Can I get a standard home loan at 65?

Yes — but with shorter terms and exit strategy.

How does a reverse mortgage work?

Borrow against equity; no repayments; repaid from home sale.

Will Age Pension count as income for borrowing?

Yes — typically discounted to 60-80%.

Can I take a home loan into retirement using super?

Yes — super lump sum or income stream as exit/income source.

What's a downsizer loan vs reverse mortgage?

Downsizer = standard mortgage for new home. Reverse = equity release without selling.

Home Loan Refinancing

Who this guide is for

Australian retirees (60+) wanting to buy, refinance, or access home equity — including pensioners, self-funded retirees, and recent retirees still working part-time.

Retirees wanting to downsize and buy smaller
Self-funded retirees with super and other income
Pensioners exploring reverse mortgage to access equity
Indian and South Asian retirees considering multi-generational living

The local picture

Retiree lending faces age restrictions, serviceability calculated into older years, and limited income recognition (Age Pension often discounted). Most general brokers don't know which lenders are flexible with older borrowers.

How Mortgagefy helps locally

Mortgagefy works with retiree borrowers regularly. We identify lenders flexible with older applicants, explain reverse mortgage tradeoffs, and coordinate with super advisers where needed.

Free advice.

How it works — 4 simple steps

Free retiree chat

20-minute call about your retirement income and property plans.

Map options

We outline standard mortgage, reverse mortgage, downsizer loan options.

Application support

We compile pension/super statements, asset documentation.

Settle the right structure

You proceed with the option that fits.

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 us about retiree home loans

Free 20-minute call about your retirement options.

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 as a Retiree in Australia: Options Beyond Standard Mortgages