Can you get a 100% home loan?

Australian lenders won't lend you 100% of a property's value any more. It's just too risky. You'll need at least a 5% deposit to get a home loan, if not a full 20% deposit. There are only 2 ways to get something close to a true 100% home loan: Have a guarantor, or be creative with how you build your deposit.

What actually is a 100% home loan?

Every home loan has a maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR). This is the amount you can borrow in relation to your property's value and your deposit size. In plainer terms, a maximum LVR just means a minimum deposit. It's how much you need to have saved as a deposit to get the loan. Many home loans have LVRs of 80%, meaning you need at least a 20% deposit. You can borrow 80% of your property's value. Here's an example: - You buy a property with a value of $800,000. - You have a 20% deposit of $160,000. - You borrow the remaining 80%, or $640,000. So a 100% home loan means the maximum LVR would be 100%. But these loans don't really exist any more

Can I get a home loan with 95% or 100% LVR?

While they aren't as common as loans with 80% to 90% maximum insured LVRs, you can find loans with 95% LVRs in Australia. These loans are available with just a 5% deposit, meaning you can jump into the property market with a much smaller deposit saved. Your LMI premiums will be quite high – likely tens of thousands of dollars – unless you qualify for an LMI waiver or you're a first homebuyer accessing the First Home Guarantee .

Why won't lenders give you a 100% home loan any more?

Having a deposit makes you a safer borrower in the eyes of lenders. It demonstrates your ability to save money, and suggests you are financially responsible enough to meet your ongoing mortgage repayments. There was a time when lenders might give you all the money you need to buy a house without a deposit. In a time when property prices are rising fast, some lenders felt it was safe enough to lend 100%. If you couldn't repay the loan, the lender could simply sell your property and recover the debt. But after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, Australian banks tightened their lending criteria. The American financial collapse proved that if something goes wrong in the economy, property prices can fall at the same time borrowers can't afford to make repayments. Suddenly those homes aren't worth as much, and lenders can't recover their losses. By tightening their lending criteria, Australian banks and lenders are now better able to lend to people who can realistically afford to repay their loans. By limiting loan-to-value ratios below 100%, lenders can have more confidence that borrowers have some equity in their properties, making them better able to recover debts if the borrowers default on their mortgages.

Sarah Megginson

Personal finance expert + media spokesperson

A highly respected personal finance expert, Sarah has over 20 years of experience in property, finance and investment journalism. A regular media commentator, Sarah’s expert advice on personal finance, investing and wealth creation is frequently featured across television, radio, and print media, including Sunrise and ABC News. Since 2023, her expert tips have been shared over 3,500 times in the media. She was previously managing editor of Your Investment Property magazine, Australian Broker magazine, and home loan comparison site, Your Mortgage, and her byline can be found on Yahoo! Finance, Money Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Kidspot and Mamamia. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification (RG 146), which complies with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) standards for finance professionals.

If you’re interested in a media interview with Sarah, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com.

Expertise

Home loans
Personal finance
Budgeting and money-saving tips
Managing the cost of living

Experience

Finalist, Women in Finance Awards 2025 - Thought Leader of the Year
Author, State of Women's Wealth report 2025
Co-creator of Finder's Financial Fitness Challenge
Co-author and contributor to multiple Finder research reports
Keynote speaker on first home buyer trends for major brands
Invited contributor and thought-leader with London-based consumer and behavioural insights agency, Canvas8
Annual Finder Innovation Awards judge for home loans, banking and digital disruptor categories
Regular host, MC or panellist for Finder Awards, masterclasses and events
Author, The Power of Two
Editor, 30+ non-fiction books

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Communication: Journalism and Public Relations | Griffith University | 2000-2002
Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification (RG 146), which meets ASIC's RG 146 compliance standards

Featured publications

Featured videos

1:49

1:41

3:12

Latest articles by Sarah Megginson

210 articles written by this author

Personal Loans

Compare unsecured personal loans – let your credit score do the talking

Compare unsecured personal loans from some of Australia's top lenders. Find the best deal on rates, fees and features in seconds.

Personal Loans

Joint Personal Loans

If you're wanting to bolster your application, buy an asset with your partner or apply for a loan you're not eligible for by yourself, you can consider a joint application personal loan.

Personal Loans

Personal loan comparison today, jet ski tomorrow

Looking for the best personal loan? Read this definitive guide on find out how to compare interest rates, fees and features to find the right loan for you. There's a range of loans available to apply for.

Personal Loans

Personal loan comparison today, jet ski tomorrow

Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Frequent flyer credit cards to get that (Qantas) millionaire feeling

Looking for best credit card for earning Qantas Points? Compare these cards based on standard earn rates, introductory bonus points offers and other features to find one that works for you.

Personal Loans

Personal loan comparison today, jet ski tomorrow

Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Frequent flyer credit cards to get that (Qantas) millionaire feeling

Looking for best credit card for earning Qantas Points? Compare these cards based on standard earn rates, introductory bonus points offers and other features to find one that works for you.

Personal Loans

Personal loan comparison today, jet ski tomorrow

Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Frequent flyer credit cards to get that (Qantas) millionaire feeling

Looking for best credit card for earning Qantas Points? Compare these cards based on standard earn rates, introductory bonus points offers and other features to find one that works for you.