How much home loan can I get on my salary in South Africa?

On a R 30 000 gross monthly salary with no other debt, the 30% rule of thumb caps the bond instalment at about R 9 000. At the current prime rate of 10.75% that supports a loan of about R 886 500 over 20 years, or about R 964 133 over 30 years. With a 10% deposit that is a purchase price of roughly R 984 999. Existing debt, living expenses, the rate you are offered and the bank's own assessment change the final figure.

At prime (10.75%) over 20 years a R 1 000 000 bond costs about R 10 152 a month, so under the 30% rule you need a gross monthly income of roughly R 33 841 — or about R 31 116 over 30 years — before other debt is taken into account.

A R 20 000 gross salary allows an instalment of about R 6 000 under the 30% rule, which supports a bond of about R 591 000 at prime over 20 years (about R 642 755 over 30 years). With a 10% deposit that is a home of roughly R 656 666.

A R 50 000 gross salary allows an instalment of about R 15 000, which supports a bond of about R 1 477 499 at prime over 20 years (about R 1 606 888 over 30 years). With a 10% deposit that is a home of roughly R 1 641 666, assuming no other debt.

Both. The 30% instalment cap is measured against gross (before-tax) monthly income, but banks also check your net surplus — what is left of your take-home pay after tax, deductions, existing debt repayments and living expenses. The instalment has to fit within both, so the lower of the two limits applies.

As a starting point, South African banks generally cap your bond instalment at around 30% of your gross monthly income, after checking what you have left once your other debt and expenses are accounted for. The loan amount that instalment can carry depends on the interest rate and term offered — typically up to 30 years. There is no fixed rand amount that applies to everyone; it depends on your income, expenses, credit record, deposit and the bank you apply to.

Yes — the same instalment carries a bigger loan over a longer term. On a R 30 000 salary the maximum bond rises from about R 886 500 over 20 years to about R 964 133 over 30 years at prime, but you pay interest for ten more years. Banks decide whether to offer a 30-year term on your application.

Four things decide whether you qualify: income that comfortably covers a bond instalment (banks generally allow around 30% of your gross monthly income towards it), a clean credit record, documents proving stable income — recent payslips and bank statements if you are salaried, 6–12 months of business financials if you are self-employed — and ideally a deposit, though 100% bonds exist for qualifying buyers. Every bank runs its own affordability assessment under the National Credit Act, so meeting these is not a guarantee of approval: two banks can reach different decisions on the same application.

There is no single minimum salary set by law. Each bank sets its own minimum instalment or income threshold, and it can also depend on the property price and the deposit available. What matters more than a specific number is whether your income comfortably covers the instalment on top of your other debt and living expenses.

A deposit does not raise your affordability cap, which is based on your income. What it does is reduce the loan amount required for the same purchase price, which makes approval easier and can improve the interest rate you are offered — which in turn can let you afford a larger purchase price overall.

Yes, in principle — banks assess self-employed applicants on the same affordability logic, but they typically require 6–12 months of business bank statements, annual financial statements and sometimes an accountant's letter to verify a stable income before applying the same instalment cap.

Not directly — your income and expenses stay the same. But because each bank prices risk and assesses affordability slightly differently, comparing offers from more than one bank can surface a better rate or a higher approved amount than a single quote would.