Self Employed Mortgage Broker Sydney
When you run your own business, you don't have time for setbacks. AFMS Group arranges home loans for self-employed Sydneysiders, comparing 30+ bank, non-bank and specialist lenders, even if you don't have every document a bank usually asks for.
No cost to you · No obligation · Weekdays 8am to 8pm, weekends by appointment
An award-winning mortgage broker for the self employed, AFMS Group works with sole traders, contractors, freelancers and company directors across Sydney. We match your business income to the lenders whose policies suit it, so the paperwork you can provide is enough.
Below you'll find how lenders read self-employed income, the three loan types available to you, the documents each one needs, and what your application will look like from first call to settlement.
Start with a free 15-minute call. No documents needed, no obligation.
Book a Consultation
Why Home Loans Are Harder When You Work for Yourself
Income verification for self-employed borrowers is far more detailed than for employees. Of the 2.7 million actively trading businesses in Australia, roughly two thirds are run by self-employed people. Despite being the majority, self-employed borrowers rarely get the same treatment from a bank as a salaried applicant.
The issue isn't you, it's the standard application process. It is built around payslips, a consistent monthly income and documents that a business owner can't always produce on demand. The solution is not more paperwork. It is connecting with the right lender.
Choosing between a bank, a non-bank and a specialist lender that understands the realities of self-employment, from variable cash flow to the way a good accountant minimises taxable income, is where AFMS Group steps in.
How Much Can You Borrow When You Are Self Employed?
When you're self employed, the figure on your tax return is rarely what a lender counts. Two things change it: some lenders add back expenses that lowered your tax but didn't cost you cash, and different lenders treat a jump or dip between years differently. Enter your last two years and see the difference.
The "taxable income" line on your latest notice of assessment.
Only have one year of returns? Enter 0.
Depreciation, one-off costs, interest on business loans you're refinancing, super paid above the compulsory rate. Lenders call these "add-backs". Not sure? Leave it at 0.
Car loans, personal loans, other mortgages.
Your Estimate
Estimates only, not financial or credit advice. Every lender has its own rules on add-backs, income growth, living expenses and assessment rates; the range assumes repayments over 30 years at a buffered assessment rate. Bring your figures to a free consultation and we'll give you a lender-specific number.
Want to see what a loan would cost month to month? Try our loan repayment calculator, then bring your numbers to a free consultation. The only reliable figure comes from matching your actual financials to the right lender, which is a quick, free conversation with AFMS Group.
Self Employed Home Loan Options in Sydney
Most self-employed borrowers can take a standard home loan. The question is how you prove your income, and there are three routes.
Full Doc Home Loans
The standard loan. Lenders usually want two years of personal and business tax returns, notices of assessment, and sometimes BAS or profit and loss statements and bank statements showing cash flow. Full doc suits established businesses with returns lodged and up to date, and it opens up the widest choice of lenders and the sharpest rates.
Alt Doc Home Loans
Alternative documentation loans are for business owners and freelancers whose returns are not current or don't reflect the business today. Income is verified with other records: six to twelve months of BAS, business bank statements, or an accountant's declaration. Pricing sits between full doc and low doc.
Low Doc Home Loans
Also designed for self-employed borrowers, low documentation loans don't require tax returns at all. Income is self-declared and supported by BAS or an accountant's letter. Low doc has real trade-offs (see below), but for the right borrower it can be the fastest route to the home loan you need.
Comparing over 30 bank and specialist lenders, AFMS Group can find the right route for your financial situation.
Book a Free ConsultationLow Doc Home Loans for the Self Employed
Low doc home loans are a flexible option for self-employed borrowers who cannot provide the standard documents a home loan application asks for.
Documentation is still required, but alternative evidence stands in for tax returns: a self-declared income statement supported by a Business Activity Statement (BAS), business bank statements, or a letter from your accountant. That flexibility helps newer ABNs, complex business structures, and businesses whose returns are behind.
The trade-off is cost. Because the lender is taking on more risk, low doc loans usually carry a higher interest rate and higher ongoing fees, and most lenders cap borrowing at around 80% of the property value, which means a larger deposit.
Low Doc Home Loan Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Accessible for self-employed borrowers who can't provide full financials | Higher interest rates than full doc loans |
| Faster approval, with less documentation to gather | Larger deposit requirements (borrowing often capped at 80% of the property value) |
| Flexibility in how income is evidenced (BAS, bank statements, accountant's letter) | Fewer lenders and loan products to choose from |
| Available to borrowers buying through a trust or company | Stricter conditions: lower loan-to-value ratio, more frequent reviews, higher ongoing fees |
For a fuller picture of the benefits and drawbacks, read our guide to the pros and cons of low doc home loans for self-employed borrowers.
