The lending barrier
The client worked under her own ABN and earned commission-only income. Her income was sufficient for the proposed borrowing, but borrowing capacity did not stack up under standard bank policy because of the way that income was structured.
How we approached it
We found a lender whose policy could assess her commission-only income appropriately. The solution depended on how the lender interpreted the income structure, rather than treating every self-employed borrower the same way.
The outcome
She bought her first investment property and is now preparing to buy a second.
What this means for borrowers
If your income comes through an ABN, commissions or another non-standard arrangement, tell your broker how you earn it before comparing borrowing figures. A lender’s assessment method can matter as much as the headline rate. Any application still needs evidence acceptable to that lender.
One client’s experience does not guarantee a similar result. Eligibility, documentation, pricing and terms depend on the lender and the individual application.