Work out what you can afford before you start searching

The most exhausting mistake a buyer makes is falling for a property and then discovering it is out of reach. The right order is the reverse: calculate first, then search.

One: the down payment

Banks in Saudi Arabia typically require a down payment starting at 10% for a first home, rising for subsequent ones. Count it as cash in hand, not cash promised.

And do not forget the one-off costs beside it:

• Valuation fees
• Brokerage fees
• Property insurance
• Title transfer fees
• Real estate transaction tax

Two: the monthly instalment

The standard rule is that your total instalments stay under a share of your monthly income — and the bank counts every existing obligation, not the mortgage alone. A car loan or a credit card reduces your capacity.

Use the **mortgage calculator** on any property page: it shows the monthly instalment, total instalments, interest, and total paid — the last of which includes the down payment.

Three: the term

A longer term lowers the instalment and raises the total. Twenty years instead of fifteen means a lighter monthly payment and considerably more interest. There is no universally right choice — only one that matches the stability of your income.

Beyond the number

Affordability is more than the instalment. Also budget for:

• Annual maintenance, estimated as a share of property value
• Owners association fees in apartments
• Higher utilities after moving from a smaller home
• Furnishing and fit-out

Start from the number you carry comfortably, not the maximum the bank approves. The gap between them is what protects you when something unexpected happens.