Home loans for dentists can be different from standard home loans because some Australian lenders offer professional lending policies for eligible dental practitioners.
ANZ and Westpac, for example, publicly advertise LMI waivers of up to 95% LVR for eligible dentists. NAB also lists dental practitioners among the professions eligible for its professional LMI waiver. St.George publishes a medico policy that can allow eligible dentists to borrow up to 95% LVR without LMI.
Other lenders may offer professional home lending without publicly publishing the same dentist-specific LMI terms.
This guide compares the published policies of major banks and non-bank lenders so you can understand which options may suit your circumstances.
Key Takeaways
| Lender | Published dentist-specific benefit | Potential LVR | What Makes It Different |
| ANZ | LMI waiver for eligible dentists | Up to 95% | AHPRA registration and specific property, loan and ownership conditions apply |
| NAB | LMI waiver for eligible dental practitioners | Depends on policy | Dental practitioners are specifically listed as an eligible medical profession |
| Westpac | Medico LMI waiver | Up to 95% | Dentists can qualify with no minimum income under the published medico policy |
| St.George | Medico LMI waiver | Up to 95% | Dentists are included in the 95% LVR medico category |
| CommBank | Professional home lending for dental professionals | Check with lender | CommBank publicly promotes tailored home lending for dental professionals |
| Bankwest | Medical professional LMI waiver | Policy dependent | Current broker material confirms a medical professional LMI waiver |
| Liberty | Low-deposit lending and Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme | Up to 95% for its low-deposit product | Non-bank option that may suit borrowers who do not fit a standard bank policy |
The published policies are not identical. Your profession, registration, deposit, income structure, property and loan amount can all affect eligibility.
ANZ Home Loans For Dentists
ANZ has one of the clearest publicly documented dentist-specific professional lending policies.
Its published LMI waiver policy specifically includes dentists registered with AHPRA.
Eligible dentists can potentially borrow up to 95% LVR without paying LMI. ANZ’s published criteria also specify requirements around the applicant’s ownership of the property, loan amount and property value.
For eligible borrowers, the policy can significantly reduce the amount of cash required upfront.
For example, ANZ provides an example involving an $800,000 property and a $40,000 deposit. Under the qualifying LMI waiver, the LMI premium is waived.
Why ANZ May Suit A Dentist
ANZ may be worth comparing if you:
- Are an AHPRA-registered dentist.
- Have a deposit of around 5%.
- Want to avoid LMI.
- Are buying an eligible residential property.
- Have a relatively large loan requirement.
- Want to compare a major-bank professional policy.
ANZ states that its professional LMI waiver can apply to new or increased lending and refinancing, subject to its criteria.
Important ANZ Conditions
The published policy includes conditions around:
- AHPRA registration.
- Ownership of the property.
- Maximum loan amounts.
- Property values.
- Acceptable property types.
- Total lending with ANZ.
Therefore, a dentist should not assume that simply being registered automatically provides the waiver.
NAB Home Loans
NAB also has a clearly published professional LMI waiver.
Its current eligibility page specifically lists Dental Practitioner under its eligible medical professions.
NAB states that eligible medical professionals must be practising in an acceptable field and be currently registered with AHPRA. The LMI waiver is also subject to the applicable profession, loan type and LVR criteria.
Why NAB May Suit A Dentist
NAB may be worth comparing if you:
- Are an actively practising dental professional.
- Hold current AHPRA registration.
- Want to investigate professional LMI concessions.
- Are comparing a major bank against other professional lenders.
NAB does not present its professional lending policy as a universal benefit for every dentist.
The exact LVR and eligibility requirements depend on the applicable policy.
NAB For Practice Owners
Practice ownership can make your application more complicated because the lender needs to understand your income.
A dentist who owns a practice may need to provide additional business information compared with a PAYG dentist.
This makes the lender’s self-employed income policy just as important as the LMI waiver.
Westpac Home Loans For Dentists
Westpac has one of the strongest publicly documented medico policies for dentists.
Its current broker policy states that eligible dentists can qualify for an LMI waiver up to 95% LVR, with no minimum income requirement under the 95% medico category. The published maximum loan amount is $5 million, with total lending of up to $7.5 million under the LMI waiver policy.
Westpac’s consumer healthcare page also confirms that dentists are included in its healthcare professional lending policy.
