Can I get a home loan with only 6 months self employed?

Yes, though options are limited. A small number of non-bank specialist lenders will consider a 6 months self employed mortgage application with strong compensating factors. You'll need a deposit of 20-25%, clean credit, and high income relative to the loan size. LVR caps at 70-80%.

Should I apply now or wait until I have 2 years trading history?

It depends on how close you are to a threshold that unlocks better terms, and what property prices are doing in your target area. If you're at 10 months, waiting 2 months to hit 12 could open 10+ more lenders. If you're at 18 months and prices are rising, applying now and refinancing later may save more than waiting.

Will a rejected application hurt my chances when I reapply later?

A formal application that's declined can appear on your credit file. Multiple declines in a short period raise red flags for future lenders. Brokers use soft enquiries and preliminary assessments that don't leave a mark on your credit file, giving you clarity without risk.

Do I need an accountant to get approved?

Not for every lender. Bank statement programs assess income from your business account deposits alone. However, if you do have an accountant, their letter adds significant weight by confirming your business is viable and stating your income for the trading period.

What if my business income changes month to month?

Lenders assessing under-2-year borrowers expect income variation. They calculate average income across the available trading period rather than requiring identical monthly figures. Some lenders weight recent months more heavily, which benefits borrowers with growing revenue.

Does my business structure affect which lenders I can use?

Yes, but it narrows your options rather than eliminating them. Sole traders, companies, and trusts are all assessable. Some lenders prefer sole traders because it's simpler to verify how much income flows to you personally. Company and trust structures require additional documentation.

How much deposit do I need with under 2 years self employed?

Most lenders require a minimum of 20% at the 12-18 month threshold. At 6 months trading, some require 25%. Lenders Mortgage Insurance is not available for under-2-year self-employed borrowers, so you cannot borrow above 80% LVR regardless of income strength.

Home Loans Self Employed Under 2 Years

Your bank said no because you don't have 2 years of trading history. But the Big 4 represent a fraction of available lenders in Australia. Across our panel of 40+ lenders, 15 to 20 actively consider borrowers with 12 months of history. Some say yes at just 6 months. Your next step isn't another bank application. It's finding the lenders that match your situation right now.

Self-employed business owner reviewing home loan options

We compare your rates with 50+ lenders

What lenders accept at 6, 12, and 18 months self employed

The '2 years' rule isn't universal. Different lenders draw the line at different points. Where you sit on this timeline determines your lender pool, your maximum loan-to-value ratio, and the documentation you'll need to provide.

If you've been recently self employed and wondering whether a mortgage is realistic, here's the specific breakdown by trading threshold.

Where are you right now? Find your threshold below and see what's possible at your stage.

6 Months Trading

Lender pool: 3-5 specialist non-bank lenders | Max LVR: 70-80%

At 6 months, most lenders don't have enough data to run their standard risk models. That limits your pool to 3 to 5 specialist non-bank lenders like Pepper Money or Liberty who use alternative assessment methods. You'll typically need a 20-25% deposit, clean credit, strong income relative to the loan size, and ideally existing property equity or a guarantor to strengthen the application. Documentation relies on BAS statements, 6 months of business bank statements, and proof of ABN/GST registration. Lenders check your ABN registration date to confirm how long you've been trading. This is the hardest threshold, but approval is possible.

12 Months Trading

Lender pool: 10-15 lenders | Max LVR: 80%

Twelve months is a turning point because you now have a full tax year of data, giving lenders a trend to assess rather than a snapshot. This unlocks 10-15 lenders across our panel. You'll need a tax return, 4 quarters of BAS, and ideally an accountant's letter confirming your business income and viability. LVR extends to 80%, and the rate sits slightly above standard. Most borrowers at this threshold find a workable path forward.

18 Months Trading

You're approaching standard lending territory. More lenders will assess your application, and some will project forward to the 2-year mark. LVR can reach 80-85%, and your negotiating position improves significantly. In a rising market, waiting another 6 months to hit 2 years could cost you more in price increases than you'd save on the rate. A broker consultation here tells you whether applying now or waiting makes more financial sense.

Not sure which threshold you're at?

A 15-minute call tells you exactly where you stand, which lenders match your trading history, and whether applying now or waiting makes more sense.

Check your options in 15 minutes

No 2 years of tax returns? Here's what lenders accept instead

You have more usable documentation than you think. Knowing which documents unlock which lenders is where broker expertise matters.

BAS statements covering 2-4 quarters prove your GST turnover and trading consistency. Meanwhile, business bank statements offer another route. Some lenders assess income purely from 3-6 months of deposits, with no accountant letter or tax return needed.

If you do have an accountant, their letter confirming business viability and a 12-month income projection adds significant weight. Any registered tax agent can provide one.

