{
  "source": "Blueprint Finance",
  "canonical_url": "https://blueprintfinance.co.nz/borrowing-power/",
  "meta": {
    "status": "live",
    "updated": "2026-06-22",
    "updated_by": "Madhav Bhandari",
    "next_review": "2026-06-29",
    "disclaimer": "Indicative figures only. They vary by lender and change frequently. This is general information, not financial advice — always confirm current criteria with a licensed financial adviser."
  },
  "test_rates": {
    "heading": "Major bank test rate (stress test rate)",
    "explainer": "The interest rate a bank uses to check you could still afford the mortgage if rates rose — not the rate you actually pay. A higher test rate means you can borrow less. Typically a couple of percent above advertised rates.",
    "unit": "% p.a.",
    "major_bank_rate_pct": 7,
    "as_at": "2026-06-22",
    "verified": true,
    "source_note": "Representative major-bank servicing test rate. Confirmed by Madhav Bhandari 2026-06-22."
  },
  "dti": {
    "heading": "Debt-to-income (DTI) limits",
    "explainer": "RBNZ caps on how much you can borrow as a multiple of gross income, in force since mid-2024. Banks may lend above the caps for a limited share of new lending (the 'speed limit').",
    "owner_occupier_cap_x": 6,
    "investor_cap_x": 7,
    "speed_limit_note": "Banks may exceed the caps for up to 20% of new owner-occupier lending and 5% of new investor lending.",
    "as_at": "2026-06-22",
    "verified": true,
    "source_note": "RBNZ DTI framework (OO 6×, investor 7×). Confirmed by Madhav Bhandari 2026-06-22."
  },
  "lvr": {
    "heading": "Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) limits",
    "explainer": "Minimum deposit rules. LVR is the loan as a percentage of the property value — a 20% deposit is an 80% LVR.",
    "owner_occupier_max_lvr_pct": 80,
    "investor_max_lvr_pct": 70,
    "low_deposit_note": "First Home Loan (Kāinga Ora) can allow as little as a 5% deposit for eligible buyers — confirm current eligibility.",
    "as_at": "2026-06-22",
    "verified": true,
    "source_note": "RBNZ LVR settings (OO max 80%, investor max 70%). Confirmed by Madhav Bhandari 2026-06-22."
  },
  "boarder_income": {
    "heading": "Boarder income",
    "explainer": "How much income from a boarder (e.g. a flatmate) a bank will count toward your mortgage application. Varies by lender and number of boarders.",
    "typical_per_boarder_per_week_nzd": 250,
    "max_boarders_counted": 2,
    "notes": "Counted at about 75% of the rent received. Up to 2 boarders are counted with a 20%+ deposit, or 1 boarder with less than a 20% deposit.",
    "as_at": "2026-06-22",
    "verified": true,
    "source_note": "Blueprint adviser policy, confirmed by Madhav Bhandari 2026-06-22."
  },
  "living_costs": {
    "heading": "Living cost benchmarks",
    "explainer": "The minimum essential living expenses a bank assumes when assessing affordability — used as a floor when your declared expenses are lower. These are the working benchmarks our advisers apply; individual banks use their own expense tables, which vary.",
    "unit": "NZD per month",
    "households": [
      {
        "type": "Single, no dependents",
        "monthly_nzd": 1250
      },
      {
        "type": "Single, 1 dependent",
        "monthly_nzd": 1650
      },
      {
        "type": "Couple, no dependents",
        "monthly_nzd": 1850
      },
      {
        "type": "Couple, 1 dependent",
        "monthly_nzd": 2250
      },
      {
        "type": "Couple, 2 dependents",
        "monthly_nzd": 2650
      },
      {
        "type": "Couple, 3 dependents",
        "monthly_nzd": 3050
      }
    ],
    "as_at": "2026-06-22",
    "verified": true,
    "source_note": "Blueprint adviser benchmarks (base by household + $400/dependent per month). Excludes vehicle running costs, shown separately. Mirrors our 'How Much Can I Borrow' calculator. Confirmed by Madhav Bhandari 2026-06-22."
  },
  "vehicle_costs": {
    "heading": "Vehicle running costs in affordability",
    "explainer": "The ongoing vehicle cost a bank assumes per car when assessing how much you can borrow, on top of any car loan repayments.",
    "assumed_per_vehicle_per_year_nzd": 3000,
    "notes": "About $250/month per vehicle, on top of any car-loan repayment.",
    "as_at": "2026-06-22",
    "verified": true,
    "source_note": "Blueprint adviser benchmark, mirrors our calculator. Confirmed by Madhav Bhandari 2026-06-22."
