When mainstream banks can't help — we can
Self-employed, low-doc, complex income, or past credit issues? Finance Craft has deep relationships with specialist lenders who assess your situation on its merits, not just a standard checklist.
Standard Banks Assess Standard Situations. Not Everyone Fits the Mould.
Mainstream lenders are built around PAYG employees with two years of tax history and a clean credit file. If you're self-employed, a contractor, commission based, or dealing with past credit issues, the standard application process often results in a flat-out rejection — not because you can't afford the loan, but because your situation doesn't fit the template.
Finance Craft has access to a wide range of specialist lenders who take a more nuanced view. They assess your actual financial position, income capacity, and circumstances — not just a checkbox list. We've helped self-employed professionals, contractors, people rebuilding credit, and borrowers with complex income structures all achieve approvals that mainstream banks declined.
Four situations where specialist lending makes a difference
Self-Employed Borrowers
Mainstream banks typically require two years of tax returns and demonstrable profitability. Specialist lenders take a broader view — some will consider applications with as little as six months of ABN history, using alt-doc or low-doc verification in place of full tax returns. Whether you're recently self-employed or have variable but genuine income, there are lenders built specifically for your situation.
Alt-Doc and Low-Doc Loans
Alt-doc and low-doc loans are designed for borrowers with real, serviceable income that can't be easily verified through standard PAYG documents or tax returns. Instead of full financials, lenders may accept an accountant's declaration, business bank statements, or BAS statements. Some lenders require only a 1-day GST registration alongside supporting business income evidence.
Past Credit Issues
Defaults, missed payments, and prior bankruptcies don't permanently close the door on homeownership. Specialist lenders assess your current situation, not just past credit history. Many will consider unlimited debt consolidation including ATO debts. Dedicated "Specialist" product tiers exist for borrowers still rebuilding — with rates that can be refinanced down as your credit file improves.
Complex Income Structures
Commission-based income, multiple income sources, casual or contract work, overseas income, rental returns, or irregular bonuses all complicate standard lending. Specialist lenders have experience assessing blended income structures and can often recognise genuine income capacity that mainstream lenders overlook entirely.
Been knocked back by a bank? Tell Shane your situation. There's likely a lender who can help.
Discuss Your SituationHow specialist lending works with Finance Craft
Situation Assessment
We discuss your employment type, income structure, credit history, assets, and deposit position in detail. This honest conversation upfront is what lets us identify which specialist lenders are most likely to approve you — and on what terms.
Documentation Strategy
We advise on the optimal approach for your circumstances. For self-employed applicants, we might recommend accountant-prepared summaries rather than full tax returns. For credit situations, we focus on evidence of your current financial responsibility. The right documentation upfront avoids delays.
Specialist Lender Match
Not all specialist lenders suit all situations. We identify lenders with specific experience in your circumstances — self-employed specialists for business owners, credit-impaired specialists for those rebuilding — and target the right lender from the start, rather than applying broadly and accumulating credit enquiries.
Application and Approval
We prepare and lodge your application, clarify your circumstances to the lender where needed, and negotiate the best available terms. Once approved, we manage settlement in the same way as any other loan. The higher complexity of specialist lending doesn't mean a worse experience — we handle it all.
A rejection from one lender doesn't mean the answer is no. Let's explore your options together.
Talk to ShaneSpecialist lending: honest expectations
Specialist lending typically involves a modest rate premium over standard products, reflecting the additional assessment and risk the lender takes on. We're always transparent about this upfront. For most borrowers, access to property — or the ability to refinance to a better structure over time — more than justifies the premium. Once your circumstances improve, we can often refinance you to a mainstream lender at a lower rate, typically 12–24 months later.
Specialist Lending FAQs
Mainstream banks typically require two or more years of self-employment history. Specialist lenders take a more flexible view — some will consider applications with as little as six months of ABN activity, and others assess even less where the business income is well-evidenced. You'll generally need a minimum 15% deposit, and the rate reflects the additional risk the lender takes on. Alt-doc and low-doc options mean you may not need full tax returns at all. We'll give you an honest assessment of which lenders are realistic options for your specific situation.
For full-doc lending, lenders typically require two years of tax returns and notices of assessment, ABN registration, recent business and personal bank statements, and standard identification. For alt-doc or low-doc applications, this is replaced by an accountant's declaration of income, BAS statements, or business bank statements — no full tax history required. Some specialist lenders accept a 1-day GST registration alongside strong business bank statement evidence. Requirements vary by lender and loan structure. We advise on the right approach upfront so you only gather what's actually needed.
It depends on the nature and recency of the credit issue. Many specialist lenders will consider applications with defaults, missed payments, or even a prior bankruptcy, assessing your current position rather than just your history. Some offer unlimited debt consolidation, including ATO debts, as part of the loan structure. Bankruptcies are generally assessed from the date of discharge, and some lenders have dedicated "Specialist" product tiers for borrowers still rebuilding. If your credit issues arose from temporary hardship that has since resolved, there are often more options available than you might expect. We'll assess your file and give you an honest picture of what's realistic.
Specialist and non-conforming loans typically carry a rate premium over standard products. Self-employed full-doc lending is usually 0.25–0.75% above standard rates. Low-doc lending is typically 0.5–1.5% above. Bad credit lending varies more widely, typically 1–3% above standard depending on the severity and recency of credit issues. The premium exists because lenders take on additional risk and do more work to assess non-standard applications. For most borrowers, the ability to secure a loan at all, and to build a credit record that enables refinancing to a standard lender in 12–24 months, makes the short-term premium worthwhile. We always present the full cost picture so you can make an informed decision.
Yes — and this is often the strategy. Many specialist loans are used as a stepping stone: you secure the property now, build a track record of on-time repayments, let your credit file improve or your business history lengthen, and then refinance to a mainstream lender at a lower rate — typically 12–24 months later. We stay in contact with clients over time and proactively flag when refinancing to a standard product becomes viable. The specialist loan gets you into the market; the long-term plan is to move to competitive mainstream rates when you qualify.
Your situation may be more solvable than you think
Book a free consultation with Shane. He'll give you an honest assessment of your options — with no obligation and no pressure.