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Low Doc Home Loans & Alt Doc Loans for the Self-Employed

No recent tax returns? Low doc home loans and alt doc loans let you prove your income another way. We match self-employed borrowers with lenders who accept BAS, bank statements or an accountant’s declaration. You’re built different. So is your income.

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Self-Employed - Leads Contact Form

Start your journey, speak with a home loan expert today!

MADE FOR

Self-employed, sole traders and business owners

INSTEAD OF TAX RETURNS

BAS, bank statements or an accountant’s declaration

RATES

Usually a little higher than standard

LENDERS

Mostly specialist and non-bank

WHICH FITS YOU?

Low doc or alt doc?

Both are for borrowers without standard payslips. The difference is the evidence the lender relies on.

PAPERWORK BEHIND OR BUSINESS IS NEW

Low doc home loan

Relies mainly on a signed accountant’s declaration of your income, supported by some records.

How do low doc home loans work?
TRADING STRONGLY RIGHT NOW

Alt doc home loan

Uses recent BAS and bank statements to show how your business is trading now, not last year.

What is an alt doc loan?

LOW DOC

How do low doc home loans work?

QUICK ANSWER

Low doc home loans work like a standard home loan, except the lender verifies your income with BAS, business bank statements or an accountant’s declaration instead of two years of full tax returns. They suit people whose business is sound but whose paperwork hasn’t caught up.

ALT DOC

What is an alt doc home loan?

QUICK ANSWER

An alt doc, or alternative documentation, home loan lets you verify your income using recent business evidence instead of your last two tax returns. It suits business owners whose income has grown beyond what older paperwork shows.

Low doc vs alt doc: what’s the difference?

At a glance Low doc home loan Alt doc home loan
Main evidence

Accountant’s declaration of income, supported by some record

Recent BAS and bank statements, plus an accountant’s declaration

Best for

Newer businesses or thin paperwork

Strong recent trading that tax returns don’t show yet

Interest rate

Usually a little above standard

Usually a little above standard

DOCUMENTS

What documents do you need?

For a low doc loan

  • A signed accountant’s declaration of your income

  • ABN registration

  • GST registration, if applicable

  • Recent Business Activity Statements (BAS)

  • Business bank statements

  • A low doc application listing your assets and liabilities

For an alt doc loan

  • ABN registration

  • A signed accountant’s declaration of your income

  • Around six months of BAS

  • Around six months of business bank statements

  • Around three months of personal bank statements

Requirements vary by lender. Expect some back and forth on paperwork, even though it’s less than a standard application.

Who low doc home loans suit

  • NSelf-employed people, sole traders and small business owners
  • NBorrowers who haven't lodged recent tax returns
  • NBusinesses that are newer or have irregular income
  • NOwners whose income has grown beyond their two-year average
  • NBorrowers who've improved their finances after past credit issues

Low doc home loan rates: what to expect

Low doc and alt doc loans are usually priced a little higher than standard home loans, because lenders see them as higher risk. Your rate depends on your deposit, the quality of your documents, your other assets and your credit history.

Where to get a low doc mortgage

Several major banks have pulled back from low doc lending. Specialist and non-bank lenders are now the most active, and each weighs your documents differently. That’s where a broker makes the difference.

RELATED LOANS

Not quite the right fit?

Self-employed home loans

Have full tax returns and financials? You may qualify for standard rates.

Self-employed home loans

Bridging loans

Buying your next home before you sell? We bridge the gap for self-employed buyers too.

Explore bridging loans

Borrowing power

See roughly how much you could borrow before you talk to a broker.

How much can i borrow?

WHY GO WITH US

How a YBR broker helps self-employed borrowers

We know which lenders are still writing low doc loans, what each one weighs most heavily, and how to present your application so it reflects your business properly. If your income doesn’t fit a standard payslip, that’s not a problem for us. It’s what we specialise in.

01

We search, compare & negotiate

We research the market and compare rates from 50+ lenders to find a bridging loan that suits your needs.

02

We do the heavy lifting

We keep the application process simple, managing the paperwork from application right through to settlement.

03

You choose the right loan

We present the options and the facts, so you can pick the home loan that fits your goals.

CLIENT STORIES

What our clients have to say

Excellent service and attention to detail. We would highly recommend YBR and are extremely grateful for the support we receive from Struan and Jess.

Dale Wylie

Self-Employed

I’ve dealt with Andrew and his team at Yellow Brick Road Rosanna on many occasions and he is excellent to work with. Very professional. A top result for our home loan.

Matt Hodgson

Self-Employed

Andrew has given us great service every time we have used Yellow Brick Road at Northlakes to refinance our home loans. Andrew is very approachable, honest and knowledgable.

Melissa Luhrman

Self-employed

FAQS

Low doc and alt doc FAQs

Can self-employed borrowers get a low doc home loan?

Yes. Low doc home loans for self employed people, sole traders and business owners are exactly what this product is for. A broker matches you with lenders who accept alternative documentation.

How much deposit do I need for a low doc loan?

Usually more than for a standard loan, because many lenders limit how much they’ll lend against the property on low doc loans. A broker can show you what each lender allows for your situation.

Our borrowing power calculator gives you a rough idea.

Will I pay a higher interest rate?

Generally a little higher than a standard loan, since lenders treat low doc and alt doc loans as higher risk. The exact rate depends on your deposit, documents and credit history.

What if I haven't lodged my BAS?

Talk to your broker. Other evidence, such as business bank statements and an accountant’s declaration, may still support your application.

Do I still need an accountant's letter?

For most lenders, yes. A signed accountant’s declaration of your income is a standard requirement for both low doc and alt doc loans.

Can I use alt doc if I've only just started earning more?

Yes. That’s exactly what alt doc lending is designed for: a recent rise in income that your older tax returns don’t yet show.

Can I refinance an existing low doc loan?

It’s possible, though fewer lenders now offer low doc refinancing. A broker can tell you who’s currently active and whether refinancing makes sense for you.

Is a low doc loan better than a standard home loan?

Not if you can qualify for a standard loan, which is usually cheaper. A low doc loan is worth exploring when your documents are thin or out of date.

GUIDES AND TOOLS

Learn more before you talk to a broker

Your business doesn’t fit a standard mould.
Your home loan doesn’t have to either.

We’re here to help

Self-Employed - Leads Contact Form

Start your journey, speak with a home loan expert today!

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