Tools / Everyday
How much home can I afford
Before you house-hunt, know your ceiling: the Central Bank sets the loan-to-value (80% for expats, 85% for nationals on a first home up to 5 million), a 50% debt burden ratio, an interest stress test, and a cap of 7 or 8 times your annual income. Type your income and down payment and get the maximum home price, the instalment, and the Land Department and mortgage fees itemised.
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Rules: CBUAE mortgage regulation, Article 3 (LTV, 50% DBR, stress test +2 to 4 points, 25 years, 7/8× income). Fees: Dubai Land Department. Items marked «estimate» or «customary» are not official text. Early settlement: 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower.
Sources: CBUAE — Article 3 · CBUAE — fee caps · DLD — mortgage registration · DLD — sale with mortgage
How to use it
- Pick: national or expat, first or second home, ready or off-plan, and the emirate.
- Type your monthly income, current instalments, available down payment, rate and tenure.
- See the maximum home price you can buy, the maximum loan, the monthly instalment and the fee table — then change the numbers to see the effect.
Questions
Why is the max loan lower than what the instalment suggests?
Three ceilings apply together and the smallest wins: the instalment ≤ 50% of your income after existing instalments (at a rate at least two points higher in the stress test), the loan ≤ 7 times your annual income for expats (8 for nationals), and the loan ≤ the loan-to-value of the property.
Is the down payment just 20%?
20% of the price for expats (15% for nationals) on a first home up to 5 million — plus Land Department, mortgage, valuation and agent fees, usually paid in cash. So the cash you need is more than the down payment, and the tool adds it up.
Can I finance the land fees in the loan?
Some banks finance part of the fees under their own policy; the Central Bank article available doesn't say so explicitly, so ask your bank and don't count on it.
What is the maximum age at the last instalment?
The regulation leaves it to each bank's policy; 65 for employees and 70 for the self-employed is common, but that is bank policy, not a regulatory text. The maximum tenure is 25 years.
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