Why Westpac May Suit A Dentist
Westpac may be particularly relevant if you:
- Are a dentist with a smaller deposit.
- Want to investigate borrowing up to 95% LVR.
- Have professional income that does not fit a simple standard application.
- Are self-employed or own a dental practice.
- Want to compare a medico-specific policy.
Westpac also publishes specific self-employed assessment pathways.
For eligible self-employed applicants, Westpac says its Fast Track assessment can use two years of personal ATO Notices of Assessment, while other assessment methods may be available depending on the circumstances.
This could make the income assessment policy an important part of the comparison for practice owners.
St.George Home Loans
St.George also publishes a specific healthcare professional lending policy.
Its current broker material states that eligible dentists can borrow up to 95% LVR with no LMI, with no minimum income requirement under the 95% medico policy. The published maximum loan amount is $5 million, with total lending of up to $7.5 million with the LMI waiver.
St.George’s consumer website also confirms that eligible medical practitioners can potentially access a 95% LVR LMI waiver.
Why St.George May Suit A Dentist
St.George may be worth comparing if you:
- Have a 5% deposit.
- Want to avoid LMI.
- Are a dentist with no minimum income under the published medico policy.
- Are self-employed.
- Want to compare income-assessment options.
St.George also publishes self-employed lending pathways.
Its Fast Track policy can allow eligible self-employed borrowers to be assessed using two years of personal ATO Notices of Assessment. Its published medico policy can still allow eligible dentists to access the LMI waiver up to 95% LVR.
That distinction could matter considerably to a practice owner.
CommBank Home Loans For Dentists
CommBank takes a slightly different approach in its public information.
Its dental business banking page specifically promotes tailored home lending packages for dental professionals buying a home or investment property.
CommBank also advertises professional LMI waivers for certain professionals.
However, its general low-deposit home loan page currently identifies doctors, lawyers and accountants when describing its professional LMI waiver. It does not publicly list dentists on that page in the same way that ANZ, NAB, Westpac and St.George do.
Why Compare CommBank?
CommBank can still be relevant for dentists, particularly where you also have dental business banking requirements.
Its dental offering covers areas such as:
- Dental practice banking.
- Business loans.
- Equipment and fit-out finance.
- Working capital.
- Bank guarantees.
- Home lending.
This could be useful for a dentist who wants to consider their personal home loan alongside their practice banking.
However, you should confirm the current dentist-specific LMI policy directly with CommBank rather than assuming the professional LMI waiver applies.
Bankwest Home Loans
Bankwest also has medical professional lending policies.
Its current broker application material specifically includes a requirement to identify a Medical Professional LMI waiver where the application meets the relevant policy.
This confirms that Bankwest has a medical professional LMI waiver pathway.
However, publicly available consumer information is less explicit about the precise dentist-specific LVR and eligibility criteria than the published policies from ANZ, Westpac and St.George.
Why Compare Bankwest?
Bankwest may be worth including in your comparison if:
- You want another major-bank option.
- You are eligible under its medical professional policy.
- You want to compare its pricing and loan features.
- Your circumstances do not produce the same result with another lender.
The exact professional eligibility and LVR should be confirmed before application.
Liberty Home Loans For Dentists
Liberty provides an important alternative because it is a non-bank lender.
Its standard low-deposit home loan allows eligible borrowers to borrow up to 95% of the property’s value, although LMI may apply. Liberty states that its low-deposit product can be used for borrowers with deposits below 20%.
Liberty has also been approved to participate in the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.
Eligible customers can potentially purchase with a 5% deposit without paying LMI under the Scheme.
Why A Dentist Might Consider Liberty
A dentist may consider a non-bank lender when their circumstances do not fit neatly within a major-bank policy.
This can be relevant for borrowers with:
- Complex self-employed income.
- Multiple income sources.
- Unusual financial structures.
- A recent change in business circumstances.
- A smaller deposit.
- Other circumstances requiring a more flexible assessment.
However, a non-bank lender should not automatically be considered better than a bank.
You need to compare the interest rate, fees, loan features, LVR, servicing assessment and total cost.
Dentist Lender Comparison: What Really Matters?
The most important difference between lenders is not simply whether they offer an LMI waiver.
