See how much of your home equity sits under the lending limit you choose, and how much could be available to recycle after keeping a buffer.
Home › Debt Recycling Equity Calculator
Enter your property value, your current home loan balance, the highest loan-to-value ratio (LVR) you want to stay under and any buffer you want to keep.
If a result falls below zero, the calculator shows $0. To see where this number fits in the wider strategy, read our guide to debt recycling.
Take a home valued at $900,000 with $480,000 owing and a $20,000 buffer. The current LVR is 53.3%.
| Step | 80% limit | 70% limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lending limit (value x LVR) | $720,000 | $630,000 |
| Less loan balance | $480,000 | $480,000 |
| Usable equity | $240,000 | $150,000 |
| Less buffer | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Amount you could consider | $220,000 | $130,000 |
A lower limit leaves more equity untouched if values fall or your plans change.
Moneysmart explains that lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) is usually a one-off cost when you borrow more than 80% of a property's value. It protects the lender, not you.
Staying at or under 80% generally avoids that cost, and you can set a lower limit for more room. For how equity builds and why you can start small, read how much equity you need.
A positive result shows room under your limit. It does not show what a lender will approve.
How the equity is drawn matters as much as how much there is. Our loan structure and splits page shows how we keep the investment borrowing separate.
Bring your result to a free first call by phone or video. We talk through your goals, current loan, income and savings, and you come away knowing whether the lending side looks workable.
The calculator turns your property value and loan balance into a usable equity figure under the limit you choose. Treat it as the ceiling for a conversation, not a target to borrow up to.
Approval still depends on your income, the lender's valuation and its policy, so have the number checked before you plan around it.
Book a free call with Alex to see whether the lending side of your plan looks workable.
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There is no set minimum. What matters is your usable equity under your lending limit, whether your income supports the extra borrowing and how much your adviser suggests investing. You can also recycle in smaller amounts over time.
It is the part of your property value you could borrow against under a chosen loan-to-value ratio, less what you already owe. At an 80% limit on a $900,000 home with $480,000 owing, it is $240,000.
Some lenders lend above 80%, but lenders mortgage insurance is usually payable once you borrow more than 80% of the property's value. Borrowing more also leaves less room if values fall.
No. Lenders also assess your income, expenses and other debts, and rely on their own valuation. Equity is one part of the assessment.
That depends on your income, expenses and plans, and is worth agreeing with your financial adviser. The calculator subtracts whatever buffer you enter.
Use our debt recycling tax calculator to estimate the yearly tax saving on your investment loan interest at 2026-27 rates plus the Medicare levy.
Read more → GUIDEHow much usable home equity you need before debt recycling makes sense, how usable equity is calculated and why less may be enough than you think.
Read more → SERVICEYour current loan may not recycle cleanly. We refinance to a split-friendly lender so debt recycling works from day one, without adding to total debt.
Read more →
1. Arranged a loan when our small business situation made it difficult to qualify.
2. Met requirements to have funding available by a specified date.
3. Understood my needs to setup debt recycling to allow tax structuring.
4. Communicated well throughout.
I would use their services again.
Alex, Jess and the Kingfisher team were second to none and their process from start to finish was faultless. As a self-employed business owner, it can be difficult to obtain finance at the best of times. The Kingfisher team made this an easy and efficient proposition and their continued transparent and efficient communication ensured we were kept up to date at all times. Highly recommend them for your finance needs!
Alex and Jess dealt with our investment loan and provided a top tier service. They kept us up to date and communicated every step of the process making it a seamless and smooth experience! Awesome work team we will definitely be back for future loans!
Jess from Kingfisher was outstanding. I couldn't fault her communication, expertise or dedication to finding the best loan for our situation. The entire process was seamless from start to finish. We'll definitely be using Kingfisher again in the future. A top-tier organisation.
