PHOTO: TRADE ME – A Northland bach is described as “a bit rough around the edges” but good buying for $250,000.

Banks are competing for home loan business. Prices are stabilising in many parts of the country. First-home buyers are taking a bigger share of the market.

If now is the time for you to get ready to jump into the property market, you might wonder what you can afford.

Based on banks’ online calculators, we’ve estimated some options based on various levels of savings, for a couple with no kids earning a combined $130,000.

Bear in mind that this is probably the minimum price at which these buyers could expect to purchase – if they look like a good proposition, banks may be willing to lend more (although probably at a higher interest rate).

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