Affordability

Can you buy in Fortitude Valley?

Honest numbers: what you need to earn, save, and shift around to land your place.

A bit tight at this income

● Stretch

To buy a $800k home in Fortitude Valley, a couple typically needs

$151k/yr gross

≈ $9k/mo take-home, what most lenders want to see for this purchase. You're currently $565/mo short.

Deposit timeline30 months

$50k savedTarget $189k

Tweak assumptions

Couple · QLD · 20% deposit

Target price

$800k

Household

State

Savings already in the bank

$50k

Monthly take-home (combined)

$8,000

Monthly debts (HECS, car, cards)

Deposit %

20%

Upfront cash needed

$189k total · $139k short

Deposit (20%)$160kStamp duty (QLD)$29kLMI (avoided)$0

Total upfront$189k

You have$50k

Still need$139k

Closing the gap

At your current savings rate, you'd hit the deposit in 30 months.

What if you saved this much extra per month?

+$0/mo

Indicative numbers. HEM living-cost floor is a lender benchmark, not your budget. Real serviceability also factors credit history, casual income discounts, and lender policy. Get a broker conversation before you make moves.