Home loans for software and cybersecurity professionals

The income problems tech professionals face

Tech income is high but rarely tidy. A software engineer might earn a base salary plus shares, bonuses and on-call payments. A cybersecurity contractor might bill a day rate through a company, with gaps between engagements. A consultant might have three clients paying on different cycles.

The common friction points are contract length, time in the industry and structure. A six month contract worries a lender that wants permanence. A recent move from PAYG to a company structure resets the clock at many lenders. Vested shares and bonuses are counted generously by some lenders and ignored by others.

How lenders assess tech income

For PAYG professionals, payslips and an employment contract cover the base, with bonuses and shares assessed on history and policy. For contractors, the stronger lenders review the current contract, day rate, renewal history and time in the industry. For company structures, most lenders want two years of financials, while a smaller group considers one year for established professionals.

Granite publishes a professional product that includes IT professionals, accepting industry certifications instead of a university degree, with lender-paid LMI for eligible owner occupied borrowers. That is a different structure from a bank LMI waiver, so the rate, fees and repayment terms need comparison, not just the upfront saving.

A worked example

These figures are illustrative only and are not a quote or an assessment of your situation.

A cybersecurity consultant in Melbourne bills $1,100 a day through his company and has worked continuously for four years across three clients. His company financials show strong income, but he has only lodged one year since restructure. A lender that accepts one year of financials for established professionals assesses him on that year plus his contract history, and he buys an $850,000 home with a 15 percent deposit. A lender insisting on two years would have asked him to wait.

The difference was not his income. It was knowing which policy fit his timeline.

Which lenders are commonly relevant

For PAYG tech professionals, the major banks are usually competitive, with differences in how they treat shares and bonuses. For contractors and company structures, specialist lenders and major banks with contractor policies tend to be more flexible. Business premises, working capital and technology equipment are business lending with separate criteria.

Every application is subject to credit assessment and lender policy, which changes regularly. We compare the panel for your structure and goals.

Common questions

Can I get a home loan on a six month contract?

Often yes. Lenders that understand contracting look at your renewal history, time in the industry and the strength of the current contract rather than its length alone. A track record of back to back contracts is the strongest evidence.

Do IT professionals get LMI waivers?

Selected specialist products offer lender-paid LMI for eligible IT professionals, accepting a degree or recognised industry certifications. That is not a bank waiver, so compare the full cost of the loan, not just the upfront saving.

How are shares and bonuses treated?

Policies differ widely. Some lenders count vested shares and consistent bonuses, others shade them heavily or ignore them. Choosing the lender that reads your package correctly can materially change your borrowing power.

I moved from PAYG to my own company this year. Can I borrow?

Your options narrow but do not disappear. Most lenders want two years of financials, while a smaller group considers one year or your contract history. Planning the structure change around your property goals helps.

Can you finance equipment for my tech business?

Yes. Technology equipment, fit-outs and working capital are business lending with their own criteria. We structure them alongside your home loan so the commitments work together.