Your CA, CPA or IPA membership can be worth tens of thousands at the right lender.
Qualified accountants who are current members of a recognised institute can often borrow up to around 90% of a property's value with no lenders mortgage insurance — a cost most borrowers can't avoid above 80%. It isn't universal: the waiver is membership-gated, subject to an income threshold, and the lenders and LVR ceilings vary. Here's how it works, and how your income is actually assessed.
The LMI-waiver ladder: how far you can climb without the premium.
Lenders mortgage insurance normally kicks in once you borrow above 80% of a property's value — and it protects the lender, not you, even though you pay for it. An eligible accountant can often reach around 90% with that premium waived entirely. That gap is the whole point.
LMI payable
no LMI
no LMI
Indicative premium on a higher-LVR metro purchase that a professional waiver can avoid — it rises sharply as LVR climbs toward 95%. Your actual figure depends on loan size, LVR, the insurer and your profile, so treat this as a range, not a quote.
Bar heights are illustrative of LVR reach, not a specific loan. LMI normally applies above 80% LVR and is a one-off cost that protects the credit provider, not the borrower, even though the borrower pays it. Waiver eligibility, LVR ceilings and income thresholds vary by lender and change without notice — this is general information, not an offer of credit or a promise of any waiver, rate or amount.
Three things that decide whether it applies to you.
Recognised membership
You generally need to be a current member of an eligible institute — CA ANZ, CPA Australia or IPA (some lenders also accept CFA/FIAA and international equivalents). Studying toward qualification usually isn't enough; it's the current membership that opens the door.
Up to ~90% LVR, no LMI
At several lenders the waiver takes you to around 90% of the property value with the LMI premium removed — a few professional programs go higher. The ceiling and the fine print differ by lender, which is exactly what needs matching to your situation.
It varies by lender
ANZ waives LMI for eligible accounting professionals; NAB does the same for finance professionals; Westpac/St.George have run an industry-specialisation waiver that broker commentary reports is in flux for 2026. The list of who qualifies, and at what LVR, is not the same everywhere.
LMI protects the lender. The waiver keeps that money in your pocket.
Lenders mortgage insurance is a one-off cost usually charged when you borrow more than 80% of the property's value — and although you pay it, it covers the lender if there's a shortfall on default. Avoiding it legitimately is a genuine saving.
Sources: ASIC MoneySmart (lenders mortgage insurance); ANZ LMI Waiver Fact Sheet (created 17 Jan 2022 — confirm current policy); NAB LMI waiver page (accessed July 2026). Eligibility, LVR ceilings and income thresholds vary by lender and change without notice; figures are indicative, not an offer of credit.
Same qualification, two very different document sets.
The waiver conversation starts with your membership — but whether the loan actually stacks up comes down to how your income is structured. For accountants that usually splits one of two ways.
Employed accountant (PAYG)
If you're salaried in a firm or in-house role, you're assessed on PAYG payslips and income statements — the most straightforward path. Bonuses and overtime may be counted in part, depending on the lender and how consistent they are.
Own practice or partnership (self-employed)
If you run your own practice or hold a partnership interest, you're assessed as self-employed — typically two years' personal and business tax returns and notices of assessment. Legitimate add-backs (depreciation, one-off costs, extra super) can lift the assessed figure, so how it's presented matters.
The waiver you qualify for depends on which lender you walk into.
A profession accepted for a no-LMI waiver at 90% at one lender can sit outside another lender's list entirely — and the institute lists, LVR ceilings and income rules shift over time. ANZ and NAB currently name accountants; the Westpac Group industry-specialisation waiver has been reported as tightening in 2026. Which door is open today is a moving target.
Under ASIC's best-interests duty (RG273, in force since 1 January 2021), a broker's job is to match you to the lender whose current professional-waiver policy and income-assessment rules best fit your membership and how you earn — then handle the paperwork so the waiver actually applies. That's the value here, on both the PAYG and self-employed paths.
Sources: ASIC RG273 (Mortgage brokers: best interests duty, in force 1 Jan 2021); ANZ LMI Waiver Fact Sheet; NAB LMI waiver page; Westpac/St.George broker policy commentary (2026, in flux — verify current). Lender examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, and eligibility is confirmed by the lender in writing. General information only, not credit, tax or financial advice.
Not every professional gets a waiver — and we'll tell you straight.
The accounting waiver is one of the strongest professional programs going, but it isn't automatic and it isn't universal. It requires current membership of a recognised institute, can carry an income threshold, and the participating lenders change their policies. If your situation doesn't fit a current waiver, the win moves to income structuring and lender selection instead.
We assess your real numbers against current lender policy — no inflated figures, no promises of a rate or an approval. If a waiver is on the table, we route you to it; if it isn't, we say so and find the next-best structure.
Accountant home loans, answered straight.
Do accountants really get a home loan without LMI?
Often, yes — but not automatically. Several lenders waive lenders mortgage insurance for eligible accountants up to around 90% of the property value. It's gated on being a current member of a recognised institute (CA ANZ, CPA Australia or IPA), can carry an income threshold, and the exact lenders, LVR ceilings and rules vary and change over time. It's a genuine saving where it applies, not a guarantee.
Which memberships qualify for the accounting LMI waiver?
Generally a current membership of an eligible institute — CA ANZ (Chartered Accountants ANZ), CPA Australia or the IPA. Some lenders also recognise CFA or FIAA and certain international equivalents. Studying toward a qualification usually doesn't count; lenders look for current, active membership.
How high can I borrow with the waiver?
Commonly up to around 90% of the property value with the LMI premium waived at several lenders, and some professional programs go higher. The ceiling depends on the lender and your circumstances, and it's confirmed by the lender in writing — it isn't a fixed number that applies everywhere.
I run my own accounting practice — does the waiver still apply?
The membership-based waiver can still apply, but your income is assessed as self-employed rather than PAYG — typically two years' personal and business tax returns and notices of assessment. Legitimate add-backs (depreciation, one-off expenses, extra super) can lift the assessed income, so how the figures are presented to the right lender matters.
How much could the waiver save me?
LMI on a higher-LVR metro purchase is commonly in the region of $15,000 to $40,000-plus, rising sharply toward 95% LVR. Avoiding it is a real saving, but the exact figure depends on your loan size, LVR, the insurer and your profile — so we work it out on your actual numbers rather than quoting a fixed amount.
Why use a broker instead of going straight to my bank?
Because the same profession can be eligible at one lender and excluded at another, and the policies move. Under the best-interests duty a broker matches you to the lender whose current professional-waiver and income-assessment rules best fit your membership and how you earn, across a panel of 50 lenders, then structures the application so the waiver actually applies.
Let's see which lenders will waive your LMI.
Tell us your institute membership, how you're paid, and the property you have in mind — we'll check current waiver policy across 50 lenders and map the numbers before you commit. No credit check to start.
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