Home Loans & Bond Finance in South Africa
Applying for a mortgage in South Africa means applying for a home loan, also known as a bond. Whether you are buying your first home or moving, Gateway helps you prepare one application and compare offers from participating banks, with a home loan specialist guiding you.
How to Apply for a Mortgage in South Africa
Start with your budget, prepare your supporting documents and compare bank offers before accepting a home loan. Gateway's bond originator guides you through these steps.
- 1. Check affordability: review your income, living expenses and debt, then estimate repayments with a mortgage calculator. Budget for your deposit and transfer costs separately.
- 2. Get free pre-approval: understand your indicative buying range before choosing a property. Pre-approval is not final bank approval.
- 3. Prepare your documents: upload proof of identity, income and bank statements, plus the signed offer to purchase once you have found a property.
- 4. Submit your home loan application: a Gateway specialist reviews your profile and supporting documents before submission to participating banks.
- 5. Compare offers and proceed to registration: review interest rates, repayments, fees and conditions with your specialist before accepting an offer and completing the legal registration process.
One Home Loan Application. Multiple South African Banks.
Instead of approaching banks one at a time, submit your bond application through Gateway. Your profile is assessed with participating lenders so you can compare rates, deposit requirements and conditions side by side.
- Free, bureau-backed home loan pre-approval in about 2 minutes
- Up to 100% mortgage finance for qualifying applicants
- Compare interest rates and conditions across participating banks
- Secure digital document upload — no branch visits
How Bond Finance Works
A home loan (bond) is secured against the property you buy. The bank assesses your income, expenses, credit profile and the property value, then offers a loan amount, interest rate and term — usually 20 years. Your specialist helps you structure the application so it presents your affordability in the strongest light.
- Loan amount driven by affordability, deposit and credit profile
- Rates quoted as prime plus or minus a margin
- Terms typically 20 years, with shorter terms reducing total interest
- Bond registration and transfer costs payable at registration
Documents You Will Need
Prepare these documents for your mortgage application and upload them once into your Gateway profile. Requirements vary by bank and employment type; ask your specialist what additional information is needed if you are self-employed or applying jointly.
- South African ID or valid passport and permit
- Latest three months' payslips or six months for commission earners
- Latest three to six months' bank statements
- Signed offer to purchase once you have found a property
Get Your Free Home Loan Pre-Approval
One online application, compared across leading South African banks, with an experienced mortgage specialist guiding you from pre-approval to registration.
Start my free pre-approvalHome Loans & Bond Finance FAQs
How do I apply for a mortgage in South Africa?
Check your affordability, get pre-approved, prepare your identity and income documents, and complete Gateway's online home loan application. Upload your supporting documents once; a bond originator reviews your profile before submission to participating banks and helps you compare offers through to registration.
Can I get a 100% home loan?
Many South African banks offer up to 100% home loans to qualifying buyers with a strong credit profile and sufficient affordability. A deposit generally improves your rate and approval prospects.
How long does a home loan application take?
Pre-approval takes about two minutes. A full application typically receives bank responses within a few working days, while transfer and bond registration usually takes six to twelve weeks.