Sonographer home loans: LMI waivers and deposit options

Eligible sonographers may buy with about a 10% deposit plus costs and avoid LMI. I'd start with evidence of your sonography work and the income from that work. Your job title alone doesn't tell me which loan fits.

If your payslip says medical imaging, an employer letter can explain your actual role. If you work across clinics or have recently opened a practice, we also need to understand which earnings a bank will use. Then we can compare the repayments and cash left after buying.

Our LMI Waivers guide explains the wider options. The LMI calculator shows an estimated premium for your price and deposit.

For this illustration, assume a $900k established Queensland home, the same bank valuation and $200k in savings. Allow $35k for buying costs: $26,350 in Queensland transfer duty with the eligible home concession, plus an illustrative $8,650 for other costs.

This assumes you meet the home concession rules, with no foreign buyer surcharge or other exemption. The other cost allowance isn't a fee quote. Your conveyancing, inspections, registration fees and settlement adjustments can change it.

The estimated $17,010 premium, dated 11 September 2026, uses our LMI calculator for a $900k home and $90k deposit, rounded to about $17k. The comparison assumes LMI is paid upfront; premiums vary by lender. Adding LMI to the loan increases the balance and interest. With $200k saved and $35k allowed for costs, the waiver leaves $75k after buying. Paying the estimated LMI upfront leaves about $58k.

The 20% option needs $215k for the deposit and assumed costs, before a buffer. That's $15k more than the starting savings. A 10% deposit makes the purchase possible within this cash illustration, but adds $90k to the debt compared with 20%. Lending approval still depends on your income and circumstances.

The extra $90k costs about $540 more each month before fees. The 6% rate is an illustration, not a current lender offer. Both loans use the same rate and term with no offset balance. Actual pricing and features can change the comparison.

I'd check whether those repayments still fit if extra shifts fall or you take leave. Cash kept in reserve can be useful, but it shouldn't leave you relying on a level of overtime you can't sustain.

Use our deposit calculator to work through your starting savings and costs. The government scheme is separate from this comparison: eligible buyers must contribute savings as required by the participating lender, rather than choosing 5% simply to keep the rest.

Send us your sonography qualification and evidence of your current role. Include your ASAR details if you hold them. We can check which records the lender needs, including tax records where relevant.

Sonography isn't itself an Ahpra registered profession. You may separately hold Ahpra registration for another role, such as radiography, but that's a different qualification. The bank still needs to be satisfied that you're a qualified, practising sonographer.

ASAR accreditation also has a separate role in professional practice: it's required for sonographers performing medical ultrasound examinations on behalf of a medical practitioner under Medicare. The bank's evidence check doesn't replace those practice requirements. A student category or unusual qualification needs a specific lender check.

The waiver minimum needs at least $90k a year before tax from eligible professional work. Income from 2 qualifying applicants may be combined under the lender’s professional income rules. An unrelated partner salary can help cover repayments, but it can't simply fill a gap in this professional income test.

Two sonographers with the same annual income may get different borrowing estimates. A fixed clinic salary, regular extra shifts, work across employers and private practice earnings each need different evidence. Your payslips and tax records help us work out what is likely to continue.

St George lists medical imaging employees for assessment of 100% of eligible overtime and allowances. We must check that your actual role fits. It generally requires 6 months of income evidence with the same employer; a shorter period may be referred for consideration. This employee rule excludes self employed income.

Even if the bank accepts more overtime, it still includes HELP debt, salary packaging, other repayments, living costs and dependants. Passing the $90k waiver test doesn't establish how much you can borrow.

An eligible self employed sonographer may qualify for a waiver, but the practice's trading history and financial evidence can decide which route fits. St George lists sonographers under standard medico assessment for its 90% waiver. Westpac excludes Fast Track from its 90% waiver.

St George's general 1 Year Assessment needs 2 full financial years of trading and is limited to 80% LVR. Having 1 year of documents doesn't mean a business with only 1 year of trading qualifies. A profession specific exception needs checking for your application.

If you have only 1 completed financial year or an ABN that's 12 months old, send us your tax and trading records before committing to a property. We'll check whether a shorter history exception is available.

Prepare tax returns, notices of assessment, business financials and debts. If you borrow through a company or trust, we also need to check ownership and guarantees. Our self employed home loan guide explains the common documents; get legal and tax advice before choosing an ownership structure.

Westpac and St George both publicly list sonographers for their 90% waiver. I've included ubank's general purchase option so you can compare a route without a professional income threshold. All three still assess your ability to repay and the property.

The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme may suit eligible citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or over who are first home buyers, or haven't owned Australian property in the last 10 years. You must live in the home, meet the location's price cap and use a participating lender. There is no income cap, but credit approval still applies.

The scheme’s information guide makes clear that 5% is a minimum, not a choice to keep surplus savings. You must contribute available savings as the lender requires. If you have at least 20% left after buying costs, the loan isn't eligible. That's why I'd assess the scheme separately from the $200k savings comparison above.

A family guarantee may reduce or avoid LMI, but the guarantor takes on financial risk. Independent advice should cover that risk and how the guarantee can be released.

A standard loan with LMI or a larger deposit can still be the better overall option. Compare repayments, fees and the cash you need after settlement without assuming property prices or interest rates will move in your favour.

Our pre-approval guide explains what the bank checks before you start making offers.

The lender pays us commission, which we disclose before you proceed. We'll explain the recommended options and any fees so you can compare the waiver with other suitable loans. You choose the lender.