You should compare the complete policy.
| Feature | Why It Matters To Dentists |
| LMI waiver | Can reduce the upfront cash required when borrowing at a high LVR. |
| Maximum LVR | Determines how much deposit you need to contribute. |
| Professional eligibility | Confirms whether your dental qualification and registration qualify. |
| Income assessment | Particularly important if you own a dental practice. |
| Self-employed policy | Can affect how quickly and favourably business income is assessed. |
| Maximum loan size | Important for higher-value property purchases. |
| Property restrictions | Some professional policies have specific property requirements. |
| Offset account | Useful if you maintain substantial cash reserves. |
| Redraw | Can provide access to eligible additional repayments. |
| Interest rate | Affects your ongoing loan cost. |
| Fees | Can change the overall cost of the loan. |
| Loan purpose | Owner-occupied and investment lending can have different criteria. |
| Practice debt | Business and equipment loans can affect servicing. |
Best Dentist Home Loan For A 5% Deposit
If you have only a 5% deposit, the LMI waiver becomes particularly important.
A 95% LVR means you contribute 5% of the property’s value and borrow the remaining 95%, subject to the lender’s valuation and other costs.
ANZ, Westpac and St.George publicly advertise dentist-specific pathways that can allow eligible dentists to borrow at up to 95% LVR without LMI.
NAB also provides an LMI waiver for eligible dental practitioners, although the applicable LVR depends on the relevant policy.
This makes these lenders particularly relevant for dentists comparing high-LVR professional lending.
Read more: How to buy a house with a 5% deposit
Best Dentist Home Loan For A Practice Owner
Practice owners need to compare more than LMI.
The way a lender calculates business income can materially affect borrowing capacity.
A lender may examine:
- Personal taxable income.
- Business profit.
- Business tax returns.
- Financial statements.
- ATO Notices of Assessment.
- Business debts.
- Equipment finance.
- Ownership percentage.
- Company or trust structures.
- Director’s loans.
- Distributions and dividends.
Westpac and St.George both publish specific self-employed assessment pathways alongside their medico lending policies.
That makes the income assessment policy an important part of the lender comparison for practice owners.
Read more: Self employed home loans
PAYG Dentist Vs Practice Owner
| Borrower | What May Matter Most |
| PAYG dentist | Salary, employment history, deposit and existing debts |
| Associate dentist | Salary plus contractor or business income assessment |
| Practice owner | Business profit, tax returns, financial statements and ownership |
| New practice owner | Business history and evidence supporting ongoing income |
| Dentist with multiple practices | Multiple business entities and income streams |
| Newly qualified dentist | Employment contract, registration and income history |
| Internationally qualified dentist | AHPRA registration, visa and Australian income |
The best lender for one category may not be the best fit for another.
Best Dentist Home Loan For A First-Home Buyer
First-home buyers should compare professional lending against government assistance.
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme can allow eligible first-home buyers to purchase with a minimum 5% deposit without paying LMI.
The Scheme is not limited to dentists.
This creates an important comparison.
You could potentially have:
- A professional lender offering an LMI waiver.
- A participating lender offering the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.
- A standard home loan with LMI.
- A larger deposit that reduces the LVR.
The cheapest or most suitable option depends on the property price, your deposit, lender policy and eligibility.
Does Practice Debt Affect A Dentist Home Loan?
Yes.
A dental practice loan does not disappear from your personal lending assessment simply because it is a business debt.
Lenders may consider:
- Practice loans.
- Equipment finance.
- Business credit facilities.
- Personal guarantees.
- Existing mortgages.
- Credit cards.
- Personal loans.
- Other financial commitments.
The lender also needs to determine how much of your business income can be relied upon for mortgage servicing.
This is why two dentists earning similar incomes can receive different borrowing outcomes.
Read more: Can I get a home loan if I owe taxes?
How Much Deposit Does A Dentist Need?
There is no universal dentist deposit requirement.
A standard home loan may require a 20% deposit to avoid LMI.
Professional policies can reduce that requirement.
For example, eligible dentists can potentially access 95% LVR lending without LMI through published policies from ANZ, Westpac and St.George.
The deposit is only one part of the cash required.
You may also need money for:
- Stamp duty.
- Conveyancing.
- Building and pest inspections.
- Valuation costs.
- Registration fees.
- Moving expenses.
- Other purchasing costs.
Read more: Upfront costs calculator
What Documents Will A Dentist Need?
