Mortgage · British Columbia
How much house can I afford in BC?
BC homes cost more relative to income than most of Canada, so the ratio that binds matters. Enter income, debts and down payment to see your maximum price at the stress-test rate, then see what BC property transfer tax adds.
Worked example. A household earning $140,000 with $400 of monthly debts and a $150,000 down payment can afford a BC home of about $701,800 (mortgage $551,800), with GDS as the binding limit, tested at 7%. At a price like that the down payment tiers still apply: 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the rest.
The rules behind every figure on this page: the qualifying rate is the greater of your contract rate plus 2% or 5.25% (OSFI, page modified 29 January 2026); CMHC restricts GDS to 39% and TDS to 44%; and the minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000, 10% of the portion up to $1.5 million and 20% at $1.5 million or more (FCAC). Checked retrieved 15 October 2026.
Inputs
Result
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Worked numbers
Outputs of this calculator with these assumptions: $400 of other monthly debts, a 5% contract rate (tested at 7%), 25-year amortization, property tax at 1% of the price a year and $100 a month for heating. Those are assumptions you can change in the form, not published figures. Rounded to the nearest $100.
| Gross income | Max mortgage | Max price | Binding limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| $90,000 | $341,300 | $491,300 | TDS 44% |
| $110,000 | $427,400 | $577,400 | GDS 39% |
| $140,000 | $551,800 | $701,800 | GDS 39% |
| $170,000 | $676,200 | $826,200 | GDS 39% |
| $200,000 | $800,600 | $950,600 | GDS 39% |
| Contract rate | Tested at | Max mortgage | Max price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | 6% | $598,100 | $748,100 |
| 5% | 7% | $551,800 | $701,800 |
| 6% | 8% | $510,900 | $660,900 |
| 7% | 9% | $474,600 | $624,600 |
What BC adds on top of the price
British Columbia charges property transfer tax when title is registered (Government of British Columbia). BC's first time home buyers' program can exempt eligible buyers: on gov.bc.ca, as retrieved 15 October 2026, a full exemption applies where the home's fair market value is $835,000 or less (effective 1 April 2024), with a partial exemption above that up to $860,000, and eligibility conditions such as principal residence use. Rules change, so check the page before relying on it. The BC property transfer tax calculator and the BC closing costs calculator work out the amount.
The 1% property tax rate used above is a placeholder. Actual rates differ by municipality and by whether the home is a condo, so replace it with the real figure, and enter strata fees in the condo field (lenders count half).
How this calculator works
It finds the largest mortgage whose payment at the qualifying rate keeps both ratios inside the limits, then adds your down payment. GDS is mortgage payment + property tax + heating + 50% of condo fees, at most 39% of gross monthly income. TDS adds every other monthly debt payment and is capped at 44%. Payments use Canadian semi-annual compounding. The same engine as the main mortgage affordability calculator is used, so the two always agree for the same inputs.
Not included: the CMHC insurance premium (added to the loan when the down payment is under 20%, so treat results with less than 20% down as an upper bound), your credit score, rental income, and any tighter lender-specific limits. A pre-approval from a lender or broker is the only figure that counts.
Sources (retrieved 15 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford in BC on a $140,000 income?
About $701,800 with $400 of monthly debts, a $150,000 down payment, a 5% contract rate and a 25-year amortization. The lender tests it at 7%.
Does BC property transfer tax count in the stress test?
No. It is a cash cost at closing, separate from the GDS and TDS ratios. Budget for it on top of your down payment.
Do condo strata fees reduce what I can afford?
Yes. CMHC counts 50% of condo fees in both GDS and TDS, so enter the monthly fee in the condo field and the maximum price drops.
Why is my bank's number different?
Real approval depends on credit, employment, the actual property tax and heating cost, and lender policy. This tool also leaves out any CMHC premium.
More ways to ask the same question
How Much House Can I Afford in Ontario · How Much House Can I Afford in Alberta · How Much House Can I Afford in Quebec · Mortgage on a $80,000 Salary · Mortgage on a $100,000 Salary · Mortgage on a $150,000 Salary · GDS and TDS Worked Examples · How Much House Can I Afford: Single vs Couple
Estimate only — not lending advice
This is an educational estimate. It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere. Approval depends on credit, employment, the actual property tax and heating cost, and lender policy; confirm with a lender or mortgage broker.