Key takeaways
- Lenders view pensioners as higher-risk borrowers for home loans because they are typically older and on smaller incomes.
- A lender may be willing to offer a home loan to a pensioner, and may consider your pension as a form of income when assessing your application.
- A broker can help you look for loans and lenders that match your requirements. Their services are typically free to you because the lender you choose will pay them a commission
Getting a loan as a pensioner always comes down to the lender's eligibility criteria and your individual circumstances. This includes your savings and other sources of income, whether you have outstanding debts or not and the amount you are hoping to borrow.
How can I get a home loan on a pension?
If your only source of income is the pension, then this might limit your options. The pension amount is lower than the income level most lenders require you to earn in order to repay a loan.
However, there are several ways a pensioner can apply for mortgage finance. The best option for you depends on your financial situation.
1) Apply for a standard home loan
If you have forms of income from other sources or you are only borrowing a small amount, you may be able to apply for a home loan like any other borrower. If this is your situation you might be able to get a competitive interest rate, so be sure to compare your home loan options.
2) Apply with a specialist lender
There are lenders who specialise in providing finance solutions to borrowers in difficult or unique circumstances. There are even lenders who focus entirely on older borrowers. These types of lenders provide loans known as specialist or non-conforming loans.
Non-conforming lenders may be able to help where the big banks can't. But they often charge higher interest rates and fees.
Keep in mind that many lenders that specialise in "senior's finance" don't actually lend to pensioners who don't already own property. Instead they offer reverse mortgages and other forms of equity access to older Australians who already own property.
3) Talk to a mortgage broker
Perhaps the best option for pensioners looking for a home loan is to get in touch with a mortgage broker. This is because mortgage brokers specialise in helping borrowers in unique circumstances and they have access to a wide panel of lenders.
A broker can help you look for loans and lenders that match your requirements. Their services are typically free to you because the lender you choose will pay them a commission.
What documents do pensioners need for a home loan?
As a pensioner you will need to provide a few extra documents in addition to the standard documents in a mortgage application. Every lender has their own requirements but you'll generally need to provide the following:
- Evidence of funds to complete the deposit.
- Bank statements showing Centrelink benefits being paid into your bank account (i.e. some lenders require 6 months of recent bank statements).
- Letter from Centrelink (or other relevant government department) confirming the status and nature of your disability pension.
What about borrowers on disability pensions and veterans' pensions?
Disability Support pensions
Generally, lenders consider a disability pension to be a valid form of income, meaning they treat a home loan application for someone on a disability pension just like any other application.
Most lenders will review your application on a case-by-case basis. Your eligibility for a home loan will depend on the amount of income you receive and how much of this can be used to service a loan.
Other factors including your age, assets and debts will be assessed by a lender on an individual basis.
Veterans' pensions
Many lenders may accept a Veterans' Pension as a source of income for a home loan. This applies if you are receiving:
- War Widow's or Widow's Pension
- Service Pension
- Veterans' Affairs Age Pension
Additionally, lenders may accept the Department of Veterans' Affairs Incapacity Pension as a source of income. In order to demonstrate your pension as a source of income for a home loan application, you'll need either a current bank statement showing your pension payment, or a current Department of Veterans' Affairs statement.
On Centrelink? You could still get a home loan
Other mortgage types for older borrowers
If you're a pensioner who already owns their own home you have some other finance options. Both reverse mortgages and line of credit loans allow you to borrow money against the equity in your home.
- Reverse mortgages. A reverse mortgage allows you to borrow funds using equity from your home as security for the loan. A reverse mortgage can either be paid as a lump sum, a regular stream of income, a line of credit or a combination of these. No income is needed to qualify and for this reason, the interest rate tends to be higher. You must repay the sum of borrowed money when you sell your home, pass away or move into aged care.
- Line of credit loans. A line of credit is a funding line that uses the equity in your home. It’s an approved amount that you can use a bit at a time or all at once. You loan is approved against a security and you can draw on this loan amount at any time. You only pay the interest on the amount that you use. For example, if you get a line of credit of $200,000 and only use $50,000, you only pay interest on the $50,000. These types of loans can be harder to get, and not all lenders offer them.
Looking to compare loan options?
In the tables below you can compare various finance options, from normal home loans to reverse mortgages and lines of credit. Please be aware that not all of the options presented in the table will be available for pensioners. If you're a pensioner and are looking for expert guidance, contact a mortgage broker for personal advice.
Compare reverse mortgages
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To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best home loans for cashback, you can see how each home loan stacks up against other home loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type. We also take into consideration the amount of cashback offered when calculating the Score so you can tell if it's really worth it.
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Being on a carers pension what criteria do i need to meet to apply for a home loan?
Hi Simon,
thanks for the question.
Unfortunately this question is difficult to answer as each home loan lender has their own unique lending criteria. I’d recommend contacting a mortgage broker, as they will be able to steer you towards a lender they know might be more likely to approve your loan.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help,
Marc.
I am 70 years old own my home can I do redraw facility?
Hi Vicki,
Thanks for the question.
If you still have a home loan and you have made extra repayments on this loan, you might be able to redraw funds if you have a redraw facility on it. If you want to get access to some of the equity in this property, you might want to contact a mortgage broker and speak to them about reverse mortgages or line of credit loans.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps,
Marc
i am a student looking to get a first home loan i will have around $180,000 deposit
i have two children and a disable partner we currently pay $270 a week rent
is it possible to get a loan we would be looking at a house around $320 000 – $350 000
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your question.
Please note that finder.com.au is an online comparison service and is not a product issuer. If you would like to discuss your eligibility or options, please get in touch with a lender featured on this page.
Be mindful that to be eligible for a home loan you may need to be in full time employment, or that your income is not reliant on Centrelink benefits.
Cheers,
Shirley
We are 2 pensioners (mother and son) looking to my our first home. I’m 47 and my mother is nearly 80. Tried mortgage brokers before and can’t get a loan based on my mother’s income due to her age. I can get a loan solely on my income, but can only borrow about $100K – not enough for a detached house. That would be enough (along with our $50K deposit) for house in an over 50s park. The problem is you don’t own the land the house sits on – you lease that from the government and I haven’t found anyone who will lend money for that. What do we do?
Hi Ant,
Thanks for your question.
There may be no finance options unless you have a guarantor or other real estate security.
There may also be a number of smaller financial institutions that are willing to consider your application. You may need to do some further research, and remember to check their credit licences with ASIC before committing to anything. Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.
I also recommend getting in touch with a licensed mortgage broker. A broker can help you understand your financial position and they can leverage their panel of networks to find a lender that is more inclined to review your application.
Hope it all works out,
Shirley
im currently paying $400.00 per wk and have been in the hm for 3years, im on a single parent pension i have 3 children 5yr 2yr and 6mnth old,ive been contemplating over and over again ,for the amount of rent that i pay could I be renting to buy my own home.can i speak to someone who can help me with this matter?
Hi Kate,
Thanks for the question.
Many lenders will treat pensions as they would regular wages, so you might want to compare home loans then contact the lender to see if you’ll be eligible for a home loan. Alternatively, you can compare mortgage brokers and lodge an enquiry with one. They will be able to guide you to the right home loan and lender for your situation, taking into account your personal circumstances.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps,
Marc.