Large mortgage loans

A large mortgage loan is a mortgage that exceeds the maximum loan size offered by most mainstream lenders, typically requiring a specialist large loan team or a private bank. Large mortgages are assessed with greater flexibility than standard residential loans, because the borrower’s wider wealth, liquidity, and asset base can be taken into account alongside income.

Large mortgage lending is usually manually underwritten. Rather than applying an automated income multiple, the lender considers the borrower’s full financial position, including earned income, investment income, business interests, and realisable assets. This manual approach means the structure of the application, and the way income and assets are evidenced, has a direct effect on the loan size and terms achieved.

For large mortgages, the choice between a mainstream lender’s large loan desk, a specialist lender, and a private bank is a central decision. Each route differs in pricing, flexibility, speed, and any requirement to place assets under management with the lender. A whole-of-market comparison, including private banks, is essential to secure the most suitable large mortgage.