Running your own business shouldn’t mean putting your property goals on hold.
Yet many self-employed Australians still wonder if getting a home loan will be harder because they work for themselves.
Bluestone Home Loans partnered with Agile Market Intelligence to explore the attitudes of more than 18,000 Australians, including over 2,200 self-employed workers, to better understand how they think about property, finance and borrowing in the Self-Employed Australians: Pathways & Opportunities Report.
What we found is encouraging.
Many self-employed Australians may have more home loan opportunities available to them than they realise, especially when they have the right guidance and access to the broader lending market.
You’re not alone if you’re asking questions
Being self-employed comes with a unique set of financial considerations.
When asked about their biggest financial concerns, self-employed Australians commonly highlighted:
- Irregular income
- Cash flow management
- Financial security
- Tax complexity
- Building wealth through property
These concerns are completely understandable. Many business owners manage fluctuating income, seasonal trends and business expenses that salaried employees don’t have to think about every day.
The good news is that lenders like Bluestone Home Loans assess self-employed borrowers every day.
Being self-employed is not unusual, and there are lending solutions specifically designed to help borrowers whose financial circumstances don’t fit a traditional mould.
Property ownership is still within reach
One of the strongest themes from the research was the perception that self-employment can make property ownership more difficult.
Some respondents worried it would be harder to save a deposit or build wealth through property.
But perception and reality aren’t always the same.
While an application is assessed on its own merits, self-employment alone does not prevent you from obtaining a home loan. In fact, many non-bank lenders actively support self-employed borrowers and understand that business income can look very different from a standard PAYG payslip.
The key is understanding which lenders may be suited to your circumstances and how they assess self-employed income.
That’s where expert guidance can make a real difference.
Home Loan options for self-employed borrowers
One of the most interesting findings in our research relates to how many self-employed borrowers are unaware of the solutions available to them.
Only 45% of self-employed Australians were aware of a non-bank lender, despite non-bank lending being a well-established part of the Australian home loan market.
Yet when self-employed respondents were asked whether they would consider a non-bank lender, almost two-thirds said they would.
This suggests that many borrowers may be overlooking potential options simply because they aren’t aware those options exist.
Non-bank lenders can play an important role for borrowers with self-employed income, complex financial structures or circumstances that may not fit within the policies of every major bank.
However – like Bluestone – many offer their lending solutions exclusively via an accredited mortgage broker.
The opportunity isn’t necessarily about replacing your bank. It’s about finding the right broker to understand the full range of options available to you.
Why many self-employed borrowers start with their bank
When asked where they would most likely go for a home loan, many self-employed Australians said they would begin with their existing bank.
That’s understandable.
Your bank may already know your transaction history and be familiar with your business.
However, every lender has different policies, assessment methods and approaches to self-employed income.
Limiting your search to just one lender may mean missing opportunities that exist elsewhere in the market.
Why speaking with a broker can be valuable
The research found that many self-employed Australians use professional advisers regularly, yet relatively few have worked with a mortgage broker.
Brokers now facilitate over 80% of home loans, and for self-employed borrowers, a broker can be one of the most valuable starting points for your new home loan or refinance journey.
That’s because brokers don’t just represent one lender. They can help you explore a range of lending options and explain how different lenders may assess your circumstances.
Importantly, brokers are often the primary way borrowers access specialist and non-bank lending solutions.
If you’ve only ever spoken to your bank, there’s a good chance there are options you haven’t yet explored.
A broker can help you understand what’s available and connect you with lenders that may suit your particular situation.
How Bluestone supports self-employed Australians
We’ve spent over 25 years helping Australians whose financial circumstances don’t always fit neatly into a standard box.
We understand that successful business owners, sole traders and other self-employed borrowers don’t all look the same on paper.
That’s why we take a broader view and work closely with brokers to support self-employed borrowers across a wide range of scenarios.
Whether you’ve recently started a business, have multiple income streams, use alternative documentation, or simply want to better understand your options, a conversation with an experienced broker can be a valuable first step.
Because when you can see more of the lending market, you can make more informed decisions about your property journey.
Self-employed and ready to explore your options?
Speak to a mortgage broker who works with Bluestone Home Loans to learn more about the lending solutions available to self-employed Australians.