What Income Documents Do Lenders Accept?
The documents you'll be asked for depend on your loan type. Full doc is the most exhaustive; alt doc and low doc accept many of the same document types over shorter periods, such as six to twelve months of BAS rather than two years of returns.
Needed for every loan type
- ABN (or ACN) registration details
- Business Activity Statements (BAS)
- Personal identification
- Statements for existing debts and liabilities
Additional or alternative documentation
- Personal and business tax returns
- ATO Notices of Assessment
- Profit and loss statements
- Business and personal bank statements
- Accountant's declaration or letter
- Asset and existing property documentation
Don't treat this as a checklist you must complete. Start with what you can provide, and we'll choose the loan type and lender from there. That is the job of a mortgage broker for self-employed borrowers: matching your available documents to a lender's policy, rather than asking you to fit a bank's template.
Refinancing When You Are Self Employed
Many self-employed borrowers stay on an old rate for years because they dread redoing their income declaration. Refinancing isn't the hard part. Finding the lender whose policy suits your current financials is.
As an experienced refinance broker in Sydney, AFMS Group handles the whole process: matching your numbers to a lender, preparing the paperwork, and planning the next step for your loan. That can include releasing equity for business or investment purposes, consolidating business debts, or moving from a low doc loan to a sharper full doc rate once your returns are up to date. All at no cost to you.
Looking for free expert home loan advice? Talk to our team about your situation. No fees, no obligations.
Book a ConsultationImprove Your Approval Odds Before You Apply
How do you prepare for a home loan application when you work for yourself? These five steps improve your odds and make the process simpler.
1. Establish your ABN history
Most lenders want to see your ABN or ACN registered for 12 to 24 months before they treat your business income as stable. Some specialist lenders accept less, so a young business is not a dead end.
2. Lodge your tax returns on time
Gaps in your lodgement record are one of the fastest ways to turn a lender away. Current returns also unlock full doc lending and its better rates.
3. Keep your BAS current
Up-to-date BAS and business bank statements show a lender what the business earns today, not what it earned two financial years ago.
4. Separate business and personal spending
Lenders read both sets of statements. Clean separation makes your income and expenses easy to follow and your business look stable.
5. Tidy your personal finances
Clear or reduce existing debts and pay down credit cards. Unused credit limits still count against your borrowing power, so close the cards you don't need.
You don't need to be perfect to be approved. Managing your personal and business finances well before you apply simply gives the lender fewer reasons to hesitate.
The Home Loan Application Process, Start to Settled
At AFMS Group, the process is simple. Here is exactly what happens, with no surprises.
- Step 01
Free 15-Minute Call
Whether you're leaning towards full doc, alt doc or low doc, we'll talk through your situation and the lenders that fit. No obligation, no documents needed. Phone, video, or in person at Martin Place, with evenings and weekends available by appointment.
- Step 02
Assessment and Strategy
We assess your income, expenses, debts and deposit the way a lender's credit team will, then design a loan structure around your goals. For self-employed borrowers, we identify which documents and statements will carry the most weight with lenders.
- Step 03
Compare 30+ Lenders and Negotiate
We do the hard part: finding the lender whose policy suits your financials, then negotiating rates and terms. You get a recommendation backed by research and a clear reason for the choice.
- Step 04
Pre-Approval and Application
We package and lodge one complete application with the right lender. Pre-approval often comes back within one to three business days, and formal approval typically follows within one to three weeks once the lender has your documents and a valuation.
- Step 05
Approval to Settlement
We push your application through valuation, approval and settlement, coordinating with your conveyancer or solicitor. Our four-hour reply time keeps you updated at every stage.
- Step 06
6 and 12-Month Follow-Ups
Once the loan is settled, we review it at six and twelve months, re-check the market, and let you know if a refinance or restructure would leave you better off.
Why Self Employed Borrowers Choose AFMS Group
Brokers now arrange 81% of Australian home loans, and self-employed borrowers benefit most. With income that varies period to period, finding a lender policy you fit is the whole game, and that is what a broker does.
Specialists in Self Employed Lending
We work with lenders that understand variable cash flow, ABN history and business structures. Comparing over 30 bank, non-bank and specialist lenders, we weigh your current needs against your future plans, not just today's rate.
Award-Winning, Director-Led Service
Andrew Hadjidemetri, an MPA Top 10 Broker in Australia 2025, is personally involved in every file, from application to settlement.
