Self-Employed Home Loans
Getting a home loan when you are self-employed is not harder than it is for someone on a salary. It just requires a broker who knows which lenders understand how self-employed income actually works and how to present your application in a way that gets a yes.
We help self-employed borrowers, sole traders, contractors and company directors across the South Coast find the right lender and structure their application correctly from the start.
Most lenders are built around PAYG income. Two payslips, a group certificate and a straightforward employment history. When your income comes from running a business, the picture looks different on paper even if the cash flow is strong.
A specialist self-employed mortgage broker knows which lenders look beyond the tax return, how to present business income in the most favourable light and which products are genuinely designed for borrowers like you.
That knowledge is often the difference between an approval and a decline.
Why Self-Employed Borrowers Need a Specialist Broker
Self-Employed Mortgage Broker Services
We help self-employed borrowers and sole traders with every part of the home loan process, including:
Assessing your borrowing capacity based on your actual income, not just your taxable income
Identifying lenders who are genuinely active in self-employed lending
Advising on whether a full doc or low doc application is most appropriate for your situation
Preparing your application to present your income in the strongest possible way
Comparing self-employed home loan options across our full lender panel
Managing your application from submission through to settlement
Reviewing your loan structure as your business income grows
How Lenders Assess Self-Employed Income
When you are self-employed, lenders typically want to see two years of personal tax returns, two years of business tax returns and financial statements, and your most recent notices of assessment from the ATO. They then calculate your income based on your taxable income, which is often significantly lower than your actual cash position if your accountant has done their job properly.
The good news is that some lenders will take one year financials as an exception, add back certain expenses, look at your business revenue rather than profit, or use your bank statements to assess your cash flow. Knowing which lenders take which approach and how to structure your application accordingly is exactly where we add value.
Sole Trader Home Loans
Sole traders face a specific challenge. Your business income and personal income are the same thing, but lenders often treat them differently. Without the separation of a company structure, some lenders require more documentation or apply more conservative servicing calculators.
We work with sole traders regularly and know which lenders are most comfortable with sole trader income structures, what documentation they need and how to present your application in a way that reflects your actual financial position.
Low Doc Home Loans for Self-Employed Borrowers
If you cannot provide two years of full financials, a low doc home loan may be the right option. Low doc loans use alternative income verification such as business activity statements, an accountant's declaration or bank statements to assess your income rather than full tax returns.
Low doc loans typically come with a higher interest rate and a lower maximum loan to value ratio than full doc loans, but they provide a genuine path to homeownership for borrowers whose income is real but difficult to document in the conventional way. We will be upfront with you about the trade-offs and only recommend a low doc loan where it genuinely makes sense for your situation.
How Much Can You Borrow as a Self-Employed Borrower?
Your borrowing capacity as a self-employed borrower depends on how your income is structured, which lender you apply with and how your application is prepared. Two self-employed borrowers with identical cash flow can have very different borrowing capacities depending on their business structure, their tax position and which lender assesses their application.
Rather than giving you a number based on an online calculator, we run a proper assessment across multiple lenders and give you a realistic picture of what you can borrow and which lender is most likely to approve your application.
Why Self-Employed Borrowers Choose Shorebreak Finance
We are a locally owned mortgage broker based in Berry on the South Coast. We work with self-employed borrowers regularly and understand the real-world financial picture of running a business, including the gap between taxable income and actual cash flow that makes standard lender criteria so frustrating.
We also take a long-term view. Many of our self-employed clients come back when their business grows, when they are ready to invest or when they want to review their loan structure. We take that relationship seriously from the first conversation.
Success stories that speak for themselves
“Where do I start. Ron went above and beyond to make purchasing my first home a breeze even with lots of obstacles I put in his way. Ron showed me time and time again his care and time for his customers and I wouldn't recommend someone more highly if you are wanting to purchase a property. He was always there to help no matter the time or day and he made the impossible possible.”
— Noah M.
“I would like to commend Chris on all his hard work and effort making this loan possible for me. He went above and beyond to help in every way he could and I am very grateful. He kept me informed every step of the way and made the process as smooth as possible. 5 stars would not be enough for the magnificent job he did. I would recommend Chris 100% anytime.”
— Ivanka P.
“Chris was instrumental in helping us secure an investment property that aligned with our goals and future. Chris was highly knowledgeable, responsive, and handled everything smoothly and professionally. He made the process straightforward and stress-free, and was always available to answer questions or walk through numbers. We would happily recommend Chris to anyone looking to purchase a property.”
— Matthew D.
Self-Employed and Ready to Buy? Let's Grab a Coffee
Bring your last two years of tax returns or nothing at all. We will look at your situation honestly and tell you exactly where you stand and what your options are.
