Tool · Quebec 2026

How much house can I afford?

Your borrowing capacity depends on your income, your debts and your down payment — bounded by two ratios (GDS/TDS) and the mortgage stress test. Estimate your maximum purchase price.

Estimated maximum purchase price
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How it's calculated

Two ceilings — the GDS and TDS ratios — bound what lenders accept in Canada:

Above all, qualification is done at the stress-test rate: the higher of your rate + 2% and 5.25%. You must show you could pay at that rate, even if your actual rate is lower.

Down payment & CMHC: under 20% down, a CMHC insurance premium is added to the loan (and the maximum insurable price is $1.5M). This estimate assumes price ≈ maximum loan + down payment; it does not replace a pre-approval from a lender or broker. Also budget for the entry costs the loan doesn't cover — first among them the welcome tax, billed a few months after the purchase and payable in cash.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate borrowing capacity in Quebec?

It depends on the household's gross income, monthly debts and available down payment, bounded by two ratios (GDS/TDS) and the qualifying rate (stress test).

What do the GDS and TDS ratios mean for borrowing capacity?

GDS (Gross Debt Service) caps housing costs at about 39% of gross income. TDS (Total Debt Service) caps housing plus other debts at about 44%.

What is the mortgage stress test?

It's the higher of your contract rate plus 2% and 5.25%. You must show you could pay at that rate, even if the actual rate you get is lower.

Does this estimate replace mortgage pre-approval?

No. This is an informational estimate based on standard ratios; it does not replace pre-approval from a lender or mortgage broker.

Knowing your maximum price doesn't yet tell you whether buying is the better move: at equal budget, the next question is how many years it takes for buying to catch up to renting and investing the difference — your break-even point.

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Estimate for informational purposes, based on GDS 39% / TDS 44% ratios and a stress test (the higher of your rate + 2% or 5.25%). Real criteria vary by lender, your credit profile and your situation. This is not a financing offer or professional advice.