How can I borrow more?

How do I borrow more money?

One of the most common questions we get is, “How can I borrow more?” Whether you're a first-home buyer or a seasoned investor, increasing your borrowing capacity can be the difference between buying the home you want… or missing out.

The good news? There are practical steps you can take — and they don’t all involve earning more money. Let’s break it down.

1. Understand How Banks Calculate It

Your borrowing capacity is basically a bank's way of working out how much you can comfortably repay. They’ll look at your income, expenses, debts, number of dependents, and how much of a buffer they want to build in (interest rate rises, living costs etc). Every lender has their own formula, so one bank might say yes while another says no — even if nothing’s changed in your situation.

2. Reduce Personal Debt

Credit cards, car loans, After pay accounts — all of these reduce how much you can borrow. Even if you don’t owe anything on the card, the lender assumes it’s “maxed out” when they do the maths. Dropping your credit card limit or paying off small debts can have a bigger impact than you might think.

3. Declare All Income

This sounds obvious, but we often see people under-represent their earnings. Bonuses, commissions, rental income, family tax benefits, even regular overtime — these can all help your case if they’re stable and provable. We help our clients package this up in the most favourable way when presenting to lenders.

4. Tidy Up Your Living Expenses

Lenders don’t just take your word for it — they go through your statements line by line. That Uber Eats habit, multiple streaming services, or regular online shopping? It all adds up. Living a little leaner for a few months before applying can genuinely boost your capacity.

5. Choose the Right Lender

Not all banks are created equal. Some are conservative, some are investor-friendly, some are flexible on things like dependents or self-employment income. The trick is matching your scenario to the right lender — not trying to squeeze you into the wrong one. That’s where a good broker comes in.

6. Consider a Guarantor or Partnering Up

This won’t suit everyone, but if you’ve got supportive family members, or someone you trust who’s also keen to invest, you might be able to boost your capacity by teaming up. There are risks and responsibilities, so tread carefully, but in the right situation it can be a game changer.

In summary

You don’t need to earn six figures to qualify for a great loan — but you do need to be smart about how you present your situation. And that’s where we come in. We've helped clients borrow more simply by understanding the rules of the game better than the average bank branch does.

If you'd like a free review of your current borrowing power and tips tailored to your situation, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to help.

Sam Nott