• 1099 vs. W-2 Income: How Mortgage Lenders See the Difference
  How mortgage lenders treat 1099 contractor income vs W-2 wages, which documents each requires, and when a 1099 income loan may be an option.
• 12-Month vs. 24-Month Bank Statement Loans: Why the Review Period Matters
  How 12-month, 24-month and shorter-window bank statement loans differ, why the review period changes your qualifying income, and how to choose.
• Asset Depletion Loans Explained: Qualifying With Savings and Investments
  Asset depletion loans turn eligible savings into a qualifying income figure. See how the math works and how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac treat assets.
• Bank Statement Loan Requirements and Qualifications
  What lenders commonly ask for on a bank statement loan: statements, proof of business, expense letters, credit, assets and property documents.
• CPA Letters for Mortgages: What They Are For and What They Can Say
  A CPA letter confirms facts a lender needs about your business, such as ownership or an expense ratio. Learn what it can say, what it cannot, and why.
• Foreign National Mortgages: Guidelines, Documents and Property Use
  Foreign national mortgage guidelines in general terms: who these loans serve, documents lenders ask for, and how second home and investment use differ.
• Getting a Mortgage When You Have Been Self-Employed Less Than Two Years
  Short self-employment history? Learn how lenders view it, when prior work in the same field helps, and which documentation options may fit your situation.
• How Tax Write-Offs Affect Your Mortgage Qualifying Income
  Why business deductions lower the income a mortgage lender can count, which non-cash items like depreciation may be added back, and your options.
• How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
  Compare non-QM loan offers using the Loan Estimate: rate type, prepayment penalties, interest-only features, closing costs and broker versus lender roles.
• How to Get a Mortgage When You Are Self-Employed
  Getting a mortgage when self-employed: how lenders view your income, full-doc vs bank statement and P&L options, and steps to prepare your file.
• ITIN Mortgages: How Home Loans Work for Borrowers With an ITIN
  How mortgages work for borrowers with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number: documents lenders ask for, credit history options and what to expect.
• P&L Statement Mortgages: How P&L-Only Home Loans Work
  A P&L loan qualifies you with a profit-and-loss statement prepared or verified by a CPA, EA or tax preparer. See how it works and what the P&L includes.
• Personal vs. Business Bank Statements: How Lenders Read Them
  How mortgage lenders read personal vs business bank statements, and how they treat transfers, NSFs, large deposits and expense factors.
• Private Mortgage Lenders vs. Non-QM Lenders: What Is the Difference?
  Private and hard-money lenders, non-QM lenders and brokers work differently. Compare licensing, consumer protections and how to check a license on NMLS.
• QM vs. Non-QM Loans: What the Difference Means for You
  QM vs non-QM explained: what the Qualified Mortgage and Ability-to-Repay rules require, why some loans fall outside QM, and how that affects borrowers.
• Self-Employed Mortgage Requirements: The Full-Documentation Route
  Self-employed mortgage documentation on the full-doc route: tax returns, IRS Form 4506-C, business license, a P&L, and how lenders analyze income.
• Stated Income and No-Doc Loans Today: What the Terms Really Mean
  True stated-income loans largely ended after the housing crisis. Learn what no-doc and stated income searches lead to now and how ability-to-repay applies.
• What Is a Bank Statement Loan and How Does It Work?
  A bank statement loan qualifies you with deposits from your bank statements instead of tax returns. See how lenders calculate income and who it fits.
• What Is a Non-QM Loan?
  A non-QM loan is a home loan made outside the Qualified Mortgage rules, often used by self-employed borrowers. Learn what it means and how it works.
• What Is a Non-Warrantable Condo, and How Can You Find Out Before You Offer?
  A non-warrantable condo does not meet Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac project standards. Learn the common reasons and how to check a building before you offer.