If you work in tech, your pay packet probably looks a lot different to the average Australian borrower. Alongside your base salary, you may receive Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), performance bonuses, or equity grants that make up a significant chunk of your total compensation. The problem is, most Australian lenders are not set up to properly assess this kind of income, and many will simply ignore it altogether.
At Tech Home Loans, we understand how tech professionals are paid, and we know how to present your full income picture to lenders who will actually give it credit.
Why RSUs and Bonuses Create Lending Challenges
Australian banks assess home loan applications based on stable, consistent, and verifiable income. RSUs and bonuses tick none of those boxes in their eyes. Stock values fluctuate, bonus amounts vary year to year, and the documentation required to verify them, such as Employee Share Scheme (ESS) Annual Tax Statements, is unfamiliar territory for most standard lenders.
This means that even if you earn $250,000 a year in total comp, a lender assessing only your base salary might lend you significantly less than you qualify for.
What Lenders Typically Require
For RSU income to be considered, most lenders will want to see at least 2 years with your current employer, consistent vesting history across two financial years, your employer listed on a major exchange and ESS Annual Tax Statements or tax returns clearly showing your vested income.
For bonuses, lenders generally want a 2 year history and will use an average rather than your most recent figure. A strong year followed by a quieter one can work against you if you go to the wrong lender.
Genuine Savings and Your Deposit
Another common challenge is using RSU proceeds or bonus payments as your deposit. Australian lenders require what they call "genuine savings," which typically means funds that have been held in a cash account for at least 3 months. If you recently sold vested shares or received a bonus and transferred it straight into your deposit account, some lenders may not accept it without that seasoning period.
Knowing this in advance can help you plan your timeline and avoid delays when you are ready to buy.
How We Help
Not all lenders treat RSU and bonus income the same way. Some will apply a discount of 20 to 40 percent to account for volatility. Others will use the lower of your two year average. A smaller number of lenders, when approached through the right broker channel, will assess your income more favourably.
We work exclusively with tech professionals, so we know which lenders understand your income structure, how to document it correctly, and how to position your application for the best outcome.
If you are unsure whether your RSUs or bonuses will count towards your borrowing power, get in touch for an obligation free conversation.