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Getting a Home Loan When You're Self-Employed

Your first home may be more achievable than you think with the right support behind you.

At Fortify Loans, we help first-home buyers in Tasmania feel more equipped for what comes next. We connect you with loan options and incentives that bring home ownership closer.

Want to get started? Speak with a home loan expert today.

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Fortify Loans advisor meeting with clients to review loan documents.
Why Self-employed borrowers come to us

Banks have a template. Your income doens't fit it

No minimum ABN Timeframe

Just registered your ABN? 6 months or 12 months of trading is fine. We have access to lenders who don't require two years of history before they'll talk to you.

Tax returns not required

Not up to date on your tax returns, or they don't reflect what you actually earn? We can use bank statements or BAS statements to verify income instead.

No Obligation

There's no cost to use us. Lenders pay us a commission when your loan settles. On top of that, we're governed by Best Interest Duty, so we're legally required to act in your interest, not theirs.

All scenarios considered

Sole trader, company director, trust structure, contractor, or somewhere in between. We've seen it all and we know which lenders are comfortable with each setup.

100+ five-star reviews

Over 100 Google reviews from real Tasmanians. You can read them. That track record is something we take seriously and something our clients seem to appreciate.

Back to you within hours

Seven days a week. Running your own business means your schedule doesn't always cooperate with standard business hours. Neither does ours.
THE PROCESS

What it looks like to work with us

Self-employed lending takes more work to put together than a standard PAYG application. That's fine. You don't have to do it yourself. Here's how it goes:
Free Consultation
We start with a chat to understand your situation. How you earn, what you're  buying, your timeline, your structure. No obligation to go further.
We figure out what docs are needed
Some lenders need bank statements, others BAS, some want both. We'll tell you exactly what to pull together so nothing gets missed.
Compare across 70+ lenders
Not every lender treats self-employed income the same way. We know which ones suit your situation and we find you the best few options.
Application and through to settlement
We handle the paperwork and keep you updated. You shouldn't have to chase anyone. That's what we're here for.
Book a free chat
INCOME VERIFICATION

No tax returns? Not a problem.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear from self-employed
clients. The good news is there are lenders who don't need them at all.

Alternative income verification

If your tax returns are behind, don't reflect your actual income, or you simply haven't been trading long enough to have two years of returns, this is the route we take.
  • 6 or 12 months of business bank statements
  • BAS (Business Activity Statements)
  • Accountant's letter or income declaration
  • ABN registered as recently as 6 months ago
  • Income assessed on what you actually earn, not what's on a tax return

Standard income verification

If your tax returns are behind, don't reflect your actual income, or you simply haven't been trading long enough to have two years of returns, this is the route we take.
  • 6 or 12 months of business bank statements
  • BAS (Business Activity Statements)
  • Accountant's letter or income declaration
  • ABN registered as recently as 6 months ago
  • Income assessed on what you actually earn, not what's on a tax return
Not sure which applies to you? Talk to us and we'll figure it out together.
INCOME VERIFICATION

We cover both.

Whether you're buying a home to live in or adding to a property portfolio,
self-employed lending works for both goals.

Owner-occupied home loans

Buying the home you'll live in. Self-employed borrowers often hear 'no' from their own bank first. That's not the end of it.
  • Purchase or refinance your primary home
  • Variable, fixed, and split rate options
  • Low deposit options with some lenders
  • Offset accounts and redraw available
  • Low doc pathways where needed

Investment property loans

Growing a property portfolio on top of running a business takes careful structuring. We make sure the lending side supports the strategy, not the other way around.
  • Residential investment properties
  • Interest-only options to support cash flow
  • Portfolio structuring across multiple properties
  • Using existing equity to purchase
  • Low doc options available for investors
FAQs

Things self-employed borrowers ask us

Straight answers to the questions that come up often.

Yes. There's no fixed minimum. Some of the lenders we work with will consider applications with as little as 6 months of ABN registration, provided you can show consistent income through bank statements or BAS statements. The shorter the trading history, the more documentation helps, but it's not a dealbreaker on its own.

This is the most common thing we hear. Under low doc lending, you can verify income using business bank statements (typically 6 or 12 months) or your BAS statements. You don't need to rely on tax returns at all with certain lenders. It's worth having a chat to see which option makes sense for your situation.

Absolutely. Self-employed investors are a significant part of what we do. We can factor in existing rental income, structure loans with interest-only repayments to protect your cash flow, and work across multiple properties. Low doc pathways are available for investors too.

Your borrowing power depends on various factors. A mortgage broker can assess your financial situation and help determine how much you can comfortably borrow and repay. We also have a range of calculators you can use if you want to try it yourself.

Sometimes slightly, though the gap has narrowed a lot in recent years. For many borrowers, the difference is small enough that it's worth it to get approved at all, or to access a loan amount that properly reflects their income. We'll show you what both pathways look like side by side so you can make an informed call.

It depends on your verifiable income, existing debts, deposit size, and how the lender calculates self-employed earnings. Because we access 70+ lenders, some of which are more generous with self-employed income assessment than others, your borrowing capacity can vary quite a bit between lenders. A quick conversation is often the fastest way to get a realistic number.

We're paid a commission by the lender once your loan settles. As we operate under Best Interest Duty, we're legally obligated to act in your interest throughout the process.

Get Started Right Here, For FREE

Breaking things down can make the whole process feel far easier to take in. We will start by helping you understand what you can afford, what may be available to you, plus where to go from here.

Just tick what you would like to know more about. We will get back to you with guidance that is tailored to you.

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IMPORTANT INFO

Fortify Loans Pty Ltd (ABN 51679738786 and Credit Representative Number 546469) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 384324.
*Individual lenders may charge fees to the customer.

This website provides general information only. Our content does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should always consider whether any loan or financial decision is appropriate for your circumstances and your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product.

All applications are subject to lender assessment and approval. Cashback offers may be provided by some lenders and may only be available for particular products, terms and conditions apply.

Any information provided does not constitute an offer of credit and are examples of what may be available to you based on the information available. It does not take into account any product features or any applicable fees. Lending criteria and the basis upon which we assess what you may be able to afford may change at any time without notice. For Fixed Rate home loans, break costs may be payable which can be significant if you change the whole or part of your fixed rate loan or where additional or early repayments are made during the fixed rate period.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.