News & insights
Self-employed
home loans.
Clear answers about self-employed home loans, low doc and Alt Doc pathways, with market updates when they matter.
Start with your income story
Self-employed lending guides.
What should a self-employed borrower prepare for a home loan conversation?
Bring your income story together and know which questions to ask.
Read the guide 02 / LOW DOCWhat does low doc mean for a self-employed home loan?
Learn what changes in the document conversation and what still needs checking.
Read the guide 03 / ALT DOCHow can Alt Doc show self-employed income?
Understand alternative income evidence and the questions to settle before applying.
Read the guide 04 / REFINANCEQuestions to ask before you refinance.
Compare the whole loan, including fees, term and features.
Read the checklist 05 / HOME LOANSCash rate and home loan rate: what's the difference?
Understand the link, and why your loan rate may change differently.
Read the explainerEvent dates refer to the original announcements, not a So Money publication date.
Events / October 2025–September 2026
The past year,
in context.
Four changes that matter to borrowers and brokers. Each article links its sources and explains what happened and what to check next.
RBA held the cash rate in August. What should mortgage borrowers check?
The policy rate stayed at 4.35% after three increases in 2026. Your own loan rate is a separate question.
Read the update 01 FEB 2026LENDING POLICYAPRA’s debt-to-income limit: what does it mean for buyers?
The portfolio rule began in February. It is not an automatic ban on every high-DTI borrower.
Read the update 05 DEC 2025SHARED EQUITYHelp to Buy opened. How is it different from a deposit guarantee?
Understand the government contribution, participating locations and the questions to ask.
Read the update 01 OCT 2025FIRST HOME BUYERSThe expanded 5% Deposit Scheme: what changed?
No income caps or place limits, with eligibility and participating-lender checks still required.
Read the update