Sole traders, companies, and trusts are all assessable. Your business structure affects which lender is the best match, not whether a match exists.

For a full overview of how self-employed home loans work regardless of time in business, see our complete guide.

Stryve Finance team helping self-employed borrowers with home loan documentation

What to realistically expect with under 2 years trading

Getting a newly self employed mortgage costs more than a standard one. But the gap is smaller than most borrowers expect after being rejected. On a $500,000 loan, the rate premium adds roughly $25-$75 per month. That extra cost is temporary: once you hit 2 years of trading history, you can refinance onto standard rates.

Category	Standard self-employed (2+ years)	Under 2 years self-employed
Maximum LVR	Up to 90-95%	Capped at 80%
Interest rate	Standard market rates	0.1-0.3% premium
Lender pool	Most of 40+ panel	15-20 specialist lenders
Minimum deposit	5-10% (with LMI)	20-25%
Documentation	2 years tax returns + financials	BAS, bank statements, accountant letter
Income assessment	Full income history	Conservative (available history)
Refinance pathway	Already on best rates	Refinance at 2 years for better rate

How two self-employed borrowers got approved under 2 years

These scenarios reflect real approval patterns we see across our lender panel. Individual outcomes vary based on your specific circumstances, but they show what's achievable with the right lender match.

Sarah: 12 months, graphic designer

Rejected by a Big 4 bank for a $620K townhouse in Melbourne's inner west. With 1 tax return, 4 quarters of BAS ($22-26K/qtr), and an accountant's letter, a second-tier lender approved her at 80% LVR. She plans to refinance at the 2-year mark for a better rate.

Marcus: 6 months, electrician

After 10 years at a commercial electrical firm, Marcus went solo. No tax return yet, but 6 months of bank statements showing $8K+ weekly deposits and a clean credit history got him approved for $480K by a specialist non-bank lender at 75% LVR.

Not ready yet? That's useful too

Some borrowers are 3-6 months from a stronger position. A broker uses soft enquiries with no credit file impact to tell you exactly what milestone to hit next, whether that's lodging a return or accumulating another BAS quarter.

What our customers
say about us

Don't just take our word for it. See what hundreds of satisfied clients across Sydney say about their experience with Stryve Finance.

“Nate and Dylan were extremely helpful in helping us secure our new home. They were easy to contact from day one, and answered any questions we had. We felt reassured at all times and are very grateful for their patience with us. I have recommended Stryve to 3 friends now who have all been successful in achieving their goals of purchasing their homes. We are so happy with the service and will definitely keep on recommending Stryve to our family and friends.”

Whitney Tran

Homeowner

“I never had a problem with Dylan. From the start of our journey on mortgage til the very end and even with refinancing, he/they were very helpful, transparent, honest and really keen to help their clients! Highly recommended.”

Cristianne Del Valle

Homeowner

“On behalf of my husband and I, we would like to truly thank Dylan Bertovic for all his assistance in helping us with our new loan - approved in time before our settlement. Dylan worked above and beyond expected. He took the time to explain every step and process with us. Any questions we had, Dylan would go out of his way to ensure they were answered. He made the process stress free and ensured we got the best possible deal. We highly recommend Dylan to all our family and friends.”

Merna Yalda

Homeowner

“Nate is great to work with, very knowledgeable, responsive and genuinely invested in helping me find the right solution. Highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable, competitive and professional brokerage services.”

Julia

Homeowner

“Dylan has not only been a longtime friend, but also the trusted mortgage broker of choice for my family. He answers the phone at all hours, communicates extensively through all steps of a sometimes-complicated process and manages my risk. He has a straight to the point approach which I appreciate. Simply gets the job done, and gets it done very quickly. Thanks for everything Dylan, you're a champion broker and a good mate.”

Christian Barać

Homeowner

“Nate and Dylan were the ultimate professionals in securing a home loan to help us purchase our first home! Following the purchase of our home, they have continued to provide their exceptional service and have been able to secure two rate reductions in six months! Being self-employed wasn't an issue for me as Nate knew the process back-to-front and was able to provide sound advice throughout the application process.”

Justin Tomas

Homeowner

“It was an absolute brilliant experience with Stryve. Our first purchase was with Dylan he was always clear re: the next steps, quick to respond, never tired of questions and went over and above with communication. We went back and used him again for our next investment and the experience was just as wonderful as the first. Stryve also reviews our loans every 6 months to make sure we are getting the best rates on offer. We couldn't ask for more!”

Amber Motii

Homeowner

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Frequently asked questions

Find out which lenders match your trading history

In 15 minutes, we'll tell you which lenders are an option right now, what documentation to gather, and whether applying now or waiting makes more sense for your situation. Free. No obligation. No credit file impact. Most borrowers get a clear answer in one call.

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Home Loans Self Employed Under 2 Years