BDO Unibank is one of the Philippines' most popular home loan providers, offering competitive fixed rates and flexible loan terms for buyers, builders, and borrowers looking to refinance. But before you submit your application, it's important to know exactly what documents and eligibility requirements BDO expects — so your application moves smoothly and quickly toward approval.
This checklist covers everything: income requirements, acceptable employment types, required documents for salaried and self-employed borrowers, property requirements, and what to expect during the process. If you're also comparing rates or considering refinancing an existing loan, BDO's current home loan interest rates and refinancing options are worth reviewing before you apply. Nook is a BDO partner broker — our service is completely free to borrowers.
BDO accepts housing loan applications from a wide range of borrowers. To qualify, you must be a Filipino citizen or a foreign national married to a Filipino. You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application and not more than 65 years old upon loan maturity.
BDO accepts the following employment types:
- Locally employed (private sector)
- Government employees
- BPO/call center workers
- Self-employed professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants)
- Business owners
- OFWs and seafarers
Whether you're buying a ready-for-occupancy property, purchasing a pre-selling unit, building a new home, refinancing, or taking out a home equity loan, BDO accommodates all of these loan purposes.
BDO requires a minimum monthly income of 50,000 pesos for housing loan applicants. This applies across employment types — whether you're salaried, self-employed, or an OFW.
BDO uses a maximum Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio of 40%, which means your total monthly loan obligations — including the new housing loan — should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income. For example, if you earn 80,000 pesos per month, your total loan payments should not exceed 32,000 pesos monthly.
Combined spousal income is typically accepted if either applicant alone does not meet the threshold, which can expand eligibility for households with dual incomes.
Salaried employees applying for a BDO housing loan will generally need to prepare the following documents:
Personal identification:
- Two valid government-issued IDs (e.g., passport, SSS, driver's license, UMID)
- Filled-out BDO housing loan application form
Income documents:
- Latest one month payslip
- Certificate of Employment (COE) indicating position, tenure, and compensation
- ITR (BIR Form 2316) for the most recent year, stamped by employer
Other documents:
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Birth certificates of dependents (if applicable)
BDO may request additional documents depending on your specific situation. Having these ready in advance will help avoid delays in processing.
Self-employed borrowers — including business owners and professionals — are required to submit additional financial documentation to demonstrate stable income. Here is what is typically required:
Personal identification:
- Two valid government-issued IDs
- Completed BDO loan application form
Business and income documents:
- Business Registration (DTI Certificate or SEC Registration)
- Mayor's Permit / Business Permit (latest)
- Audited Financial Statements for the last two years (signed by a CPA)
- ITR (BIR Form 1701 or 1701A) for the last two years, with BIR stamp or eFPS acknowledgment
- Bank statements for the last six months (showing business cash flow)
For professionals (doctors, lawyers, etc.):
- PRC license or IBP ID
- Certificate of Professional Tax Receipt (PTR)
Having clean, consistent financials across your ITR, financial statements, and bank statements significantly strengthens your application.
BDO welcomes OFW and seafarer applications. Because these borrowers may not be in the Philippines at the time of application, Nook can assist in coordinating the process remotely. The typical document requirements include:
Personal identification:
- Valid passport (with visa or work permit for the country of employment)
- OWWA Membership Certificate or OFW ID
Income documents:
- Latest employment contract or POEA-verified contract
- Crew contract (for seafarers), plus discharge papers if recently returned
- Latest three to six months of payslips or remittance records
- Certificate of Employment from foreign employer (if applicable)
If a local co-borrower or attorney-in-fact is involved:
- Special Power of Attorney (SPA), consularized if executed abroad
- Valid IDs of the authorized representative
Having an SPA in place is important if the OFW cannot be present to sign documents in person.
In addition to personal and income documents, BDO will require documents related to the property being purchased or used as collateral. The exact requirements vary by transaction type, but generally include:
For purchase transactions (RFO or resale):
- Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) — certified true copy from the Registry of Deeds
- Tax Declaration (land and improvement) — latest year
- Real Property Tax (RPT) receipts — latest year
- Contract to Sell or Deed of Absolute Sale (if already executed)
For house construction:
- TCT in the borrower's name (lot must be owned)
- Approved Building Plan and Bill of Materials
- Building Permit
- Construction contract with licensed contractor
For refinancing:
- Original TCT/CCT
- Latest Statement of Account from the existing bank
- Loan documents from the current lender
BDO will conduct an independent appraisal of the property as part of the approval process.
BDO typically lends up to 80% of the appraised value of the property (Loan-to-Value ratio of 80%). This means if your property is appraised at 5,000,000 pesos, BDO may lend you up to 4,000,000 pesos. For home equity loans, the LTV may differ depending on the outstanding balance and property valuation.
Minimum loan amounts at BDO generally start at around 1,000,000 pesos, and loan terms typically range from 1 to 25 years, depending on the borrower's age and loan purpose.
Your actual approved loan amount will depend on your income, DTI ratio, property appraisal, and credit standing. Applicants with a strong credit history and clean debt obligations tend to receive more favorable terms. If you want to compare BDO against another major lender before deciding, see our BDO vs PNB housing loan rates comparison.
As of 2026, BDO offers a 1-year fixed rate of 6.00% per annum for housing loans, including refinancing. This rate is among the more competitive in the Philippine market, where many homeowners are currently paying between 7% and 10% on their existing loans.
To put this in perspective: on a 3,000,000 peso loan over 20 years, the difference between paying 8.50% and 6.00% can mean savings of over 40,000 pesos per year in interest costs.
Interest rates are subject to change and re-pricing after the fixed period ends. Always verify the latest rate directly with BDO or through Nook before applying. Please note that rates quoted here are indicative and should be confirmed at the time of application.
BDO's typical loan approval timeline is approximately 30 days from the date of complete document submission. This includes document review, income assessment, property appraisal, and credit evaluation.
Here is what the typical process looks like:
- Application submission — Submit your documents (in person, via branch, or through Nook)
- Initial review — BDO checks completeness and eligibility (approximately 3 to 5 business days)
- Property appraisal — BDO arranges an independent appraisal (approximately 5 to 10 business days)
- Credit and income evaluation — Underwriting review
- Loan approval and offer — You receive a formal Letter of Guarantee or Approval
- Loan release — Documents are signed and funds are released
Incomplete submissions are the most common cause of delays. Preparing all required documents in advance — especially ITRs, COEs, and property titles — is the best way to keep the process on schedule.
Yes. BDO accepts refinancing applications from borrowers who currently hold a home loan with another bank or financial institution. If you're paying a higher rate — say 8% or 9% — refinancing to BDO's current 1-year fixed rate of 6.00% per annum could result in meaningful monthly savings.
To refinance with BDO, you'll need to submit your standard personal and income documents, plus your existing loan's Statement of Account, original title, and tax documents. BDO will appraise the property and determine your new loan amount based on current valuation.
If you want to explore whether BDO is the best refinancing option for your situation — or compare it against other lenders — Nook can help you evaluate multiple banks at once for free. You can also read our full analysis in UCPB vs BDO home loan rates to see how BDO stacks up on refinancing terms.