“Likelihood of Getting a Property”: SA Expert Shares Factors That Determine Bond Affordability
- A South African property expert shared a step-by-step breakdown of how banks assess home loan applications
- The video walks viewers through gross income, credit obligations and living expenses to arrive at a final bond figure
- South Africans flooded the comments with questions about side hustles, deposits and transfer costs
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Source: TikTok
A South African property expert is urging couples to have an honest money conversation before approaching a bank for a home loan. In a TikTok video posted on 31 August 2026, @userpierrerod walked viewers through the exact formula banks use to determine whether someone qualifies for a bond, and how much they could realistically afford.
The expert opened by encouraging viewers to share the video with their partners, particularly those already thinking about buying property.
"The likelihood of you getting a property and so forth now is based on the number of things."
How banks work out what you can afford
The calculation starts with gross income. Using a hypothetical salary of R50,000, the expert explained that salary deductions of R10,000 bring the net income down to R40,000. From there, monthly credit obligations such as vehicle finance, Fushimi or Telkom accounts are subtracted. In the example, another R10,000 comes off, leaving R30,000.
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Living expenses are the next deduction. These cover water, electricity, petrol and similar costs. The expert suggested keeping these estimates modest and realistic. Using R5,000 as the figure, the remaining disposable income sits at R25,000.
That final number is then weighed against the estimated monthly bond repayment. If the bond payment comes to R15,000 per month, the remaining R10,000 is what the expert called "cash after bond." This is the figure that tells both the applicant and the bank whether the purchase is genuinely sustainable.
The expert encouraged families to run through this exercise at home before submitting any formal application, describing it as a kind of "pillow talk" financial check-in that could save couples from flying blind when they walk into a bank.
View the TikTok video below:
Mzansi asks the hard questions
The video struck a chord, with South Africans asking follow-up questions in the comments on his page:
@Nomhle vino (Mrs K):
"I have affordability but my problem is transfer cost and the lawyers fees."
@Ma Neo asked:
"From what you've said, please add when you have a side hustle, how do you calculate it?"
@Nox wanted to know:
"So when does the 30% rule apply (your bond must not exceed 30% of your income)? On your gross or after all the deductions?"
@Tsho raised another scenario:
"If I have a house that is fully paid and I want to purchase another one with the rent I will get from the current one, how do we calculate it?"
@Melanin-man said:
"In the case where you have an existing house on your name, can that also be taken into account? If yes, please advise..."
@Progress Mlambo kept it simple:
"Very informative."
@Mbally M Ngubane asked:
"You must be left with how much after all the expenses to qualify?"
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Source: Briefly News
