payment$100,000

Max purchase price$695,000

A-lender numbers. B-lender and private programs use contract rate (not stress test) and may qualify you for significantly more.

How affordability is calculated in Canada

Two debt-service ratios are the gatekeeper for A-lender mortgage approval:

Gross Debt Service (GDS) — housing costs (mortgage + property tax + heat + 50% of condo fees) divided by gross income. Maximum 39% at most insured A-lenders.
Total Debt Service (TDS) — GDS plus all other monthly debt payments (cards, loans, car). Maximum 44%.

Both ratios must use the stress test qualifying rate — contract rate + 2%, or 5.25% (the BoC qualifying rate), whichever is higher. This means your qualifying payment is roughly 25-35% higher than the actual payment you'd make.

What B-lenders and private mortgages change

B-lender refinances — qualify at contract rate, not stress test. Often qualifies $100K-$300K more on the same income.
Private mortgages — equity-based, don't apply stress test or debt ratios. Useful when bank affordability falls short of what you actually need.
B-lender stated income — for self-employed, uses bank statements or grossed-up income instead of T4.

Bank says you don't qualify? You might still have options.

2-minute qualifier matches your income, equity, and credit to B-lender and private mortgage options that may qualify you for more.

Check My Options

FAQ

Why is my stress test qualifying rate higher than my contract rate?

The B-20 stress test (mandatory for federally regulated A-lenders) adds 2% to your contract rate to test whether you could still afford the mortgage if rates rose. Designed to prevent borrowers from over-extending during low-rate periods.

Can I qualify for more with a B-lender?

Often yes — B-lenders use contract rate (not contract + 2%) for insurable refinances. The difference frequently gets a borrower an additional $100K-$300K in qualifying mortgage amount. Trade-off is a higher contract rate (6.5-8.5% vs 5%).

What's the difference between GDS and TDS?

GDS is housing costs only (mortgage + tax + heat + 50% condo fees) divided by income. TDS adds your other monthly debts. A-lenders typically cap GDS at 39% and TDS at 44%.