Property · Calculator companion · By K Imports
Mortgage & borrowing limits: practical guide
This guide explains how to use the Count.ie mortgage & borrowing limits. Model repayments, rate changes and Central Bank lending limits. Follow the inputs, method and worked example below, then compare your own scenario.
Guide written .
Open the Mortgage & borrowing limits calculatorWhat to prepare
- Collect the purchase, loan, rental or project figures from dated documents.
- Distinguish purchase price, borrowing, one-off acquisition costs and recurring ownership costs.
- Check the property's use, tax year and any scheme eligibility against official guidance.
Understand the inputs
- Property price (€)
- Use the purchase price, not the loan amount. Buying costs are separate.
- Cash deposit (€)
- The cash put towards the purchase. It cannot exceed the property price; a larger entry is an error, not a smaller loan.
- Initial annual interest (%)
- The annual interest rate quoted for the loan. A 0% scenario divides the loan evenly across the monthly payments.
- Term (years)
- The repayment term in years. The estimate assumes monthly payments throughout that term.
- Buyer type
Options: First-time owner occupier; Second / subsequent owner occupier; Buy-to-let.
- Round each repayment cashflow to cents (lender-style schedule)Advanced
- Off: retain full mathematical precision, as on the homepage card. On: round monthly cashflows to cents. Actual lenders may use different interest conventions.
- Future interest changesAdvanced
- One change per line: month, annual interest percent. For example 25, 5 means 5% from repayment month 25.
The calculation method
Monthly capital-and-interest amortisation is recalculated when the interest rate changes. Overpayments reduce the remaining balance.
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and their result.
Example inputs
- Property price (€)
- 350000
- Cash deposit (€)
- 70000
- Initial annual interest (%)
- 4
- Term (years)
- 30
- Gross household annual income (€)
- 80000
- Buyer type
- First-time owner occupier
- Monthly overpayment (€)
- 0
- Round each repayment cashflow to cents (lender-style schedule)
- No
- Future interest changes
Calculated example result
- Monthly repayment
- €1,336.76
- Total interest
- €201,234.62
- Upfront deposit
- €70,000.00
- Standard lending limit
- €315,000.00
How to interpret the result
A loan payment, gross yield or purchase budget describes only part of ownership. Read exclusions carefully: affordability, lender approval, vacancy, repairs and transaction eligibility may not be fully modelled.
Compare like-for-like properties or financing scenarios, with the same term and cost basis. Where relevant, test a higher interest rate, a vacancy period or a larger maintenance allowance.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not compare gross rental yield with net cash flow as if they were the same measure.
- Do not assume a favourable tax result means the property or letting qualifies for a scheme.
- Keep refundable deposits and recurring costs separate from permanent acquisition costs.
Assumptions and sources
Standard LTI is 4× for first-time buyers and 3.5× for subsequent buyers. Owner-occupier minimum deposit is generally 10%; buy-to-let 30%. Allowances, exempt loans and lender affordability assessments are separate.
Rules checked . Baseline rules year: 2026. Reviewed scope: Central Bank standard purchase LTI: 4× first-time buyers and 3.5× subsequent buyers; LTV: 90% owner occupiers and 70% buy-to-let. Eligibility and lender allowances require confirmation.. This does not verify every selectable year, date or Budget announcement profile.
Sources and further information
If your case falls outside this scope, use a more suitable calculator or contact us about an unclear method.