Affordability
How Much Multiplex Can You Afford?
Enter your financial details to see your maximum purchase price using Canadian mortgage rules, then browse matching properties in Greater Vancouver.
Calculator results are estimates for planning purposes only. They do not constitute mortgage pre-approval or financial advice. Actual qualifying amounts depend on your credit history, lender, and other factors. Consult a licensed mortgage broker for a real pre-approval.
Affordability Calculator
Maximum Purchase Price
$545,043
Rent vs. Own Comparison
Monthly Rent
$3,200
Vancouver avg (2-bed)
Monthly Ownership
$3,134
Mortgage + costs
Owning is $66/mo less than renting - plus you build equity.
Estimates based on OSFI B-20 guidelines (32% GDS / 40% TDS). Actual qualification depends on your lender. CMHC insurance applies when down payment is under 20%.
Properties in Your Budget
0 matchesNo properties match your current budget. Try increasing your income or down payment.
Common Questions About Multiplex Affordability
It depends on your down payment, debts, and mortgage rate, not income alone. Lenders cap your mortgage payment at 32% of gross income (the GDS ratio) and your total debt payments at 40% (the TDS ratio). Use the calculator above with your real numbers to see your maximum purchase price.
For a single strata-titled unit, 5% of the first $500,000 plus 10% of the amount between $500,000 and $1.5 million. For a whole triplex or fourplex you live in, a flat 10% down. Above $1.5 million, or if you won't live there, the minimum is 20%.
No. CMHC insures owner-occupied properties up to four units with as little as 5% down on the first $500,000 of the price. Most multiplex buyers put down far less than 20%, and pay a CMHC insurance premium added to the mortgage balance instead.
CMHC insurance protects the lender when your down payment is under 20%, and it is required by law in that case. The premium is a percentage of your mortgage amount, added to the loan itself rather than paid upfront, so it raises your monthly payment instead of your closing costs.
BC Property Transfer Tax is a one-time tax paid on closing: 1% on the first $200,000, 2% up to $2 million, and 3% above that. It applies to a multiplex purchase the same as any BC home. First-time buyers get a full exemption up to $500,000 and a partial one up to $835,000.
Some lenders count a share of the rent from units you won't occupy toward your qualifying income, which can raise your maximum purchase price above what your salary alone would support. Rules vary by lender, so confirm the exact percentage they'll count with a mortgage broker before assuming it in your budget.
A longer amortization spreads the same mortgage over more payments, so each monthly payment is smaller and you can qualify for a higher purchase price. Stretching from 25 to 30 years is the difference; the calculator above lets you compare both side by side.
It depends on your down payment, the rate you qualify for, and current rents in the neighbourhood you're comparing. The calculator above compares your estimated monthly ownership cost (mortgage, heating, and half the typical strata estimate) against the average Vancouver two-bedroom rent, using your own numbers.