How much house can you actually afford in Portsmouth?: the honest take

Sticker price is only half the story. Here's how brokers work out your true budget in Portsmouth in 2026 — and the hidden costs that catch buyers out on a £712,000 home.

The income multiple, in practice

Most high-street lenders cap at 4.5× joint gross income, with a handful (Halifax, Nationwide, Santander) stretching to 5.5× for professionals earning above £75k.

Bonus and commission usually count at 50–100% depending on regularity. Self-employed borrowers need two years of accounts, or one year with a Chartered Accountant's projection.

Deposit tiers that move rates

Loan-to-value bands step at 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% and 60%. The biggest rate drop is usually 90% → 85%. Saving one more percent to cross a band is often better than a bigger property.

The costs no one warns you about

Stamp Duty, legal fees, searches, survey, mortgage arrangement fee, removals, insurance, EPC-triggered upgrades and the first three months of council tax. On a £712,000 purchase, budget 3–4% on top.

Affordability stress tests

Lenders test whether you could cope if your rate rose 1–3%. Use the same test on yourself: run your budget at your product rate + 3%, and check you'd still sleep at night.

How to boost borrowing without more income

Pay down credit card balances (utilisation drives your score more than history), close dormant store cards, and switch to a lower-fee current account. Joint applications with a parent (JBSP) can add 15–25% to affordability.