How to apply for a home loan
Our streamlined home loan application process makes the steps to apply simple. A real person will be there to help at every stage.
Start applying
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Book appointment
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Get started now. Save, submit and track your progress, with the option to negotiate a rate.
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Video chat
Your lender will have the required local knowledge to guide you and help complete your application.
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By phone
A local knowledge specialist will reach out. They’ll answer all your home loan application questions.
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In person
Make an appointment at your nearest branch or with a mobile lender to chat face-to-face.
Talk to a home lending specialist
We’ll support you at every stage of your home buying journey by making it easy to connect in the way that suits you.
- Tell us who you are, what you'd like to discuss, and how you'd like to meet — video call, phone, in branch or we can come to you.
- Choose a time that works for you and we’ll confirm your booking and who you’ll be meeting.
What you need to apply
Your eligibility
You must be:
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Employed or self-employed
- 18 years or over.
Applying with others?
Buying property with one other. To speed up the process, the first applicant submits the application for both of you. A lender then calls you both to finalise your application.
Refinancing with one other. The first applicant starts the application and submits their part. The second then gets an email inviting them to submit their part. A lender then calls both of you to finalise your application.
Applications with 3 to 8 borrowers. You won’t be able to apply online. Book an appointment with a lender who can work out your combined maximum loan amount. Remember to talk with your tax adviser and legal agent about the complexities of structuring ownership this way.
Applying for a bridging loan or increasing your current Westpac home loan? You’ll need to chat to us first. Book appointment
Switching your home loan to us?
If you qualify for Priority Refinance[#], you may be able to settle within a week. We may be able to:
- Securely verify your ID online
- Auto-verify your income, when it’s paid to other financial institutions.
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There will be help throughout your application. But if you have any urgent questions, call a home lending specialist on 132 558 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat-Sun (Sydney time).
Need help?
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3 simple steps to apply
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Start applying
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1. About you
Make sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements.
Tell us the address or what you’re looking for, how much you want to borrow, your income, assets, expenses, debt, liabilities.
If you're an existing Westpac customer, we'll fill in the information we have about you to speed things up.
2. Your identity
Not already a Westpac customer? You'll need 2 forms of ID:
- Passport
- Driver licence
- Birth certificate
- Medicare card
3. Apply online
Apply in 10-20 minutes or save your application and come back later. You’ll have 4 weeks to complete it.
- We'll let you know before we run a credit check
- You could get conditional approval within 1 business day
- Your lender will finalise your loan through to settlement.
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What to know after you apply
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Your lender will be in touch
Once you submit your application, we'll match you with a lender and email you their details. They’ll then call to:
- Finalise your interest rate (you may be able to negotiate)
- Review your documents and info
- Answer questions
- Match you with the right loan deal
- Walk you through your next steps
- Help you apply for any applicable government grants or schemes.
Documents you may need
We'll let you know what home loan documents to share with your lender. You can upload your supporting documents online anytime. They may include:
- Bank statements
- Living expenses and tax returns
- Proof of income (self-employed? See what you'll need)
- Existing property details, if you have one
- New to Westpac? You’ll need 2 types of ID: passport, driver licence, Medicare card, birth certificate.
Pre-approval to buy a property
If everything looks good, you could get a 90-day conditional approval. This is also called pre-approval or approval in principle.
Need more time? You can extend it for another 90 days if you’re yet to find the right property. Just confirm that your financial circumstances haven’t changed.
Full approval and settlement
- We’ll value your property and make some final checks
- If offered full (unconditional) approval, you can accept the home loan contract online
- Then sit back, be guided through loan settlement, and pick up the keys on settlement day.
Track your application – pre-settlement guide
Signing your home loan contract
Your loan offer and contract will usually include:
- Details of the security (e.g. the property held as security against the loan)
- The loan amount
- Repayments, including: repayment type (Interest Only or Principal & Interest), repayment amount, frequency and any charges or fees payable
- Interest rate and type
- The loan terms and conditions.
Like any legal document, we recommend that you get independent professional advice. Check for errors and ensure you understand the details before you accept and sign.
Frequently asked questions
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When should I start applying?
Ready to go home-hunting? Start applying for conditional approval when:
- You've estimated your repayments
- You have enough deposit (or equity)
- Your debts and income are in good standing
- You're happy for us to run a credit check (we'll let you know just before we do).
A note on credit checks
Each check affects your credit history and can impact your credit report. This means your financial situation might look a bit unstable if you:
- Apply for too many loans
- Or apply with multiple lenders at once.
Switching your loan to us?
- See if you could save by switching
- Estimate your equity if you’d like to borrow more
- Check your current loan – if you have a fixed rate, your current lender may charge a break cost if you leave during the fixed rate term.
Can I make an offer on a house without conditional approval?
Our conditional approval means you can make an offer and be taken seriously by the real estate agent. It lasts 90 days and can be extended another 90 if your financial circumstances haven’t changed.
Already made an offer without conditional approval? Get in touch with us as soon as you can to speak with a lender about your options.
Can I apply for a home loan in Australia if I'm not a citizen?
You can apply for a home loan online if you’re:
- Aged 18 years or older
- And are one of the following:
- An Australian citizen
- A permanent resident (including New Zealand citizens living in Australia).
If you don’t meet these criteria, we can discuss your options with you. Book an appointment with us, or head into a branch to speak with a lender.
Can I apply for pre-approval if I don't have a specific property in mind?
Yes. Just mention a suburb or postcode on your shortlist, or fill it in later.
Can I come back to my application later?
Yes you can.
- Once you start applying online, you’ll get an email with your application number - use this to jump back into your application.
- Existing customer? You can also resume your application in Online Banking.
- Once submitted, you’ll no longer be able to make changes. But if you're buying property you can still upload documents.
- Refinancing? Once the first applicant has submitted, they can only retrieve it after the secondary applicant has joined.
Can I change something in my application after I've submitted it?
Yes, but you’ll need to reach out to your broker or lender to help you.
Can I withdraw my home loan application?
Yes:
- Your lender can withdraw it for you
- Or call 132 558 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat-Sun (Sydney time)
Does a declined home loan affect credit score?
Yes, it can impact your credit score. But it's not the end of the world – we’ll let you know why and offer suggestions so you can improve your application next time.
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Help when you need it
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Save time, apply online
Apply in around 10-20 mins to buy a home or refinance to Westpac.
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Start applying
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Talk with us
8am-8pm, Mon-Fri
9am-6pm, Sat-Sun (Sydney time)
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Call 132 558
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Book an appointment
Pick a time and place that suits you to talk to a home loan specialist.
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Book appointment
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Things you should know