BDO Home Loan Requirements 2026: Complete Checklist for Salaried & Self-Employed

BDO accepts home loan applications from a wide range of borrowers, making it one of the more inclusive lenders in the Philippines. Eligible applicants include:

• Private sector employees — locally employed on a regular or permanent basis
• Government employees — including uniformed personnel and GOCCs
• BPO workers — including those on shifting schedules or project-based contracts
• OFWs and seafarers — with a co-borrower based in the Philippines
• Self-employed individuals — sole proprietors, partners, and business owners
• Professionals — doctors, lawyers, CPAs, engineers, and licensed practitioners

Borrowers must be Filipino citizens or Filipino-Chinese nationals. Foreign nationals married to Filipinos may qualify under certain conditions. The property being financed must be located in the Philippines.

BDO requires a minimum gross monthly income of 50,000 pesos for home loan applicants. This applies to salaried employees, self-employed borrowers, and professionals alike.

BDO uses a maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 40%, meaning your total monthly debt obligations — including the new home loan payment — should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income. For example, if you earn 100,000 pesos per month, your total monthly loan payments (including the new mortgage) cannot exceed 40,000 pesos.

For OFWs and seafarers, BDO will typically assess income based on your employment contract or proof of remittances, and a co-borrower in the Philippines is usually required. Combined household income may be used to meet the threshold in some cases — ask your Nook advisor for details.

If you are a locally employed salaried worker, prepare the following documents before applying:

Personal & Identity Documents

• Duly accomplished BDO home loan application form
• Two valid government-issued IDs (e.g., passport, driver's license, SSS/GSIS card, PhilHealth, Voter's ID, PRC ID)
• Marriage contract (if applicable) or PSA birth certificate

Income Documents

• Latest one-month payslip (or two consecutive payslips)
• Certificate of Employment (COE) indicating position, tenure, and monthly salary — must be issued within the last 3 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR) for the most recent taxable year, BIR Form 2316 signed by employer, or BIR Form 1701/1700
• Latest 3 months' bank statements showing salary credits

Employment Stability Note: BDO generally requires at least 2 years of continuous employment with the current employer, or a combined tenure of 2 years in the same industry. Probationary employees are typically not eligible.

Self-employed applicants and licensed professionals face a slightly more rigorous documentation process, as BDO needs to verify business income stability. Prepare the following:

Personal & Identity Documents

• Duly accomplished BDO home loan application form
• Two valid government-issued IDs
• Marriage contract (if applicable)

Business Documents

• DTI Certificate of Registration (for sole proprietors) or SEC Certificate of Incorporation plus Articles of Incorporation/Partnership (for corporations or partnerships)
• Business permits and Mayor's Permit for the current year
• Latest 2 years' Audited Financial Statements (AFS) stamped received by BIR
• Latest 2 years' ITR (BIR Form 1701 for individuals or 1702 for corporations), stamped received by BIR
• Latest 6 months' bank statements (personal and/or business account)

For Licensed Professionals (doctors, lawyers, CPAs, engineers, etc.)

• PRC ID and current certificate of registration/license
• Income documents as above, or an affidavit of income if records are limited

BDO typically requires that the business has been operating for at least 2 years. A consistent or growing revenue trend in your financial statements will strengthen your application.

BDO welcomes OFW and seafarer applications, recognizing that overseas remittances are a stable income source. Required documents typically include:

Personal & Identity Documents

• Duly accomplished BDO home loan application form
• Valid passport (with visa pages if applicable)
• Two valid IDs
• Marriage contract or birth certificate (if applicable)

Income & Employment Documents

• Valid employment contract or POEA-approved contract
• Latest 3–6 months' proof of remittances or bank statements showing overseas income
• Certificate of Employment from the foreign employer (if available)
• For seafarers: Crew contract, Seaman's Book, and latest 3 months' allotment slips

Co-Borrower Documents

• BDO typically requires an eligible co-borrower residing in the Philippines (spouse or immediate family member) who meets income and identity requirements
• Co-borrower must submit the same identity and income documents applicable to their employment type

Because OFW documentation can be complex, working with a mortgage broker like Nook can save you significant time — we help you compile the right documents and coordinate with BDO on your behalf, at no cost to you.

