Planning to buy a home and considering BDO Unibank as your lender? BDO is one of the Philippines' largest banks and a Nook partner, offering competitive home loan rates starting at 6.00% p.a. for a 1-year fixed term. Before you apply, it helps to know exactly what documents, income levels, and property criteria BDO requires — so you can prepare a complete application and avoid delays.
This page covers the full BDO home loan requirements checklist for 2026, including eligibility conditions for employed, self-employed, and OFW borrowers, plus tips on how to strengthen your application. Whether you're buying a ready-for-occupancy unit, a pre-selling condo, or a resale house and lot, this guide walks you through what to expect. And if you already have a home loan and want to lower your rate, you can also refinance your BDO home loan through Nook — for free.
To qualify for a BDO home loan, you generally need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Age: At least 21 years old at time of application, and not older than 65 years old at loan maturity
- Citizenship: Filipino citizens or foreign nationals married to Filipino citizens (subject to additional requirements)
- Employment type: BDO accepts a wide range of borrower profiles including private employees, government employees, BPO workers, OFWs and seafarers, self-employed individuals, and licensed professionals
- Credit standing: Must have a satisfactory credit history with no unresolved defaults on existing loans
BDO is one of the more inclusive lenders in the Philippines, accepting borrowers across multiple employment categories — which is one reason it's a popular choice for first-time homebuyers.
BDO requires a minimum gross monthly income of 50,000 pesos for home loan applicants. This applies across employment types — whether you're a salaried employee, a self-employed business owner, or an OFW.
Keep in mind that your income level doesn't just affect eligibility — it also determines how much you can borrow. BDO uses a maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 40%, meaning your total monthly loan obligations (including the new home loan) cannot exceed 40% of your gross monthly income.
For example, if you earn 80,000 pesos per month, your maximum allowable monthly debt payments would be 32,000 pesos. If you have an existing car loan costing 8,000 pesos per month, your BDO home loan monthly amortization cannot exceed 24,000 pesos. Use the BDO housing loan calculator to estimate how much your monthly payment would be based on your loan amount and term.
If you are a salaried employee (private company, government, or BPO), you will typically need to submit the following documents:
Personal Identification:
- Two valid government-issued IDs (e.g., passport, driver's license, SSS/GSIS ID, PhilHealth ID, Voter's ID)
- Filled-out BDO home loan application form
Income Documents:
- Latest one-month payslip
- Certificate of Employment (COE) with compensation details, issued within the last 3 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR) — BIR Form 2316 or Form 1700 — for the most recent taxable year
- Latest 3 months bank statements
Property Documents (varies by property type):
- Signed Contract to Sell (for pre-selling or new construction)
- Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) — owner's copy or certified true copy
- Latest Tax Declaration and Real Property Tax receipts
- Vicinity map and floor plan of the property
Requirements may vary slightly depending on the specific property type and loan purpose. BDO may request additional supporting documents during processing.
Self-employed borrowers and business owners need to demonstrate stable business income through financial and registration documents. The typical requirements include:
Personal Identification:
- Two valid government-issued IDs
- Completed BDO home loan application form
Business Documents:
- SEC Registration (for corporations or partnerships) or DTI Registration (for sole proprietorships)
- Business permits or Mayor's Permit (latest year)
- Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Partnership (if applicable)
Financial Documents:
- Audited Financial Statements for the past 2 years, stamped by the BIR
- Income Tax Return (ITR) — BIR Form 1701 — for the past 2 years
- Latest 6 months bank statements (business and/or personal account)
Property Documents:
- Same property documents as required for employed applicants (TCT/CCT, Tax Declaration, Contract to Sell, etc.)
Self-employed applicants are generally evaluated based on the financial health and stability of their business. Consistent income over at least 2 years strengthens the application significantly.
BDO welcomes OFW and seafarer applicants and has specific document requirements to account for overseas employment:
Personal Identification:
- Two valid government-issued IDs (including passport)
- Completed BDO home loan application form
Income Documents:
- Employment contract or POEA-approved contract showing salary and duration
- Latest 3–6 months proof of remittance or bank statements showing regular income credits
- Certificate of Employment (for land-based OFWs) or Crew Contract and Certificate of Employment (for seafarers)
- Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) if applicable
Special Requirement — Attorney-in-Fact:
- If you are abroad during the application process, you will need to designate a local representative through a Special Power of Attorney (SPA), which must be notarized and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your country of work
Property Documents:
- Same as standard property requirements listed above
OFWs who maintain an active BDO remittance account may benefit from a smoother verification process, as BDO can cross-reference income data directly.
