BDO Unibank is one of the Philippines' most trusted home loan providers, offering competitive rates starting at 6.00% p.a. for a 1-year fixed term — well below the 7% to 10% that many Filipino homeowners are currently paying. Whether you're buying your first home, refinancing an existing loan, or tapping your home equity, understanding BDO's requirements upfront can save you weeks of back-and-forth and dramatically improve your chances of approval.
This guide covers every eligibility requirement, document checklist, and step-by-step process you need to know before submitting your BDO housing loan application in 2026. And if you'd like expert help navigating the process, Nook submits your application to BDO on your behalf — completely free of charge. No broker fees, no hidden costs, just a faster and smoother path to approval.
To qualify for a BDO housing loan, applicants must generally meet the following criteria:
- Age: At least 21 years old at the time of application, and no older than 70 years old at loan maturity
- Citizenship: Filipino citizens, or foreign nationals married to Filipino citizens (subject to additional requirements)
- Employment status: BDO accepts a wide range of employment types including private sector employees, government employees, BPO workers, OFWs and seafarers, self-employed individuals, and licensed professionals
- Credit standing: Applicants must have a satisfactory credit history with no major defaults or unpaid obligations
BDO's broad eligibility criteria make it one of the more accessible banks in the Philippines for home financing. If you're unsure whether you qualify, Nook's team can assess your profile before submission — at no cost to you.
BDO requires a minimum combined monthly income of 50,000 pesos for housing loan applicants. This figure applies to your gross monthly income, and you may combine the income of a co-borrower (such as a spouse or immediate family member) to meet this threshold.
For employed applicants, this is typically demonstrated through payslips and a Certificate of Employment (COE). For self-employed individuals and professionals, income is assessed using Income Tax Returns (ITR), audited financial statements, or business registration documents.
Keep in mind that BDO will also evaluate your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio — meaning your existing monthly obligations plus your new loan repayment should not exceed a set percentage of your gross monthly income. This is covered in more detail in the DTI question below.
The documents required vary depending on your employment type, but here is a comprehensive checklist:
All applicants:
- Duly accomplished BDO Housing Loan application form
- One valid government-issued ID (front and back)
- Proof of billing address (utility bill, bank statement, or similar)
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Employed applicants (private, government, BPO):
- Certificate of Employment with compensation (COE), issued within the last 3 months
- Latest 1-3 months payslips
- Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) — BIR Form 2316
Self-employed and professionals:
- Business Registration Documents (DTI or SEC registration)
- Latest 2 years audited financial statements
- Latest 2 years ITR (BIR Form 1701 or 1702)
- List of clients or contracts, if applicable
OFWs and seafarers:
- Employment contract or Crew Agreement (POEA-verified or OWWA documents)
- Latest 3-6 months proof of remittance
- Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for the Philippine-based co-borrower or representative
Property documents (for purchase or refinancing):
- Certified True Copy of Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT)
- Latest Real Property Tax (RPT) receipt and tax declaration
- Vicinity map and lot/floor plan
- For refinancing: existing loan statement of account
Nook helps you organise and verify your documents before submission to avoid delays in processing.
BDO currently offers a 1-year fixed rate of 6.00% p.a., which is one of the more competitive rates available in the Philippine market today. BDO also offers a Home Equity loan rate of 6.00% p.a. for borrowers looking to unlock the value of their existing property.
To put this in perspective, many Filipino homeowners are currently paying between 7% and 10% on their existing home loans — meaning refinancing to BDO at 6.00% could result in significant monthly savings. For example, on a 3,000,000-peso loan over 20 years, the difference between 8.50% and 6.00% translates to roughly 4,800 pesos in monthly savings.
For a full comparison of how BDO's rates stack up, see our BDO Home Loan Interest Rate 2026 guide or compare options across lenders in our BDO vs PNB housing loan rates comparison.
Note: Interest rates are subject to change. Please verify current rates with BDO or through Nook before applying.
BDO's housing loan amount is typically determined by two factors: the appraised value of the property and your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. In general, BDO finances up to 80% of the appraised property value for residential properties, though this may vary depending on the property type and location.
