How to get a home loan | From application to approval - NAB

How to apply for a home loan

To apply for a home loan, you'll complete the following steps, from gathering your documents to signing your loan contract.

  1. Gather your documents, including proof of identity, income, expenses and debts.
  2. Talk to a home lending expert or apply online.
  3. Submit your application with your supporting documents.
  4. Your lender reviews your application, runs a credit check and values the property.
  5. You may receive conditional approval, so you can make an offer with confidence.
  6. Once your offer's accepted, your bank will complete final checks.
  7. Once they provide formal (unconditional) approval, you sign your home loan contract.

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What you need to apply for a home loan

When you're ready to formally apply, we’ll ask a series of questions and request supporting documents before you get the go-ahead.

Documents you'll typically need

  • proof of identity (e.g., passport, driver's licence, birth certificate, utility bill or rates notice).
  • evidence of income (e.g., most recent payslips) and assets (e.g., bank statements).
  • details of outstanding debts, like credit card or loans, including balances and repayments.
  • proof you can pay the deposit and you have a savings history (e.g., bank statements).
  • your monthly expenses, including school fees, rent, dining out and regular bills.
  • proof of employment (e.g., address and contact details of employer).
  • residential status (in case you’re renting, details of the property owners or estate agent).

Proof of income sources

  • Wage or salary earner: a bank statement showing your last two salary payments, or two of your last three payslips, or a letter from your employer.
  • Self-employed: A home lending expert will confirm what financial information you’ll need at your appointment.
  • If receiving superannuation: Provide either a super fund statement, or bank statement showing your income.
  • If receiving government income: Provide either a current Centrelink statement, or a current bank statement showing your payments.
  • Rental income: Share either a current bank statement, or lease arrangement, or letter from your real estate agent or property manager.
  • Investment income: Provide either your shareholding certificate(s), or a current dividend statement notice.
  • Casual or variable income: You may need to provide additional payslips, bank statements or employment information.

Additional documents (if applicable)

  • First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): You’ll need to provide your completed FHOG application.
  • If you’re building or already signed a contract, we’ll need cost estimates, timelines, or a copy of the builder's contract.
  • If you’re receiving a deposit gift, we’ll need a letter from your benefactor confirming the amount and any repayment conditions.

What lenders check during assessment

Alongside your documents, your lender looks at a few key things to decide how much you can borrow and confirm you can comfortably manage repayments. These include:

  • your credit history and existing debts.
  • your income against your living expenses (serviceability). Estimate yours with a borrowing power calculator.
  • the size and source of your deposit.
  • an independent valuation of the property.
  • the loan-to-value ratio (LVR), which is how much you're borrowing compared to the property's value.

Frequently asked questions

  • Conditional pre-approval means your lender has agreed, in principle, to lend you up to a set amount based on the information you've provided. It's not your final approval, but it gives you a clearer borrowing limit, so you can start looking at properties and make an offer with confidence. It’s also not necessary to have found a property yet. In fact, many applicants apply and get conditional approval first, then use that borrowing limit to guide their property search.

    Once you've found a property, you'll usually make your offer subject to conditions, such as finance and building or pest inspections.

  • Once your offer's accepted and we’ve completed our final checks, you'll receive formal (unconditional) approval and a home loan contract to accept. Get independent legal advice before you sign, and ask your lender, solicitor or conveyancer if anything is unclear.

    Your contract will usually include:

    • details of the security (e.g. the property used to secure the loan)
    • the loan amount
    • your repayment type, amount, frequency and any fees
    • your interest rate and rate type
    • the loan's terms and conditions.

What applying for a home loan can look like (scenarios)

  • Self-employed applicants: Build in extra time for assessment. 1 to 2 years of financial statements and tax returns will give your lender a fuller picture of your income, so it pays to have these ready before you apply.
  • First home buyers receiving a deposit gift: Your lender will need a signed letter confirming the amount and whether it needs to be repaid to help speed up your serviceability check.
  • Buyers applying for the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): Submit your completed FHOG application alongside your usual documents so your bank can factor it into your borrowing assessment.

Ready to take the next step?

Whether you're ready to apply or still want to understand your borrowing power, a NAB home lending expert can help.

Talk to an expert

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Contact us for home loan related queries

This is how you can get in touch.

Start a conversation with a banker

  1. Log into either NAB Internet Banking or the NAB app.
  2. Tap on the message icon.
  3. Type ‘speak to a person’ in the conversation window.

Call us

Speak to a home loan expert about a new or existing home loan.

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Saturday to Sunday, 9:00am to 6:00pm (AEST/AEDT)

13 78 79

Book an appointment

Make an appointment to see us at your nearest branch, ask a mobile banker to come to you or ask us to call you back.

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Terms and Conditions

The information contained in this article is intended to be of a general nature only. It has been prepared without taking into account any person’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, NAB recommends that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances. NAB recommends that you seek independent legal, financial and taxation advice before acting on any information in this article.