BDO applies standard age and citizenship criteria to all home loan applicants:

Age Requirements

• Minimum age: 21 years old at the time of application
• Maximum age: The loan must be fully paid before the borrower reaches 70 years old
• Example: A 50-year-old applicant can take out a loan with a maximum term of 20 years (to be repaid by age 70)

Citizenship Requirements

• Must be a Filipino citizen or a Filipino-Chinese national
• Dual citizens with valid Philippine passport or dual citizenship documents are generally eligible
• Foreign nationals married to Filipinos may be considered on a case-by-case basis — the property must be in the Filipino spouse's name

If you are nearing the upper age limit, a co-borrower (such as a younger spouse or adult child) can help extend the eligible loan term, which reduces your monthly payment.

In addition to personal and income documents, BDO will require documentation related to the property being financed. The specific requirements vary depending on the loan purpose:

For All Property Types

• Photocopy of the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) — must be clean and free of encumbrances (or existing mortgage if refinancing)
• Latest real property tax declaration and tax clearance/tax receipt
• Location map and vicinity map of the property

For Purchase (RFO or Resale)

• Contract to Sell or Deed of Absolute Sale (or draft thereof)
• Seller's valid IDs and authorization documents (if applicable)

For Refinancing

• Statement of account or amortization schedule from your current lender
• Latest mortgage billing statement

For Construction or Renovation

• Building plans and specifications signed by a licensed architect or engineer
• Bill of materials and cost estimates
• Building permit (or proof of application)

For Pre-Selling / Condo Projects

• Reservation agreement and payment history from the developer
• Developer's license to sell

BDO will conduct its own property appraisal as part of the approval process. The loan amount will be based on the lower of the appraised value or the purchase price.

BDO offers flexible loan amounts and terms designed to accommodate a wide range of property values and borrower profiles:

• Minimum loan amount: Typically 1,000,000 pesos (varies by property type and location)
• Maximum loan amount: Up to 80% of the appraised value of the property (Loan-to-Value ratio of 80%)
• Loan terms: Up to 25 years for house and lot; up to 20 years for condominium units
• Interest rate: BDO's 1-year fixed rate is currently 6.00% p.a. — after the fixed period, the rate reprices based on prevailing market rates

To illustrate: on a 3,000,000 peso loan at 6.00% p.a. over 20 years, your estimated monthly amortization would be approximately 21,493 pesos. At a higher rate of 8.00% — common among borrowers who have not refinanced in several years — the same loan would cost approximately 25,093 pesos per month, a difference of over 3,600 pesos every month.

If you currently have a home loan at 7% or higher, it's worth exploring whether refinancing to BDO's 6.00% rate could lower your monthly payment. See our BDO vs PNB home loan rate comparison to understand how BDO stacks up against other major lenders.

BDO's typical home loan approval timeline is approximately 30 days from the date of complete document submission. Here is a general overview of the process:

1. Application submission — Submit your completed application form and all required documents
2. Document review — BDO's credit team reviews your eligibility, income documents, and DTI ratio
3. Property appraisal — BDO commissions an appraisal of the subject property (usually takes 5–10 business days)
4. Credit evaluation — BDO assesses your creditworthiness and issues a formal Loan Offer or Letter of Guarantee
5. Loan documentation and signing — You sign the loan agreement and mortgage documents
6. Loan release — Funds are released to the seller or developer, or directly to you in the case of refinancing or equity loans

Delays most commonly occur due to incomplete documents or issues with the property title. Submitting a complete and organized set of requirements from the start is the single best way to avoid delays. When you apply through Nook, our advisors will pre-screen your documents before submission to minimize back-and-forth with the bank.

Yes — and yes, it is 100% free for borrowers. Nook is the Philippines' first digital mortgage broker and an accredited partner of BDO. When you apply through Nook, you get:

• Free document checklist and pre-screening — We tell you exactly what to prepare before you submit anything to the bank
• Free application assistance — Our advisors handle the submission and follow-up with BDO on your behalf
• Rate comparison — We can show you how BDO's 6.00% rate compares to other partner banks so you always get the best deal available
• No broker fees, ever — Nook is compensated by the bank, not by you

Whether you are buying a new home, refinancing an existing loan, or taking out a home equity loan, Nook simplifies the entire process. Most Filipino homeowners who refinance through Nook are currently paying between 7% and 10% on their existing loans — switching to BDO's 6.00% rate can result in savings of thousands of pesos every month.

Note: Interest rates quoted are subject to change without prior notice. Please verify current rates with your Nook advisor or directly with BDO before finalizing your application.