Common loan amounts processed through Nook range from 1,500,000 to 10,000,000 pesos, and BDO can accommodate loans within this range subject to eligibility and appraisal. Loan terms typically run from 5 to 25 years, giving you flexibility to manage your monthly repayments.
Your borrowing capacity is also influenced by your monthly income and DTI ratio. As a general guide, BDO will size your loan so that the monthly amortization does not push your total debt obligations above their approved DTI threshold of 40% of gross monthly income.
BDO accepts a wide variety of housing loan purposes, making it suitable for many different types of borrowers. Approved purposes include:
- Purchase of Ready-For-Occupancy (RFO) properties — house and lot, condominium, or townhouse
- Purchase of pre-selling properties — from licensed developers
- New construction — building a home on your own lot
- Renovation — improving or expanding an existing property
- Refinancing — transferring your existing home loan to BDO for a lower rate
- Home Equity / Equity Take-Out — borrowing against the built-up equity in your property
- Purchase of foreclosed properties — buying bank-owned assets through BDO's portfolio or other channels
- Reselling — purchase of a property being resold by an individual owner
If your goal is to reduce your current monthly payments, refinancing to BDO at 6.00% p.a. is one of the most impactful financial moves you can make. Nook specialises in exactly this process and handles everything from document collection to bank submission.
BDO's typical loan approval timeline is approximately 30 days from the date of complete document submission. This covers the credit evaluation, income assessment, and property appraisal stages.
In practice, delays often occur when documents are incomplete, inconsistent, or when the property title requires additional verification. Submitting a complete and well-organised application from the start is the single most effective way to speed up approval.
When you apply through Nook, our team reviews your documents before they reach BDO — catching any issues early and helping ensure your submission is complete on the first attempt. This can meaningfully reduce your overall waiting time.
BDO sets a maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 40%. This means that your total monthly debt obligations — including your new BDO housing loan amortization, existing credit card minimum payments, car loans, and any other liabilities — should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income.
For example, if your gross monthly income is 100,000 pesos, BDO would generally allow total monthly debt payments of up to 40,000 pesos. If you already have 15,000 pesos in existing obligations, the maximum monthly amortization BDO would approve for your housing loan would be approximately 25,000 pesos.
Understanding your DTI before applying helps you set realistic expectations on loan amount and term. If your DTI is borderline, adding a co-borrower with stable income is one way to strengthen your application.
Yes — BDO explicitly accepts applications from OFWs, seafarers, self-employed individuals, and licensed professionals, making it one of the more inclusive home loan providers in the country.
OFWs and seafarers will need to provide their employment contract or Crew Agreement, recent remittance records, and in most cases a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) authorising a Philippine-based representative to act on their behalf during the application process.
Self-employed applicants and professionals (such as doctors, lawyers, architects, or business owners) are assessed based on their ITR, audited financial statements, and business registration documents rather than payslips. BDO typically looks at 2 years of financial history to establish income stability.
For non-traditional income earners, having a Nook advisor guide your application can be especially valuable — our team knows exactly what documentation BDO requires for each employment type and how to present your financials in the strongest possible light.
Applying through Nook is simple, and the entire service is 100% free to you as the borrower. Here's how it works:
- Submit your details online — Fill out Nook's quick application form at nook.com.ph with your income, employment type, and property details.
- Speak with a Nook advisor — A mortgage specialist will review your profile, confirm your eligibility for BDO's housing loan, and walk you through the document requirements specific to your situation.
- Prepare and submit documents — Nook helps you compile your documents correctly the first time, reducing back-and-forth with the bank.
- Nook submits to BDO on your behalf — Your complete application is formally submitted to BDO, and Nook monitors the progress throughout the 30-day approval period.
- Receive your approval and proceed to loan release — Once approved, Nook supports you through the final documentation and disbursement steps.
Because Nook is a BDO partner broker, your application is routed efficiently and handled with priority attention. There are no broker fees charged to you at any stage of the process. Whether you're buying a new home or refinancing an existing loan to take advantage of BDO's 6.00% rate, Nook makes the process as straightforward as possible.