The documents depend on how you earn your income.
| Dentist Type | Potential Documents |
| PAYG dentist | Payslips, employment contract and bank statements |
| Self-employed dentist | Tax returns, ATO Notices of Assessment and business financials |
| Practice owner | Business tax returns, profit and loss statements and balance sheets |
| Contractor | Contractor income evidence and relevant tax records |
| Recent graduate | Employment contract, payslips and registration evidence |
| Refinancing dentist | Existing loan statements, income evidence and property details |
Your lender may request additional documents depending on your application.
Questions To Ask A Lender Before Applying
Before submitting an application, ask:
- Do you have a specific lending policy for dentists?
- Is an LMI waiver available to dentists?
- What is the maximum LVR?
- Is AHPRA registration required?
- Is there a minimum income requirement?
- Does the policy apply to practice owners?
- How do you calculate dental practice income?
- How many years of business financials are required?
- How are business debts treated?
- Can bonuses or other income be included?
- What is the maximum loan amount?
- Are there property value restrictions?
- Does the policy apply to investment properties?
- Does it apply to refinancing?
- What fees apply?
- Is an offset account available?
- Are there restrictions on the loan product?
Getting these answers before applying can make the comparison much more useful.
The Bottom Line: Comparing Home Loans For Dentists
The best home loan for a dentist is not necessarily the lender offering the lowest advertised rate.
Your professional status can unlock valuable lending policies, particularly where an LMI waiver allows you to borrow with a smaller deposit.
ANZ, NAB, Westpac and St.George all publicly identify dentists or dental practitioners within their professional lending policies. ANZ, Westpac and St.George currently publish policies allowing eligible dentists to borrow up to 95% LVR without LMI, subject to their individual conditions.
CommBank also publicly promotes tailored home lending for dental professionals, although its general professional LMI page does not currently identify dentists in the same way.
Bankwest has a medical professional LMI waiver pathway, while Liberty provides a non-bank alternative with low-deposit lending and participation in the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.
For a PAYG dentist, the main comparison may be LVR, LMI, interest rate and loan features.
If you are a practice owner, income assessment may be just as important as the LMI waiver.
As a first-home buyer, you should also compare professional lending with the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.
The strongest approach is therefore to compare LVR, LMI, income assessment, loan amount, property restrictions, fees, features and total borrowing cost before choosing a lender.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dentist Home Loans
1. What is the best home loan for dentists in Australia?
There is no single best home loan for every dentist.
ANZ, NAB, Westpac and St.George all have published professional lending policies that can benefit eligible dentists. Your deposit, income structure, practice ownership and property will determine which policy is most relevant.
2. Which banks offer LMI waivers for dentists?
ANZ, NAB, Westpac and St.George publicly identify dentists or dental practitioners within professional LMI waiver policies.
The eligibility requirements and maximum LVR differ between lenders.
3. Can dentists get a 95% LVR home loan without LMI?
Yes, eligible dentists may be able to borrow up to 95% LVR without LMI under professional policies offered by lenders including ANZ, Westpac and St.George.
4. Can a self-employed dentist get a home loan?
Yes.
Practice owners can apply for home loans, but lenders may require additional evidence of business income.
The way each lender assesses business income can affect borrowing capacity.
5. Can a dentist buy a home with a 5% deposit?
Potentially.
Eligible dentists may qualify for professional LMI waiver policies that allow borrowing at up to 95% LVR.
Eligible first-home buyers can also consider the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.
6. Does owning a dental practice affect mortgage approval?
It can.
Lenders may assess your business income, financial statements, tax returns, business debts and ownership structure.
This can make practice owners more complex to assess than straightforward PAYG applicants.
7. Does CommBank offer home loans for dentists?
CommBank publicly promotes tailored home lending packages for dental professionals.
However, its general professional LMI waiver page currently identifies doctors, lawyers and accountants rather than specifically listing dentists, so you should confirm the current dentist-specific eligibility directly with CommBank.
8. Can dentists use a non-bank lender?
Yes.
Non-bank lenders such as Liberty offer low-deposit home loans and participate in the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.
A non-bank option may be worth comparing when your circumstances do not fit a standard major-bank policy.
Financial disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute personal financial, credit, legal or tax advice. Lender policies, eligibility requirements, interest rates, fees and government schemes can change. Confirm the current lending criteria directly with the relevant lender or a suitably qualified Australian financial professional before making a financial decision.
