5.0 from 33 Reviews
Running your own business is one of the most rewarding things you can do. But when it comes to borrowing money for a home or investment property, being self employed can feel like the rules were written for someone else. At Balcombe Financial, we work with sole traders, contractors, freelancers, company directors, and small business owners every day, and we understand that your income looks different on paper to someone on a regular salary. That does not mean you should miss out on the right loan.
Why Self Employed Borrowers Face Unique Challenges
Lenders assess self employed income differently to PAYG income. Rather than looking at a payslip, they typically want to see two years of personal tax returns, company tax returns, or trust tax returns, along with business bank statements and other financial records. The challenge is that many self employed borrowers legitimately minimise their taxable income through their business structure, which can make their borrowing capacity appear lower than it actually is. Balcombe Financial helps you present your financial position in the most accurate and complete way possible, so lenders can see the full picture.
For those who cannot provide the standard two years of tax returns, there are low doc loan options and alt doc loan pathways that allow for alternative documentation such as BAS statements, accountant declarations, or business bank statements. These options are particularly useful for people who are newly self employed or whose income structure does not fit neatly into a traditional application.
The Types of Self Employed Loans We Can Help With
At Balcombe Financial, we assist clients with a wide range of self employed loan scenarios. Whether you are looking for a self employed home loan to purchase your first property, a self employed investment loan to grow your portfolio, or a self employed refinance to secure a more suitable interest rate, we have access to a broad panel of lenders who understand how business-owners operate.
If you are a first home buyer who also happens to run your own business, the process can feel particularly overwhelming. Balcombe Financial takes the time to explain your options clearly, including how your self employed income verification will be assessed, what deposit requirements apply, and whether Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) may be a factor depending on your loan-to-value ratio (LVR).
For those looking at investment loans, lenders will assess your self employed borrowing capacity across both your personal and business income, and Balcombe Financial helps you understand how rental income and business income interact in a credit assessment.
What Lenders Look At for Self Employed Applications
A self employed credit assessment typically considers your income over the past one to two years, your business structure, the stability of your industry, your genuine savings history, and your overall financial position including any existing debts. Lenders may also look at your loan amount relative to the value of the property, which is your LVR. A lower LVR generally means a stronger application, and in some cases can help you access better self employed interest rates.
At Balcombe Financial, we take the time to understand your specific situation before approaching any lender. We know which lenders are more business owner friendly, which ones offer flexible assessment criteria, and which ones are more comfortable with particular business structures such as trusts or companies. This means we can match you with the right lender rather than simply the most obvious one.
Self Employed Loans Across Bayside and Australia
Balcombe Financial works with clients based in Bayside, Victoria and across Australia. Whether you are a contractor in Melbourne, a freelancer in regional Victoria, or a company director interstate, we can assist with your self employed mortgage needs remotely or in person. Our goal is to make the process as clear and manageable as possible, so you can focus on running your business while we focus on finding the right loan for your circumstances.
If you have been told your income is too complicated, or you have had a self employed home loan application declined elsewhere, it is worth speaking with Balcombe Financial. We work with a wide panel of lenders, including those who specialise in business owner mortgages and asset lending, and we are experienced in finding solutions where others have not.
Step 1: Initial Conversation
We start with a relaxed, no-obligation chat to understand your situation, your goals, and what you're looking to achieve. No paperwork, no pressure.
Step 2: Fact Find & Assessment
We take a closer look at your finances, including income, expenses, assets and liabilities, so we can understand your borrowing position and tailor our approach accordingly.
Step 3: Loan Strategy & Lender Selection
Drawing on our panel of over 40 lenders, we identify the most suitable options for your circumstances and present you with clear, comparable recommendations.
Step 4: Application Preparation
Once you're happy with the direction, we prepare and package your application thoroughly, making sure everything is in order before anything is submitted to a lender.
Step 5: Lodgement & Approval
We lodge your application and manage the process with the lender from start to finish, keeping you updated along the way so you're never left wondering what's happening.
Step 6: Formal Approval & Signing
Once your loan is formally approved, we walk you through the loan documents so you understand exactly what you're signing and what comes next.
Step 7: Settlement & Beyond
We stay with you through to settlement and beyond. Whether you have questions down the track or your circumstances change, we're always here to help.
Balcombe Financial has been absolutely helpful throughout the process of my construction loan. Amazingly proffesional and responsive. Michael is full of knowledge and knows his proffesion very well. Would highly recommend Balcombe Financial. Thank you Michael.
James O'Haire
We were extremely happy with the service and outcomes provided by Michael Flinos and Balcombe Financial. Michael gave us confidence early in the process as he worked with us to understand the complexity of our portfolio of loans. Michael then found solutions that best suited our needs, provided considerable savings and improved our flexibility. We are thrilled with the refinancing outcomes Michael enabled us to achieve and are we pleased to have Balcombe Financial as one of our trusted advisors. In addition to the excellent outcomes Michael was great to work with and helped us maintain momentum when the other challenges of life distracted us. In our next project with Balcombe Financial Michael is assisting us with a new project and our overall financing strategy. Very professional, client focussed, easy to work with and highly recommended.
