Self-Employed Home Loan: Secure Finance Pre-Approval
Smooth your home loan journey: secure finance pre-approval from a lender. This upfront assessment verifies your borrowing potential, giving you a strong negotiating position.
While being your own boss offers the freedom to set your schedule, build a business aligned with your values, and maybe even avoid fetching coffee (who knows!), it can come with obstacles when applying for a home loan.
Lenders might perceive self-employed individuals as slightly riskier due to the perceived lack of a steady paycheck for consistent repayments.
However, don't let this deter your dream of homeownership! By planning in advance and understanding what lenders typically seek, you can significantly increase your chances of obtaining a mortgage. This is where "finance pre-approval" comes in.
1. Get your finances in order
As a self-employed applicant, having rock-solid finances is important.
Even if your business is booming, most lenders will see you as more of a risk for defaulting.
That’s because self-employed incomes can be less consistent.
Lenders want to know that the likelihood of you making regular repayments is high.
And to mitigate risk, loan options available to you may have a lower loan-to-value ratio (meaning you may need a higher deposit) and/or have a higher interest rate.
So, to prepare to apply, consider getting your finances in check by:
Building up a healthy credit score.
Lowering your living expenses by focusing on the essentials.
Saving up a healthy deposit (aka genuine savings) and a cash buffer.
Running your business on accounting software such as Xero, MYOB or Hnry so you can provide up-to-date and accurate profit and loss statements.
2. Gather your documents
It’s important to keep your business and personal finance documents up to date, so you’ll be ready to rock and roll.
For verification of income, many lenders require two years worth of lodged business and personal tax returns.
It’s a great idea to tell your accountant in advance that you’re planning on applying for a home loan. That’s because some of the financial wizardry they apply to lower your tax bill might work against your application and lower your borrowing capacity.
Also, keep in mind that business owners who do lots of “cash jobs” can find it harder to obtain a home loan because they have less income to show for their work.
On top of running your credit score, some lenders may want statements from loans and credit cards for proof you can make regular repayments.
They may also want to see verification of assets such as any property, savings and investments.
Some lenders may want to see the whole kit and kaboodle when applying for a loan. Some may need less.
And some offer low-doc loans if you don’t have extensive documentation. But they may come with higher interest rates or the need to pay lenders mortgage insurance (or both).
Exactly what documents are required depends on the lender and the type of loan.
3. Choose your lender wisely
Not all lenders are comfortable providing self-employed loans for the reasons mentioned above.
And every time you apply for a home loan your credit history is “pinged”. The more this occurs, the more of a red flag this may pose to lenders.
So targeting lenders that have a track record of approving self-employed loans might be a wise move.
Having a reputable mortgage professional on your side may be helpful here. Which brings us to our next point …
4. Get in touch with us today
Just as you’ll want to give your accountant plenty of notice, so too will you want to reach out to a mortgage broker sooner rather than later.
That’s because we can help you work out your borrowing capacity, and provide you with other tips that you can start working on now that may eventually help make your application more attractive to lenders.
So if you’re self-employed and think you’ll be seeking a home loan in 2024, get in touch today.
Get your pre-approval today
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.
