Affordability math
What to actually afford.
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Mortgage FAQ
The answer depends on income, debt, down payment, and the federal stress test. Here's how the bank actually calculates it — and what to do if the number feels small.
Quick Answer
How Much Mortgage Can I Qualify For in Coquitlam?
The answer depends on income, debt, down payment, and the federal stress test. Here's how the bank actually calculates it — and what to do if the number… Craig Johnston, Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® and 47+ year Tri-Cities resident, can walk you through the local context. Free Strategy Call ends with a written one-page plan in 24 hours.
Lenders test two ratios: Gross Debt Service (GDS — your housing costs as a % of gross income) and Total Debt Service (TDS — all debt costs as a % of gross income). Most lenders want GDS under 39% and TDS under 44%. They apply the stress test using the qualifying rate — the higher of your contract rate + 2% or the published stress-test rate.
Your qualifying number is often 10–20% below your comfortable-living number. The bank qualifies you on what you could afford, not what you should afford.
$500/month car payment removes ~$75K in qualifying.
Treated as ongoing debt in the ratios.
Even at minimum, these count.
Commission, bonus, self-employment need extra documentation.
Less than 2 years can tighten the approval.
20%+ avoids CMHC insurance; changes lender options.
Clear the car loan, qualifying jumps.
Combined qualifying increases meaningfully.
Different lenders treat the same file differently.
30-year amortization expands qualifying for some buyers.
Online calculators are directional. Real pre-approval from a lender or broker is what gets you an offer accepted. Start there before touring.
For the full buyer math, read affordability and closing costs.
Rarely. Your qualifying max is the ceiling. Your comfort ceiling is usually 10–20% below that. The difference protects you from rate changes, job changes, and life changes. Buy what you can afford, not what you can qualify for.
If a lender tells you a number that feels high, trust your instinct. They're right about qualifying. Your gut is right about living.
You'll need 2+ years of tax returns. Lenders use a blend of revenue and net income.
No — a co-signer supports qualifying without ownership. A co-buyer is on title.
Usually 90–120 days. Rate may lock or may not depending on the lender.
5% under $500K; 5%+10% tiered up to $1.5M in most scenarios; 20% above $1.5M.
I answer these kinds of questions every day. A 15-minute call usually resolves it.
The full money side of buying.
I have spent the last 47+ years living in Coquitlam, 9+ years on Burke Mountain, helping move-up buyers and sellers get from where they are to where they want to be — without the panic of owning two homes at once or selling under value. I work the Tri-Cities every day: Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, and the rest of Coquitlam’s move-up neighbourhoods.
If you want a straight read on your timing, pricing, or move-up strategy, the fastest next step is a short call.
Licensed REALTOR® in Coquitlam. Tri-Cities-fluent, written-advice-first. Here's how I work any client file that lands on this page.
Every cost, tax, and legal step in the Coquitlam buying process is spelled out by a government or regulatory authority below. Use these as the definitive source — your agent and lawyer should line up with them, not the other way around.
External links open in a new tab. I'm not affiliated with these organizations — they are cited as independent authorities. Any time a number on this page differs from the authority, the authority wins.
Real reviews pulled from Google. No paid placements. No curated-only-positives. Every client below closed with Craig — most sold over asking, several within a week.
“Craig sold my property in just 6 days. After receiving one offer, he quickly reconnected with all the other REALTORS® who had viewed the property, and before I knew it, we had multiple offers — all over asking price. Craig didn’t stop there; he negotiated even better terms for me.”
“We worked with Craig on three real estate transactions. In all cases he was extremely professional and efficient. In the case of the two sales, both houses were sold for over asking and within the one week of going on market. Craig analyzed the market accurately and advised on a selling price that was fair and saleable.”
“Craig recently sold my townhouse in West Vancouver in less than 6 days for over asking price. Craig is one of the most prolific and highly motivated REALTORS® I have seen in the Realty business, and I have extensive experience buying and selling properties of all sorts.”
“We consider ourselves lucky to be able to work with Craig over the last 5 years, over multiple transactions. He is a professional who is guided by integrity, honesty, and punctuality. Craig is a seasoned and well-informed realtor who will be a great asset on any real estate journey.”
“As first-time home buyers, we had a myriad of concerns. Craig immediately put us at ease by taking the time to address each of our questions thoroughly and patiently. At no point did I feel pressured or rushed into making a decision. Instead, Craig empowered us with all the facts and options.”
“One of the most dedicated and professional REALTORS® I’ve encountered. No matter the value of the property, Craig puts great care into preparing high-quality marketing content. With his in-depth knowledge of the Coquitlam area, I highly recommend Craig to anyone looking to buy or sell.”
“His creativity, top-notch communication skills, and a solid plan were instrumental in selling high and buying low. His foresight in negotiation skills, predicting outcomes before they happened, truly set him apart. A remarkable professional who exceeded expectations.”
“Craig absolutely delivered on his promise of selling my condo, exceeding my expectations. A++ communications and he kept me informed and educated every single step of the way. Rock solid performance and a very quick above asking sale, I am beyond grateful.”
“We were referred to Craig by a friend and knew from day one we were in great hands. The marketing was outstanding — we received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities. When we re-listed in January, it sold in three days at the price we wanted, and he went on to find us an off-market buy in Vernon.”
More on Buying in Coquitlam
Craig writes the Tri-Cities coverage most REALTORS® won't. Every page below is built on the same ground-truth data and the same negotiation playbook Craig uses for every client.
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