Professionals · Accountants Home loans for accountants
Accountants are one of the professions some lenders treat as lower risk. That can mean a smaller deposit without the usual extra costs. Written by an accountant who became a home loan broker, this is what the policies actually say, and where they stop helping.
Key takeaways
- Some lenders may waive lenders mortgage insurance for eligible accountants, commonly up to 90% of the property’s value.
- Most recognise CA ANZ, CPA Australia and IPA members. Some also accept overseas memberships such as the ICAEW.
- The 5% Deposit Scheme has had no income cap since 1 October 2025, so a high income doesn’t rule you out.
- The waiver is the easy part. Bonuses, packaged salary, partner income and buying with someone else are where lenders differ.
Three ways to buy with less than 20%
Every option has a catch. These are policy types, not any one lender’s rules.
| Profession policy | 5% Deposit Scheme | Standard lending above 80% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Commonly from 10% | From 5%, or 2% for eligible single parents | Varies by lender and product |
| Lenders mortgage insurance | May be waived, for eligible members | None. The government backs part of the loan instead | Usually charged |
| Price cap | None from the government, lender limits apply | Yes: $1.5 million in Sydney | None from the government |
| Income cap | Some lenders set a minimum income | None since 1 October 2025 | None |
| Who it suits | Members buying above the cap, or investing | First home buyers, or 10 years since owning | Anyone who doesn’t fit the first two |
| The catch | Membership must be current and recognised | Owner-occupiers only, participating lenders only | The insurance cost, usually added to the loan |
General information about policy types. Eligibility, limits and maximum loan sizes depend on the lender and change over time. Scheme rules checked against the government’s information guides dated 1 July 2026.
Which memberships do lenders recognise?
Most profession policies list the three Australian bodies: CA ANZ, CPA Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants. What varies is the level of membership each lender accepts, and whether you need a practising certificate.
If you qualified overseas, some lenders accept bodies such as the ICAEW or ACCA. Others only list the Australian bodies. That’s a reason to check the policy before you apply, not after.
Students, provisional members and associates are where lenders differ most. If you’re part-way through the CA or CPA program, ask before you rely on the policy.
Home loans for accountants in NSW and QLD
Profession policies are national, so they work the same way in every state. What changes is stamp duty, the first home concessions and the 5% Deposit Scheme price cap: $1.5 million in Sydney and $1 million in Brisbane. Your real number is worked out for the state you’re buying in.
Where a broker earns their keep
Plenty of accountants can get a profession policy through their own bank. Where it gets harder is everything the policy doesn’t cover:
- No 10% deposit. The scheme may need only 5%, but only under the price cap.
- Bonuses and overtime. Lenders differ on how much of a bonus they count, and how much history they want.
- Salary packaging. Some lenders gross up packaged amounts, some don’t.
- Partner or practice income. Usually self-employed income, read from tax returns. See how lenders assess self-employed income.
- Buying with someone else. A partner on a different income, or co-buying with family.
- A contract role or a recent move. Probation periods and contracts change which lenders fit.
After you buy: the 80% review
If you buy at 90%, your loan-to-value ratio falls as you pay it down and as prices move. Once it reaches 80%, some lenders may offer a lower rate. Most people never ask. I review my clients’ loans every six months, and that’s one of the things I check.
A Chartered Accountant mortgage broker
I’m a Chartered Accountant (FCA, ICAEW) who became a home loan broker. In accounting, nobody signs off a number they haven’t checked. I bring the same habit to home loans: your real number first, then every way in, with the catch on each in writing.
That background also means I speak your language. If your income has a partner share, a bonus pool, packaged components or a trust distribution in it, I’ll know what a lender will ask before it asks. More about me.
FAQ Questions clients ask
Do accountants get LMI waived?
Some lenders waive lenders mortgage insurance for eligible accountants, commonly up to 90% of the property’s value. Eligibility depends on the lender, your membership and whether it’s current, and some lenders also set a minimum income. You may be eligible; it isn’t automatic.
Which accounting memberships do lenders recognise?
Most profession policies recognise members of CA ANZ, CPA Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants. Some lenders also accept overseas bodies, such as the ICAEW or ACCA. Lenders differ on student, provisional and associate membership levels.
Can I use the 5% Deposit Scheme on a high income?
Yes. The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme has had no income cap since 1 October 2025. Property price caps still apply, $1.5 million in Sydney, and you need to be a first home buyer or not have owned property in Australia for 10 years.
Does my partner need to be an accountant too?
Usually not. Profession policies generally need the qualifying professional to be a borrower, and a partner in another job can apply with you. Lenders differ on the details, so it’s worth checking before you rely on it.
I’m a partner in a firm. Am I self-employed?
Usually, yes. Partner income from a firm is generally assessed as self-employed income, from tax returns rather than payslips. Some lenders are more flexible for partners in established firms, which is one of the places lenders differ.
Is a profession policy better than the 5% Deposit Scheme?
It depends on the price and your deposit. The scheme lets you buy with 5% under a price cap. A profession policy usually needs about 10% but has no government price cap. I lay both side by side before you choose.
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