Profile 1
Dual-income first-time buyer
Combined $150K-$220K, 10-20% down, no other debts. Stress test at 5.25%+ contract rate. Target $700K-$1.05M condo/townhome in Central Coquitlam, Lincoln, or PoCo.
Coquitlam Home Affordability Calculator
What a Coquitlam lender will actually approve you for — based on your real income and real debts.
Updated April 20, 2026
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Craig Johnston, REALTOR® · The Macnabs
This is the income-first calculator. Tell me what you earn, what you owe, and what you have for a down payment. I'll give you the real maximum purchase price — the one the lender will actually underwrite after the stress test. Three scenarios: conservative, target, stretch.
39%
GDS limit (conventional)
44%
TDS limit (conventional)
5.25%
Stress-test floor
3%
Implied card payment
$0
BC PTT under $500K (FTB)
1%
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Your Situation
Income, debts, and cash
Numbers update instantly.
Before taxes. Include both partners if co-applying.
Coquitlam avg ~0.34%
Applies BC FTB program exemption automatically.
Monthly Debts
Lender uses 3% of balance as min pmt
3% rule applies
Housing assumptions
Target Maximum Purchase Price
$0
Based on conventional 39% GDS / 44% TDS at the stress-tested rate
Conservative
$0
Target
$0
Stretch
$0
Conservative = 32% GDS · Target = 39% GDS · Stretch = 44% TDS (broker territory)
Qualifying rate (stress test)—
Max monthly housing budget$0
Max mortgage payment$0
Implied max mortgage$0
Down payment applied$0
BC PTT (at target price)$0
Debt servicing burden$0/mo
What this doesn't capture: alternative / credit-union programs, business-for-self income treatment, or gifted-down-payment gross-ups. Book a Strategy Call for those cases.
Why income-first matters
Most buyers shop a price — then discover they don't qualify
Here's the pattern I watch play out in Coquitlam every week: a buyer falls in love with a listing at $1.15M, writes an offer subject to financing, then the lender comes back with "we can approve $980K." The offer collapses, the house gets re-listed, and three weeks of emotional energy evaporate.
The fix is to run the numbers in this direction — income and debts in, maximum price out. When you know your ceiling before you shop, you either (a) shop within it and write confident offers, or (b) take six months to clean up debts, build the down payment, and raise the ceiling. Either path beats falling for a house the lender won't back.
The calculator above is conservative by design. Lenders sometimes stretch beyond 44% TDS for strong applicants — but planning to 44% is asking for trouble. Plan to your target scenario (39% GDS). Know your stretch number exists. Stay flexible.
The Math Behind The Scenarios
How the three numbers are calculated
Every lender uses the same two ratios to approve you. The three scenarios in the result box show what those ratios mean at different levels of comfort:
| Scenario | Ratio applied | Who should use it | Approval path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 32% GDS | Buyers planning a family, career change, or who value cushion | Any lender — sleep-at-night approval |
| Target | 39% GDS | Most buyers — the conventional approval limit | Any A-lender, clean application |
| Stretch | 44% TDS | Strong credit, dual income, no other debt | Broker shopping; credit unions more flexible than banks |
All three scenarios apply the federal stress test — your qualifying rate is contract+2% (or 5.25% floor, whichever is greater). That's the rate your payment ratios are tested at. The actual rate you pay is the contract rate.
Affordability isn't what you can barely qualify for. It's what you can comfortably carry for five years without white-knuckling every mortgage payment. Target, not stretch.
— Craig Johnston, Coquitlam REALTOR®
How I actually work with you
A five-step process built around clarity, strategy, and no-surprise execution — whether you're buying your first home or moving up.
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01
Evaluate — where you actually stand
We start with a real conversation about your goals, timeline, and numbers. I'll pull current comps, assess your buying power or home's true market value, and tell you exactly what the data says — not what you want to hear.
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02
Strategize — a plan built for your situation
I build a written strategy around your priorities: target neighbourhoods, pricing strategy, timeline, financing structure, and the trade-offs at each decision point. Every recommendation comes with a reason.
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03
Prepare — listings, offers, and due diligence
For sellers: pre-list prep, staging direction, pro photography, and a pricing framework that draws interest without leaving money on the table. For buyers: offer structure, subject clauses, and the due-diligence checklist for every property that matters.
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04
Negotiate — protecting your position
This is where experience pays for itself. I negotiate price, terms, subjects, deposit, completion dates, and the small details that don't show up in listings but decide whether a deal closes well or falls apart.
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05
Close — and stay with you after
From subject removal through completion and possession, I coordinate with lawyers, lenders, inspectors, and trades so nothing drops. After closing, I stay in your corner for everything from tax-assessment appeals to the next move.
Reading the results
What each number in the output means
Target maximum purchase price
The price at which your housing costs hit 39% GDS. This is what a clean-application buyer should plan against.
Qualifying rate
Contract rate + 2%, floor of 5.25%. Your payment ratios are calculated at this rate, not the contract rate.
Max monthly housing budget
Your income × GDS limit ÷ 12. The total monthly dollars available for mortgage + tax + heat + half-strata.
Implied max mortgage
Backed out from the max mortgage payment at the qualifying rate. This is the loan size the lender will underwrite.
Debt servicing burden
Sum of implied minimums on your cards, LOC, auto loan, and student loan — the amount that reduces your housing budget under TDS.
BC PTT at target price
The Property Transfer Tax on the target purchase price, with FTB exemption applied if toggled.
FAQ
Home affordability, answered
Why are credit cards penalizing me if I pay them off every month?
Lenders don't look at what you actually pay — they look at what you could be required to pay. The rule of thumb is 3% of the outstanding balance. A $10K card balance implies a $300/mo min payment, whether you carry it or not. Pay cards to zero before applying.
Does co-signing affect affordability?
Yes — if you co-signed a loan (student, auto, parent's mortgage), that payment counts against your TDS even though you're not the primary borrower. Get it removed if possible before applying.
What's a realistic Coquitlam down payment?
5% is the federal minimum on homes under $500K. 10% on the portion from $500K–$1.5M. Over $1.5M, minimum is 20%. Most Coquitlam detached purchases require 20% down because prices sit above the insured threshold.
Should I use gifted funds?
Yes, and it's common in the Tri-Cities. Lenders accept gifts from immediate family with a signed gift letter. The funds need to be in your account 90 days before closing for most lenders.
Can I afford more than the calculator says?
Sometimes — with a credit union, with a broker who shops B-lenders, or with a larger down payment that removes CMHC insurance from the equation. Book a Strategy Call; I have a small network of Coquitlam brokers who specialize in the edge cases.
Three ways to use this
Know your number. Now what?
Knowing the number is step one. Step two is knowing which Coquitlam neighbourhoods fit that number, what a realistic offer looks like in today's market, and which lender will fund the deal with the least friction.
Continue Reading
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