Specialist Lending

Specialist (or 'non-conforming') lending is for borrowers who don't fit the standard credit policy of major banks — typically self-employed without traditional documentation, borrowers with past credit events (defaults, late payments, bankruptcy), low-deposit borrowers, or those with non-standard income. Specialist lenders price slightly higher than majors (typically 0.5%-1.5% premium) but assess applications individually.

Yes, often. Paid defaults from over 12 months ago, especially small ones (under $1,000) for things like utility bills, are accepted by several specialist lenders without major impact on rate. Larger or more recent defaults need a stronger story — but it's almost always doable. We'll tell you upfront which lenders fit your situation and what rate band to expect.

A full doc loan requires two years of personal and business tax returns plus financials. A low doc loan accepts alternative income evidence — most commonly an accountant's letter declaring your income, sometimes paired with 6 months of business bank statements or BAS. Low doc is essential for self-employed borrowers in growth phase or those with complex financial structures.

It depends on which specialist tier you fit. 'Near-prime' borrowers (one minor credit event, or self-employed but otherwise strong) typically pay 0.3%-0.8% above major bank rates. Full specialist (multiple events, very recent issues, or hard-to-document income) sits 1%-2% higher. As your situation improves, we refinance you down — most specialist clients move to mainstream rates within 2-3 years.

It depends on the lender, the size of the default, and whether it's paid. Some specialist lenders accept paid defaults the day they're paid. Most prefer 6+ months of clean conduct since the default was settled. Bankruptcy needs to be discharged for at least 1 day for some lenders, 2-3 years for others. We'll match you to the right lender for your timeline.