BDO offers home loans for a wide range of property types and purchase scenarios, including:
- Ready for Occupancy (RFO): Completed houses, townhouses, or condominiums ready for immediate move-in
- Pre-Selling: Units purchased directly from a developer that are still under construction
- Reselling: Second-hand properties being sold by an individual seller
- New Construction: Building a house on a lot you already own
- Renovation: Financing home improvement on an existing property
- Home Equity / Loan Against Property: Using your existing property as collateral to access cash
- Foreclosed Properties: Properties acquired by BDO through foreclosure and being sold through their acquired assets program
The documentation required will vary depending on the property type. Pre-selling units, for example, require a Contract to Sell from the developer, while resale transactions require the owner's TCT or CCT and tax documents. BDO's loan officers can guide you on the specific checklist for your property type.
BDO's home loan amount depends on several factors: your gross monthly income, existing financial obligations, the appraised value of the property, and the loan purpose.
As a general guide:
- BDO typically lends up to 80% of the appraised value of the property (Loan-to-Value or LTV ratio), meaning you need at least a 20% down payment
- Your monthly amortization must not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income (the maximum DTI allowed)
- Loan amounts commonly range from 1,500,000 to 10,000,000 pesos or more depending on income and property value
For example, if you earn 100,000 pesos per month with no other debts, your maximum monthly amortization could be up to 40,000 pesos. At BDO's current 1-year fixed rate of 6.00% p.a. over a 20-year term, this would support a loan of approximately 5,500,000 pesos.
Note that BDO will conduct its own appraisal of the property, and the loan amount will be based on whichever is lower — the purchase price or the appraised value. Interest rates are subject to change; verify current rates with BDO or through Nook before applying.
BDO applies a maximum Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio of 40%. This means your total monthly debt obligations — including your proposed BDO home loan amortization — must not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income.
Why does this matter? Your DTI ratio is one of the most important factors in determining whether your application is approved and how much you can borrow. Even if you meet the minimum income requirement, a high existing debt load (car loans, personal loans, credit card minimums) can reduce the amount BDO is willing to lend you.
Practical example:
- Gross monthly income: 120,000 pesos
- Maximum total monthly debt allowed (40%): 48,000 pesos
- Existing monthly obligations (car loan + credit card): 15,000 pesos
- Maximum allowable home loan amortization: 33,000 pesos
To improve your DTI before applying, consider paying off or reducing existing debts. This can also help you qualify for a larger loan amount or a more favorable rate.
BDO's typical approval timeline is around 30 days from the date of submission of a complete application with all required documents. This includes the credit evaluation, property appraisal, and final loan approval stages.
Delays are most commonly caused by:
- Incomplete or missing documents at the time of submission
- Discrepancies in income documents or property titles
- Scheduling delays for the property appraisal visit
- Additional verification needed for OFW or self-employed applicants
The best way to speed up the process is to prepare a complete document package before submitting. Applying through Nook can also help — our mortgage specialists review your documents before submission to catch any gaps or issues, reducing back-and-forth with the bank. This is especially useful for first-time homebuyers navigating the process for the first time.
Once approved, you will receive a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) which you can present to the developer or seller to proceed with the transaction.
Yes — Nook is an accredited digital mortgage broker and BDO is one of our partner banks. You can apply for a BDO home loan directly through Nook at absolutely no cost. Nook's service is 100% free to borrowers. We do not charge application fees, processing fees, or broker commissions.
When you apply through Nook, you get:
- Expert guidance — a dedicated mortgage specialist who explains what you need and checks your documents before submission
- Multiple bank options — we compare BDO alongside other partner banks so you can see if a better rate or lower income requirement is available elsewhere
- Faster processing — clean, complete applications tend to move through bank review faster
- Zero cost — Nook is compensated by the bank, not the borrower
Whether you're buying your first home or refinancing an existing loan, you can start your application at nook.com.ph. And if you already have a BDO home loan and want to check whether you could get a lower rate, visit our page on BDO home loan interest rates and refinancing alternatives to see what's available.
Note: All rates and requirements listed on this page are based on the latest available information and are subject to change. Please verify current rates and eligibility criteria with BDO or through Nook before submitting your application.