LVR calculator

Loan-to-value ratio from the price and deposit, the deposit needed to reach 80% and avoid LMI, and where the ratio sits against the bands lenders use.

Last updated 16 September 2026 · data vintage Arithmetic on the figures you enter; the 80% threshold is the level at which lenders mortgage insurance usually applies, as Moneysmart describes it, read 16 September 2026 · reviewed by The Buyers Grail editorial (agency page text checked 16 September 2026)

The loan-to-value ratio is the loan as a percentage of the price, or of the lender's own valuation of the property if that is lower. It decides whether lenders mortgage insurance applies, how a lender prices the loan, and sometimes whether the lender will proceed at all.

Indicative LMI premium on a $800,000 purchase, by deposit. The premium at five deposit sizes, from the indicative matrix the calculator uses; at 5% the LVR is outside the usual lending range. Indicative LMI premium matrix (typical insurer schedules by LVR band and loan size) — undated, indicative only.

How the calculator works

Enter the price and the deposit. The calculator shows the loan and the LVR, the deposit as a share of the price, the deposit that would bring the LVR to 80%, and how much more deposit that would take. It also describes where the ratio sits in the bands lenders commonly use.

Reference table

A purchase at $800,000 with four deposit sizes, computed by the same code.

Deposit	Amount	LVR	Where it sits	LMI likely
10%	$80,000	90%	LMI likely required (above 80%)	Yes
15%	$120,000	85%	LMI likely required (above 80%)	Yes
20%	$160,000	80%	Good LVR — usually no LMI	No
25%	$200,000	75%	Good LVR — usually no LMI	No

The valuation trap

The ratio lenders use is the loan against their valuation, not against the price you agreed. When a lender's valuer comes in below the contract price, the LVR rises, the deposit shortfall appears after the contract is signed, and the buyer has to find the difference or pay LMI they had not planned for. The report's fair-value range, built from recorded comparable sales, is the same evidence a valuer looks at, which is why reading it before offering matters.

What the figure leaves out

Purchase costs. Duty, conveyancing and inspections come out of savings before the deposit does, so the deposit available for the LVR is the savings less those costs. The stamp duty calculator and the ownership costs calculator show them.

Sources

Moneysmart (ASIC), home loans — checked 16 September 2026. Read on Moneysmart 16 September 2026: the loan-to-value ratio and that a deposit under 20% usually means lenders mortgage insurance.

Last updated 16 September 2026 · reviewed by The Buyers Grail editorial (agency page text checked 16 September 2026).

Where the report fits

A Property Decision Report does this work for one property you're weighing up: the fair-value range built from recorded comparable sales, where the asking price sits against it, the vendor and agent read, the risks that matter, and your opening, target and walk-away numbers, in writing, within 24 hours.

Every pack is the same full report; only the number of properties changes. $249 for three properties, $349 for five.