## Step 1 — Fix the monthly ceiling
Use after-tax income from Net salary, not gross. Many households keep housing (loan + rates/HOA + insurance) under ~30–35% of net. Plug a payment into Mortgage payment and work backward to principal.
## Step 2 — Deposit and cash at the table
Run Down payment and Closing costs (and Transfer tax where relevant) before you fall in love with a listing. A 5% deposit with thin cash reserves is a stress plan, not a starter plan.
## Step 3 — Only then rent vs buy
Rent vs buy is useless if the mortgage payment already breaks your budget. In South Africa (ZAR), keep the tax model za-paye-uif in mind for deductible interest or transfer taxes — rules differ; this site is educational only.
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Note: Educational content from Calcly South Africa. Official sources (SARS — PAYE educational (rebates not fully applied).) and licensed professionals take priority in South Africa.