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Home Equity Calculator

Discover your potential borrowing power for a home equity loan or line of credit.

Home Equity Calculator

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Home equity explained

Home equity is the part of your home that you truly own. It’s calculated by taking the current value of your home and subtracting what you still owe on your mortgage.

For example, if your home is worth $600,000 and you owe $400,000, your home equity is $200,000. As you pay off your mortgage or if your home’s value increases, your equity can grow.

Many homeowners use their equity for different reasons. You might tap into it to pay for home renovations, consolidate debts, or finance a second mortgage or investment property. This is usually achieved through a home equity loan or a line of credit, which allows you to borrow money based on your home’s equity.

What is a home equity loan?

A home equity loan is a type of mortgage that allows you to borrow money using the equity in your home as collateral. Essentially, you take out a loan based on the difference between your home’s current value and the amount you owe on your mortgage.

What is usable equity and how is it calculated?

Usable equity refers to the amount of equity you can actually access for borrowing, while equity is simply the total value you own in your home.

For instance, if your home is worth $700,000 and has $300,000 in equity, not all of that may be available to use. Lenders typically allow you to borrow up to 80% of your home’s value, minus what you still owe on your mortgage. In this case, your usable equity would be calculated as $560,000 (80% of the property value) minus $400,000 (your mortgage balance), giving you $160,000 in usable equity.

Examples of calculating home equity

Property value

$400,000

Mortgage balance

$300,000

Home equity

$100,000

Usable equity

$20,000

Property value

$600,000

Mortgage balance

$400,000

Home equity

$200,000

Usable equity

$80,000

Property value

$800,000

Mortgage balance

$500,000

Home equity

$300,000

Usable equity

$140,000

Property value

$1,000,000

Mortgage balance

$600,000

Home equity

$400,000

Usable equity

$200,000

Property value

$1,200,000

Mortgage balance

$700,000

Home equity

$500,000

Usable equity

$260,000

Property value

$1,400,000

Mortgage balance

$800,000

Home equity

$600,000

Usable equity

$320,000

Property valueMortgage balanceHome equity Usable equity

$400,000

$300,000

$100,000

$20,000

$600,000

$400,000

$200,000

$80,000

$800,000

$500,000

$300,000

$140,000

$1,000,000

$600,000

$400,000

$200,000

$1,200,000

$700,000

$500,000

$260,000

$1,400,000

$800,000

$600,000

$320,000

This is a general guide only. Each lender will have different criteria when it comes to home equity. Always read the fine print or speak to a mortgage broker about your options before making a decision.

As shown in the table above, the amount of usable equity can vary greatly based on your property’s value and how much equity you’ve built up. This usable equity can be used for various financial needs, such as paying off credit card debt, making home improvements, or purchasing an investment property.

Home loans guides & resources

What's the next step on your property journey? Our home loan guides will help you navigate the road ahead, whether you're buying, building or looking to save on an existing loan.

Home equity calculator FAQs

To use our home equity calculator, simply enter the estimated value of your home, your current mortgage balance and the loan-to-value ratio (LVR) required by your lender. Once you've entered these details, our calculator will display your home equity amount.

You can use equity to buy an investment property or a second home without needing a deposit. This is usually done by borrowing against your equity through a refinance. This process, called a top-up loan, involves increasing your current home loan limit, giving you the money you need to buy the new property.

Alternatively, a line of credit lets you withdraw funds up to an approved limit based on your home equity, and you only pay interest on the amount you’ve actually withdrawn.

Here are five key factors that can influence the calculation of your home equity:

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  • Current market value: The value of your home in the current market based on local conditions, trends, and property improvements.
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  • Outstanding mortgage balance: The amount you still owe on your home loan directly impacts your equity. The lower your mortgage, the more equity you have.
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  • Home improvements: Renovations and upgrades can increase your home’s value, thereby boosting your equity. However, not all improvements yield the same return.
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  • Property type: Different types of properties, like studios or one-bedroom duplexes, may appreciate in value at different rates, compared to larger properties.
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  • Loan-to-value ratio (LVR): Lenders use your LVR to determine how much you can borrow against your home. A lower LVR generally means more usable equity.
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Assumptions:

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