  },
  "external_rates": {
    "heading": "Current interest rates",
    "explainer": "We don't republish live mortgage rates — interest.co.nz and the banks keep those current and comprehensive. For the OCR, see the Reserve Bank.",
    "links": [
      {
        "label": "Compare current mortgage rates (interest.co.nz)",
        "url": "https://www.interest.co.nz/borrowing"
      },
      {
        "label": "Official Cash Rate — Reserve Bank of NZ",
        "url": "https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy/official-cash-rate-decisions"
      }
    ]
  },
  "first_home": {
    "heading": "First-home buyer support",
    "explainer": "Government and lender support specific to first-home buyers — deposit requirements, regional price caps, and KiwiSaver access. The First Home Grant was discontinued in 2024 and is deliberately not listed.",
    "first_home_loan": {
      "label": "First Home Loan (Kāinga Ora)",
      "min_deposit_pct": 5,
      "notes": "Lets eligible buyers borrow with as little as a 5% deposit through participating lenders. Confirm current income caps and eligibility."
    },
    "price_caps": {
      "label": "Kāinga Ora regional price caps",
      "notes": "Caps vary by region and are set by Kāinga Ora.",
      "url": "https://kaingaora.govt.nz/en_NZ/home-ownership/"
    },
    "kiwisaver_first_home": {
      "label": "KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal",
      "notes": "Eligible members can withdraw most of their KiwiSaver toward a first home, leaving a minimum balance in the account. Confirm the current minimum-balance and 3-year membership rules."
    },
    "as_at": "2026-06-22",
    "verified": true,
    "source_note": "First Home Loan 5% min deposit (Kāinga Ora). Confirmed by Madhav Bhandari 2026-06-22."
  },
  "calculator": {
    "_note": "Assumptions for the on-page borrowing calculator (section/borrowing-calculator). These MIRROR Blueprint's 'How Much Can I Borrow' spreadsheet so the website agrees with what advisers show clients. Edit here to keep both in sync. tax_brackets currently match the spreadsheet (pre-July-2024 thresholds) — confirm whether to update to the current 15,600 / 53,500 / 78,100 thresholds.",
    "heading": "How much could you borrow?",
    "intro": "A realistic estimate, the way a bank works it out: income after tax, ACC and KiwiSaver, minus living costs and existing debts, tested at a higher 'stress' rate.",
    "test_rate_default_pct": 7,
    "term_years_default": 30,
    "servicing_buffer_monthly_nzd": 350,
    "kiwisaver_default_pct": 3,
    "kiwisaver_options_pct": [
      3,
      4,
      6,
      8,
      10
    ],
    "other_income_shading_pct": 75,
    "boarder_per_week_nzd": 250,
    "max_boarders": 2,
    "boarder_shading_pct": 75,
    "credit_card_assessed_monthly_pct": 3,
    "existing_mortgage_assess_term_years": 30,
    "living_cost_base_monthly_nzd": {
      "single": 1250,
      "couple": 1850
    },
    "per_dependent_monthly_nzd": 400,
    "per_vehicle_monthly_nzd": 250,
    "acc_levy_pct": 1.4,
    "acc_income_cap_nzd": 125000,
    "tax_brackets": [
      {
        "up_to": 14000,
        "rate_pct": 10.5
      },
      {
        "up_to": 48000,
        "rate_pct": 17.5
      },
      {
        "up_to": 70000,
        "rate_pct": 30
      },
      {
        "up_to": 180000,
        "rate_pct": 33
      },
      {
        "up_to": null,
        "rate_pct": 39
      }
    ],
    "dti_owner_occupier_cap_x": 6,
    "dti_investor_cap_x": 7
  },
  "faqs": [
    {
      "q": "What is a bank 'test rate' (stress test rate) in New Zealand?",
      "a": "It's the interest rate a bank uses to check you could still afford your mortgage if rates rose — not the rate you actually pay. It's usually a couple of percent above advertised rates, and a higher test rate means you can borrow less."
    },
    {
      "q": "What is the debt-to-income (DTI) limit in NZ?",
      "a": "Since mid-2024 the Reserve Bank caps how much most buyers can borrow as a multiple of gross income, with separate caps for owner-occupiers and investors. Banks can still lend above the caps for a small share of their new lending — the 'speed limit'."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much deposit do I need to buy a home in NZ?",
      "a": "Most owner-occupiers need at least a 20% deposit (an 80% LVR). Banks can do a limited amount of low-deposit lending, and eligible first-home buyers may access lower-deposit options such as the First Home Loan."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does boarder or flatmate income count towards a mortgage?",
      "a": "Some lenders count a portion of boarder income towards your application — usually up to a set amount per boarder per week and a maximum number of boarders. Policies vary by bank."
    },
    {
      "q": "What living costs do banks assume when assessing affordability?",
      "a": "Banks apply minimum living-expense benchmarks based on your household type, used as a floor if your declared expenses are lower. They sit on top of your mortgage, rates, insurance and other commitments."
    },
    {
      "q": "How often is this lending data updated?",
      "a": "We review these figures every Monday, and each section shows the date its figures were last confirmed. They're indicative and vary by lender — always confirm current criteria with a licensed adviser."
    }
  ]
}