Andrew O'Brien
Michael was fantastic to deal with and got my complicated financials sorted out and finance approved without any fuss. Would highly recommend.
Terry Wheeler
I have known Michael Flinos for more than a decade. Michael is a true Professional who is an authentic, subject matter expert in his domain and has great knowledge in the Financial services space and is extremely thorough and diligent. In all my dealings with Michael, I have been impressed with his knowledge, his ability to research products which are fit for purpose and his can do nature. He has a friendly and polite demeanor and is always prepared to go the extra nine yards to get the job done. I would not hesitate to recommend Michael's services to anyone who is looking for a commercially compelling solution to their requirements.
Bill Keramidas
The timeframe for a home loan application can vary depending on the lender, the complexity of your situation, and how quickly supporting documents are provided. In general, once a formal application is submitted, lenders may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to assess and provide a decision. At Balcombe Financial, we work to keep the process moving as efficiently as possible by preparing your application thoroughly from the start and staying in regular contact with the lender on your behalf. We will keep you updated throughout the process so you always know where things stand and what to expect next.
Absolutely. Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, and it can feel overwhelming when you are not sure where to start. At Balcombe Financial, we work with first home buyers regularly and understand the questions and concerns that come with the process. We take the time to explain how home loans work, what to expect at each stage, and what government grants or schemes you may be eligible to explore. We do not make assumptions about what you already know, and we are always happy to answer questions no matter how basic they may seem. Our aim is to make sure you feel prepared and supported.
A mortgage broker acts as the link between you and a range of lenders, including banks, credit unions, and non-bank lenders. Rather than you having to approach each lender individually, a mortgage broker does the legwork on your behalf. At Balcombe Financial, we take the time to understand your personal situation, your goals, and your financial position before researching loan options that may suit your needs. We handle the paperwork, communicate with lenders, and guide you through each step of the process. Our role is to make the home loan process more manageable and to help you feel informed and confident at every stage.
While the exact documents required can vary depending on your situation and the lender, there are some common items that most applications will require. These typically include proof of identity such as a passport or driver's licence, recent payslips or tax returns to confirm your income, bank statements showing your savings and expenses, and details of any existing debts or liabilities. If you are self-employed, you may need to provide additional documentation such as business financial statements or tax assessments. At Balcombe Financial, we will walk you through exactly what is needed for your specific application so you can gather everything in an organised way and avoid unnecessary delays.
Balcombe Financial assists clients with a broad range of lending needs. This includes home loans for owner-occupiers, investment property loans, refinancing existing loans, construction loans, and loans for self-employed individuals. We also assist with commercial lending for business owners. Whether you are purchasing your first home, looking to grow a property portfolio, or exploring options for your business, we can help you understand what may be available to you. Every client's situation is different, so we always start with a conversation to understand your specific needs before exploring what options might be worth considering.
When you go directly to a bank, you only see the products that particular bank offers. At Balcombe Financial, we work with a wide range of lenders, which means we can present you with a broader selection of loan options to compare. We take the time to understand your circumstances and help you weigh up your choices in a way that makes sense for your situation. Beyond that, we handle much of the communication and administration involved in applying for a loan, which can save you a significant amount of time and effort. Our goal is to make sure you feel supported and well-informed throughout the entire process.
Not at all. While Balcombe Financial is based in Bayside, Victoria, we work with clients right across Australia. Thanks to phone, email, and video calls, we are able to provide the same level of personalised service to clients regardless of where they are located. Whether you are in regional Victoria, interstate, or anywhere else in the country, we are well-equipped to assist you with your lending needs. We believe that access to quality mortgage broking support should not be limited by geography, and we are committed to making ourselves available and accessible to clients no matter where they call home.
Refinancing means replacing your existing home loan with a new one, either with your current lender or a different one. People refinance for a variety of reasons, such as looking for a loan with different features, consolidating debt, or accessing equity in their property for renovations or other purposes. Whether refinancing makes sense for your situation depends on a number of factors, including your current loan terms, any fees involved in switching, and your financial goals. At Balcombe Financial, we can help you review your current loan and compare it against other options so you can make an informed decision. We will always be upfront about the costs and considerations involved.
A fixed rate home loan locks in your repayment amount for a set period, which means your repayments stay the same regardless of any changes in the broader lending environment during that time. This can make budgeting more predictable. A variable rate loan, on the other hand, can change over time in line with lender decisions, which means your repayments may go up or down. Some loans also offer a split option, where part of your loan is fixed and part is variable. Each option has its own advantages and trade-offs depending on your circumstances and priorities. At Balcombe Financial, we can help you understand the differences and think through which structure may suit your needs.
In most cases, our mortgage broking service comes at no direct cost to you as the client. Balcombe Financial is typically paid a commission by the lender once your loan settles. We are required by law to be transparent about how we are paid, and we will always disclose this information to you clearly before you proceed. This means you can access our knowledge, support, and lender connections without paying out of pocket for the service. If there are any situations where a fee may apply, we will always discuss this with you upfront so there are no surprises along the way.
Balcombe Financial works with business owners, sole traders, and contractors to find lending solutions that suit the way you earn. Book an appointment today and let us help you understand what is possible.
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