{"id":5500,"date":"2024-10-24T09:48:06","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T23:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financialplus.com.au\/?p=5500"},"modified":"2024-10-24T09:48:06","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T23:48:06","slug":"how-to-nail-a-home-loan-if-youre-self-employed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financialplus.com.au\/how-to-nail-a-home-loan-if-youre-self-employed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to nail a home loan if you\u2019re self-employed"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rightly or wrongly, lenders tend to see self-employed borrowers as a\u00a0higher risk compared to employees<\/a>. That\u2019s largely because, by and large, their income isn\u2019t as guaranteed.<\/p>\n In addition, it\u2019s likely their earnings won\u2019t be the same each pay day \u2013 they may differ, sometimes substantially, from one month to the next.<\/p>\n In a lender\u2019s eyes this has the potential to impact their ability to make regular loan repayments.<\/p>\n So if you own one of Australia\u2019s\u00a02.6 million small businesses<\/a>, or you\u2019re one of the nation\u2019s\u00a0one million independent contractors<\/a>, here are some tips on how to convince a lender to back you.<\/p>\n Banks often feel more comfortable if you have been self-employed for a while.<\/p>\n That can mean showing you\u2019ve held your Australian Business Number (ABN) for at least a year or two. It demonstrates the business has got legs and possibly generates a reasonable income for you.<\/p>\n While employees can simply stump up a couple of pay slips as proof of income, if you\u2019re self-employed you\u2019ll likely need to pull together several pieces of paperwork as evidence of income.<\/p>\n The requirements vary between lenders.<\/p>\n You may be asked to provide your last two years of financial statements, including business and personal tax returns (a good incentive to stay up-to-date with your tax!).<\/p>\n Or the bank may just want to see several recent business activity statements.<\/p>\n In some cases, you may be asked for an income statement signed by you and your accountant that confirms your financial position and that you can afford the loan repayments.<\/p>\n With so much variation, it\u2019s important to speak with us to know what different lenders look for.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a bad idea to gather evidence of personal savings and investments.<\/p>\n A healthy track record of regular saving, in particular, can go a long way towards convincing a lender that you can handle home loan repayments.<\/p>\n The Australian Tax Office (ATO) estimates that about\u00a010% of small businesses<\/a>\u00a0under-report income (aka cash-in-hand jobs) or exaggerate\/overclaim expenses.<\/p>\n Not only can this get you in hot water with the ATO, but it can also impact your borrowing capacity.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because generally speaking, the lower your income, the lower the repayments a lender may expect you\u2019ll be able to afford each month.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s the great Australian dream for many: giving the 9-to-5 grind the flick and running your own show. But when it comes to taking out a home loan, being your own boss can dish up some unexpected hammer blows.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Show you\u2019ve been in business for a while<\/h3>\n
Gather proof of income<\/h3>\n
Showcase your other assets<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t hide your income or exaggerate expenses<\/h3>\n
Low-doc loans for self-employed home buyers<\/h3>\n