Can I get a home loan immediately after divorce?

Yes — with separation documentation. Some lenders more flexible on timing.

I want to keep our family home and buy out my ex. How does that work?

Buy-out refinance: new loan in your name, paying out joint loan + ex's equity share.

Will child support payments affect my borrowing?

Yes — paid child support reduces serviceability; received counts as income (often <100%).

Can I include my Family Tax Benefit in income?

Some lenders include FTB; others don't. Including FTB improves capacity for single parents.

Are there special schemes for single parents?

Yes — Family Home Guarantee: 2% deposit, no LMI for eligible single parents.

Home Loan Refinancing

Q: Can I include my Family Tax Benefit in income?

Some lenders include FTB; others don't. Including FTB improves capacity for single parents.

Q: Are there special schemes for single parents?

Yes — Family Home Guarantee: 2% deposit, no LMI for eligible single parents.

Who this guide is for

Australians navigating home loans after separation or divorce — buying alone, refinancing to remove ex-partner, or applying with reduced income.

Newly-single buyers buying their first post-divorce home
Refinancing existing joint home loan to remove ex-partner's name
Single parents with reduced household income
Buyers managing property settlement timing with home purchase

The local picture

Post-divorce home loans face several challenges: reduced household income, family law settlement timing, child support obligations counted as expenses, and the emotional difficulty of refinancing the family home.

Most general brokers don't handle these scenarios sensitively or know the specific lender flexibility.

How Mortgagefy helps locally

Mortgagefy works with post-divorce buyers regularly. We coordinate with family lawyers, model serviceability with reduced income, and identify lenders flexible with single-parent applications.

Discreet, sensitive, free advice.

How it works — 4 simple steps

Free post-divorce chat

20-minute confidential call about your situation and property goals.

Compare lender options

We identify lenders flexible with single-income, post-divorce applications.

Application support

We compile and submit your application end to end.

Settle into your new home

You move into your post-divorce home with ongoing support.

Frequently asked questions

We use offer letters and vesting schedules to value RSUs conservatively. We present current vesting value + projected future vesting as a 3-5 year income average. This gives lenders confidence in your income stability while accounting for market volatility.

Both. We work with W2 employees, 1099 contractors, and consultants. For contractors, we use 2 years of tax returns plus business financials. We have lenders who specialise in contractor income—they understand the variability.

Unvested options have zero value for refinancing. We count only vested equity. If you have a 4-year vest, we use 25% of the grant value (what's vested) plus a conservative projection of future vesting.

If you've been in your new role 6+ months, most lenders will refinance. We'll use your offer letter plus 6 months of pay stubs. If less than 6 months, it's harder but possible with specialist lenders.

Yes, if you have 2+ years of bonus history. We average the past 2 years and present it conservatively. Some bonuses get counted at 50% to be conservative with variable compensation.

ESPP is counted as deferred compensation. If your company matches or you have a discount, we value it as part of total compensation package.

Talk to a post-divorce home loan specialist

Discreet, sensitive, free 20-minute call.

Start Your Free Assessment Call 0432 634 648

Get your personalised answer in 2 minutes

Free, no obligation. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

Model your scenarios: Use our free home loan calculators to estimate borrowing capacity, repayments, and savings.

Home Loan After Divorce in Australia: Buying or Refinancing on a Single Income