Nurses Loans
Nursing income may combine ordinary hours, nights, weekends, overtime and several employers. A home loan assessment needs to show which earnings are regular and likely to continue. Some lenders also offer LMI waivers for eligible registered nurses. Your registration category, income evidence and employment arrangement matter more than a broad promise of a special loan for everyone working in nursing.
LMI means lenders mortgage insurance. It protects the lender; a waiver removes the borrower’s premium under the applicable policy.
The key points
- Registered nurse waiver criteria do not cover every nursing role.
- Some eligible income may receive 100% assessment, subject to lender conditions.
- Casual and agency work needs a clear earnings history.
Check your registration category and deposit
Westpac publishes an LMI waiver up to 90% LVR for registered nurses and midwives, with a $90,000 annual minimum income threshold. Its page also uses the wording earning over $90,000; confirm the treatment if your income is exactly at that boundary.
Ahpra distinguishes registered nurses from enrolled nurses. Do not assume this particular waiver includes enrolled nurses, assistants in nursing or students. An LMI waiver does not remove the lender's affordability assessment or the need to fund buying costs.
Sources: Westpac: nurse and midwife home loan eligibility; Ahpra: professions and nursing divisions; ASIC Moneysmart: deposits, buying costs and LMI.
Make shift earnings visible
Westpac says eligible nurses could have 100% of overtime and allowances assessed as income, subject to conditions. This does not establish that every allowance, penalty or unusual payment will be accepted, or that another lender will use the same percentage.
Separate ordinary pay, shift penalties, overtime and allowances. Explain one-off back pay and temporary extra shifts. Ask for the lender's actual accepted income figure before using a borrowing estimate to decide what to offer for a property.
Sources: Westpac: nurse and midwife home loan eligibility; Westpac: required income documents.
Explain casual, agency and contract work
For eligible LMI waiver applicants, Westpac says casual income is calculated over 52 weeks. That statement is not a promise that a newly started casual role qualifies or that every week's earnings can be projected forward.
Prepare current payslips with year-to-date totals, prior income evidence and contracts from each employer. Westpac's document checklist distinguishes base, casual and non-base income. Map agency placements and gaps clearly, and disclose planned leave or reduced hours so the assessment reflects the work you expect to continue.
Sources: Westpac: nurse and midwife home loan eligibility; Westpac: required income documents.
Budget for a roster you can maintain
A lender accepting extra income does not mean you should build every repayment around maximum overtime. Run your own budget using a quieter roster as well as your usual earnings, allowing for leave, caring responsibilities and unexpected expenses.
Compare loan interest and fees with any LMI saving, and check repayments at a higher rate. Keep purchase costs separate from your deposit. LMI protects the lender, not the nurse borrowing. These lender examples were checked on 5 October 2026 and remain subject to assessment.
Sources: ASIC Moneysmart: comparing loans and repayments; ASIC Moneysmart: deposits, buying costs and LMI.
Frequently asked questions
Can an enrolled nurse apply for a home loan?
Yes, an ordinary application can be assessed on its merits. That does not establish eligibility for a registered-nurse professional waiver.
Can income from two hospitals be considered?
Provide evidence for both roles. The lender decides which earnings it accepts, considering the employment arrangements and supporting history.
Does salary packaging automatically increase borrowing power?
No. Provide the packaging statement and payslips so the lender can assess the arrangement without counting the same income twice.
Sources & further reading
Official guidance and lender information used in preparing this guide. Policies can change; confirm the current rules before making a decision.
- Westpac: nurse and midwife home loan eligibility
- Ahpra: professions and nursing divisions
- Westpac: required income documents
- ASIC Moneysmart: comparing loans and repayments
- ASIC Moneysmart: deposits, buying costs and LMI
General information only, not personal credit, legal or tax advice. Loan availability, fees and terms depend on your circumstances and the lender’s assessment. Approval is not guaranteed.