Your tax return tells the IRS what you kept after deductions. Your bank statements tell a lender what actually came in. Bank statement mortgages are built on that second record, reviewing a run of monthly statements to estimate qualifying income for Newport News buyers and owners who are paid through their own business. Here is how lenders read those statements and how to get yours ready in Virginia.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about bank statement loans in Newport News. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Self-employment in Newport News by the numbers
Census estimates show 6.5% of Newport News's working residents are self-employed, roughly 5,469 people, close to the 6.5% share for the City of Newport News as a whole. That share is higher than in 25% of the Virginia cities and towns we cover. Owners of incorporated businesses make up 2.9% of the local workforce; their pay often flows from a business account to a personal account. Those are the households most likely to have tax returns that show less income than their deposits do, which is the gap a bank statement program is built to look at.
How lenders turn statements into qualifying income
A bank statement program commonly reviews 12 or 24 months of statements from personal accounts, business accounts or in some cases both. The underwriter adds up the eligible deposits across that window and divides by the number of months to reach an average monthly figure.
With personal statements, deposits are usually treated as income after business costs, since the money has already left the business. With business statements, the lender knows part of each deposit goes to expenses, so it applies an expense factor set by the program or uses an expense letter from your CPA or tax preparer that states your actual ratio. The figure that results is the income used to measure your ability to repay.
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
- Takes a few minutes
- Reviewed by a licensed loan officer
- No obligation to proceed
Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 508-8976. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
Personal accounts, business accounts or both
Before you call anyone, look at how money really flows in your household. If clients pay your business and the business pays you, the business account carries the full picture and the personal account shows the draws. If clients pay you directly, your personal account may be the only record.
A loan officer can review both sets and point out which one tends to produce a cleaner qualifying figure under the programs available to you. Joint personal accounts, accounts shared with a business partner and accounts that collect money for more than one company each raise their own questions. Partners, for example, usually need to document their ownership share, because the lender counts only the portion of the income that belongs to you.
Who this tends to fit
- A bank turned you down because of the income shown on your returns
- You own a business and pay yourself through irregular owner draws
- You are self-employed and write-offs make your tax returns show less income than your deposits
- You are paid on 1099s by several clients and your income arrives in uneven amounts
- Your business has grown and older tax returns no longer reflect what you earn
Local offices and Virginia rules to know
- Deed and mortgage recording: Newport News Circuit Court Clerk's Office (Land Records). Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
- Property assessment: Newport News Real Estate Assessor's Office.
Lenders often confirm that your business is active. In Virginia, business entity records are searchable through the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office. If a CPA prepares your expense letter or P&L, the lender may check the license with the Virginia Board of Accountancy.
What underwriters flag on Newport News bank statement files
Underwriters read statements line by line, and certain items reliably prompt a letter of explanation. Large deposits that do not match your usual pattern are the most common. The lender wants to know whether the money is business income, a loan, a gift or a transfer, and may ask for a source document.
Overdrafts and nonsufficient funds charges can signal tight cash flow and may count against you. A steady decline in deposits across the review window can lead the lender to rely on the lower recent average. Cash deposits without a paper trail, payments on a tax payment plan and gaps where statements are missing all draw attention. None of these automatically ends a file, but each is easier to handle when you explain it up front.
Before you call
- A list of which accounts are business, which are personal and who else is on each one
- Short notes explaining any large or unusual deposits and where they came from
- Your ownership share in writing if you have a business partner
- Contact details for a CPA, EA or tax preparer who can write an expense letter if needed
- Complete monthly statements for the review window, every page, downloaded from your bank
Questions Newport News borrowers ask about bank statement loans
Do I still need to provide tax returns?
Bank statement programs generally do not use tax returns to calculate income, which is the main reason borrowers choose them. You may still be asked to verify that you are self-employed through a business license, a CPA letter or a similar record, and some programs ask for other supporting documents. Requirements vary by program and investor, so ask early exactly what your file will need.
Will large deposits hurt my application?
Not necessarily, but expect them to be questioned. Underwriters look for deposits that stand out from your normal pattern and ask where each one came from. Business income is usually counted once it is explained. Transfers from your own accounts, loan proceeds and gifts are typically excluded from income. A short written explanation and a supporting document, such as an invoice or a sale contract, usually settles the question.
Do bank statement mortgages cost more?
They often price higher than agency loans such as conventional or FHA, because the investor takes on more risk when income is documented outside standard guidelines. Lenders may also expect a larger down payment and more cash in reserve. Pricing depends on your credit, the property, the review window and the program, so compare complete Loan Estimates instead of a single quoted figure.
What is a bank statement loan?
It is a mortgage that uses bank statements instead of tax returns to document income. A lender reviews a set number of months of personal or business statements, totals the eligible deposits, adjusts business deposits for expenses and arrives at a monthly income figure. It is a non-QM loan, so it falls outside the Qualified Mortgage rules, but the lender must still make a good-faith determination that you can repay.
Get answers about bank statement loans for a home in or around Newport News. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for Newport News borrowers
Non-QM lenders in Newport NewsSelf-employed1099 loansP&L loansAsset depletionNo-doc / stated incomeNew self-employedITIN loansForeign nationalNon-warrantable condoBank statement HELOCInterest-only
Bank Statement Loans near Newport News
- Bank Statement Loans in Poquoson, VA (9 mi)
- Bank Statement Loans in Hampton, VA (9 mi)
- Bank Statement Loans in Smithfield, VA (10 mi)
- Bank Statement Loans in Carrollton, VA (11 mi)
- Bank Statement Loans in Gloucester Point, VA (12 mi)
- Bank Statement Loans in Williamsburg, VA (15 mi)
- Bank Statement Loans in Portsmouth, VA (20 mi)
- Bank Statement Loans in Norfolk, VA (20 mi)
Related guides
- What Is a Bank Statement Loan and How Does It Work?
- Bank Statement Loan Requirements and Qualifications
- Personal vs. Business Bank Statements: How Lenders Read Them
Bank Statement Loans across Virginia · Bank Statement Loans guide · Virginia overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B24080 (class of worker)