Every time there is a global economic crisis, regardless of its origin, it tends to impact homebuyers, especially those who need to borrow money from financial institutions to gradually pay off their mortgage for future homeownership. Economic crises often lead to unemployment issues, resulting in loss of income or reduced earnings. Therefore, potential homebuyers should prepare by cutting unnecessary expenses or delaying the purchase of luxury items.

In normal times without an economic crisis, those wishing to buy a home should consistently save a portion of their income and plan to purchase a home that they and their family can afford without causing significant disruption to their daily lives.

When determining the total amount to borrow for purchasing a home, the thought process is somewhat similar, but the calculation methods may vary. In the United States, some financial experts have established guidelines or Rule of Thumb that are easy to understand without complicated calculations. However, the problem is that there are many institutions with different formulas for these simple guidelines, leading to inconsistencies in calculations and sometimes significantly different results. Generally, the 28/36 Rule is commonly used, meaning that borrowers should not spend more than 28% of their pre-tax income on housing and no more than 36% on total debt each month.

Regarding the total amount for purchasing a home, many financial institutions in the U.S. provide varying guidelines for consumers. Some suggest that consumers should aim for a home price that is about 3 to 5 times their annual income or approximately 36-60 times their monthly income.

The determination of the potential for repaying a home loan may be strict or lenient depending on the income base. In reality, each household's situation is different. If the income base is relatively high or if some households have sufficient savings, they may be allowed a higher ratio. Conversely, if the income base is relatively low, the criteria may be relaxed, as financial institutions consider that borrowers need to allocate remaining funds for other essential living expenses.

In Thailand, there are currently measures such as the LTV from the Bank of Thailand that are still in effect but have been adjusted to be more flexible than initially announced. Borrowers from financial institutions for home purchases must make a minimum down payment, depending on the home price and the number of loan contracts. For homes priced at no more than 10 million baht and as a first home, borrowers can obtain full financing and can borrow an additional 10% of the home price for necessary expenses related to moving in, such as purchasing furniture or making repairs. However, for the second loan contract, they can borrow 90% (LTV 10%) if they have been repaying the first contract for more than 2 years, and 80% (LTV 20%) if they have not. For the third loan contract and beyond, they can borrow 70% (LTV 30%).

In the case of joint borrowing, if one borrower does not have ownership of the property, that contract will not count as a joint borrower’s contract. For example, if A and B jointly borrow to buy a home, but A is the sole owner of that property, this will not count as a loan for B. Later, if B borrows to buy a home alone, that new contract will then be considered B's first contract.

In summary, although there are various calculation formulas and regulatory guidelines, ultimately, only the borrower knows best their borrowing capacity and ability to purchase a home, as well as their other financial obligations. They must determine how much they can borrow to meet their needs.

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