How much can I borrow? Belgium 2026 : mortgage borrowing capacity
Start from your net income to estimate your mortgage borrowing capacity and maximum property budget. Free, with benchmarks from the National Bank of Belgium.
Indicative bank rule: ~33%.
Enter your income to estimate your borrowing capacity.
Starting from your income rather than an amount
Even before looking at properties, the real question is often: what budget can I target? This simulator starts from your net income and existing charges to estimate a sustainable monthly payment, then derives the maximum borrowable amount based on the rate and term you choose.
The National Bank of Belgium's benchmarks
The NBB, as macroprudential authority, publishes prudential expectations for new mortgage loans, not individual legal rules. It recommends banks limit the share of loans whose loan-to-value (LTV) exceeds 90% for an owner-occupied home (80% for a rental investment), and specifically monitors files combining an LTV above 90% with a debt-service ratio (DSTI) above 50% of net monthly income. These thresholds apply to banks' overall portfolios, not to your individual file, but the further your profile departs from them, the more closely your file will be reviewed.
The "one third" rule isn't set in stone
The often-cited benchmark, limiting repayment to roughly one third of net household income , is market practice, not a single official threshold. This simulator lets you adjust it: a bank may be stricter or more flexible depending on your full profile (income stability, down payment, other commitments).
Once your capacity is estimated, complete your budget with the notary fees for your region, and refine your monthly payment with the mortgage simulator.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the "one third of net income" benchmark come from?
It is a widespread market practice among Belgian banks, not a single legal rule. That is why this simulator lets you adjust the ratio: change it if your bank applies a different threshold.
Does the National Bank set a legal maximum debt ratio?
No. The NBB, as macroprudential authority, publishes prudential expectations at the level of banks' overall portfolios (comply-or-explain), not an individual limit. It specifically monitors files combining a loan-to-value above 90% and a debt-service ratio (DSTI) above 50% of net monthly income, whose share is capped at 5% of total production, a monitoring threshold, not an individual ban.
What is the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and why does it matter?
LTV is the ratio between the loan amount and the value of the financed property. The NBB recommends banks limit the share of loans exceeding 90% LTV for an owner-occupied home (80% for a rental investment): the higher your down payment, the more your file falls within the recommended thresholds.
Does this tool guarantee the bank will accept my file?
No, absolutely not. This is an indicative estimate based on your own parameters. The bank also assesses your down payment, your remaining disposable budget, the stability of your income, and other criteria specific to its lending policy.
Is a down payment required?
Usually yes: banks rarely finance 100% of the price, and a higher down payment brings your file closer to the prudential thresholds recommended by the NBB. At minimum, plan to cover the costs (notary, registration duties).
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