500+ Five-Star Google Reviews
With over $1 billion in home loans settled for AFMS Group clients and 500+ Google reviews rated 5 stars, our record speaks for itself. See our industry awards.
Full Service, No Cost
We're available 8am to 8pm weekdays and weekends by appointment, because business owners rarely work bank hours. Our service is paid by the lender, so our advice costs you nothing.
The Team Behind Your Self Employed Home Loan
Self-employed files are won or lost on how the income is presented to the lender. Andrew Hadjidemetri, a business owner himself as founder of AFMS Group, works your file personally, with senior credit adviser Jordan Coelho and finance broker Nicholas Del Duca packaging your financials the way a lender's credit team wants to see them.
Andrew Hadjidemetri
Jordan Coelho
Nicholas Del Duca
We know you can't down tools for a bank appointment, so we work 8am to 8pm weekdays and weekends by appointment, in person at Martin Place or by phone and video. We also work directly with your accountant on add-backs, BAS and declarations so you're not the go-between. Meet the AFMS Group team.
More Ways We Help Business Owners
Refinancing
Move off an old rate, release equity for your business, or step up from low doc to full doc once your returns are current. Includes a free rate review against 30+ lenders.
Explore RefinancingPre-Approval
Know your budget before you inspect or bid. We arrange fully assessed pre-approvals for self-employed buyers so your offer holds up when it matters.
Explore Pre-ApprovalCommercial Loans
Buying premises, funding equipment or expanding? Our commercial lending team structures business finance alongside your home loan.
Explore Commercial LoansInvestment Loans
Build wealth outside the business. Every investment loan is overseen by Andrew, an award-winning broker and active property investor.
Explore Investment LoansWhat Our Clients Say
Speak to a Self Employed Mortgage Broker in Sydney
Start with a no-obligation consultation with one of our lending specialists. Level 14, 5 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000. Weekdays 8am to 8pm, weekends by appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a home loan if I am self employed?
Yes. Self-employed borrowers are approved for home loans every day. The difference is how your income is verified. If your tax returns are current you may qualify for a standard full doc loan; if they are not, alt doc or low doc options use BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter instead. Some of those options carry a higher rate or a larger deposit, which is why matching you to the right lender matters.
How long do I need to be self employed to get a home loan?
It depends on the lender and loan type. Full doc loans generally want two years of tax returns. Alt doc and low doc lenders are more flexible: many accept one year of financials, and some specialist lenders will consider six to twelve months of BAS or bank statements, provided your ABN has been registered for long enough to satisfy their policy (often 12 to 24 months, sometimes less).
Can I get a home loan with only one year of financials?
Yes. Several lenders on our panel accept one year of financials, and alt doc or low doc loans can bridge the gap where a second year is not available. These options can come with a slightly higher rate or a lower maximum loan-to-value ratio, so we compare them against the full doc lenders that accept one year before recommending a path.
Do I need a bigger deposit because I am self employed?
Not necessarily. If you can document your income in full, self-employed borrowers can access the same deposit requirements as employees. Larger deposits usually apply to low doc loans, where many lenders cap borrowing at around 80% of the property value. Read our guide to the pros and cons of low doc home loans for the trade-offs.
Will I pay a higher interest rate because I am self employed?
Not automatically. With full documentation you can access the same rates as any other borrower. Low doc and some alt doc products are priced higher because the lender is taking on more risk. Where a higher-rate loan is the only way in, we plan a refinance to a sharper rate once your financials catch up.
What is the difference between full doc and low doc home loans?
The documentation. A full doc loan uses your tax returns and notices of assessment to verify income. A low doc loan uses alternative evidence such as BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's declaration. Full doc offers the widest choice of lenders and rates; low doc offers flexibility when your returns are not current, at a higher cost.
Can self employed first home buyers use government schemes?
Yes. Being self employed does not exclude you from the First Home Guarantee, the First Home Super Saver Scheme or NSW stamp duty concessions. The scheme lenders will still need to verify your income, so eligibility comes down to the documentation you can provide rather than how you earn.
What if a bank has already declined my application?
A decline from one bank is not a decline from the market. Lender policies on self-employed income vary widely, and the bank that said no may simply have the wrong policy for your situation. Bring us the decline and we will show you which lenders assess your income differently. Avoid lodging further applications yourself in the meantime, as multiple enquiries can affect your credit file.
This page provides general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. It is not financial or credit advice. Calculator results are estimates only; lender policies on self-employed income, add-backs and loan-to-value ratios vary and change. AFMS Group provides credit assistance only. Australian Credit Licence 389087, Credit Representative 523450. MFAA member.