Buying an upper-end home in Staten Island with income that does not fit a W-2 raises two questions at once: is the loan above the conforming limit, and can your earnings be documented the traditional way? When the answer is yes to the first and no to the second, a non-QM jumbo loan is worth understanding. Here is what New York lenders commonly review and what to ask before you apply.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about Non-QM jumbo loans in Staten Island. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
High-balance lending around Staten Island
HMDA data show 23 jumbo first mortgages in Richmond County in 2024. 31.1% of conventional first liens there were not sold to another institution in the year they were made, which includes loans lenders keep on their own books, the usual home for jumbo and non-QM loans. The median home in Staten Island is valued at about $675,500; whether a loan is jumbo depends on the loan amount and that year's limit for the county.
When a loan becomes jumbo and why your income type matters
Two separate tests decide what kind of loan you are looking at. The first is size: whether the amount you need exceeds the conforming limit FHFA publishes for Richmond County. The second is documentation: whether your income can be proven with tax returns and the usual paperwork, or needs another method.
If your loan is large and your returns tell your income story well, a full-doc jumbo is usually worth pricing first, because it often costs less. If your returns understate your earnings, a non-QM jumbo can use deposits or a preparer-backed P&L instead. It often prices higher, since it carries more risk for the investor. Asking for both quotes at the start keeps you from guessing.
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Reserves and asset documentation on a large balance
On a jumbo loan, what you have left after closing matters almost as much as what you earn. Lenders call this money reserves, and they measure it against your housing payment using a count the program sets. Larger loans and non-traditional income usually mean deeper reserve expectations.
Eligible reserves commonly include checking, savings, brokerage accounts and vested retirement funds, though retirement and market-based assets may be counted at less than full value. Expect to provide complete statements, every page, for each account. Large deposits will need a paper trail. If money is moving between business and personal accounts, or arriving from a sale or a gift, document the source before you apply rather than after an underwriter asks.
Who this tends to fit
- You are buying a custom, waterfront or acreage property that needs careful valuation
- You own a business and your returns show less income than you actually earn
- You hold substantial savings or investments and can document them fully
- Your pay comes from commissions, distributions or a mix of sources
- Your loan amount exceeds the conforming limit for your county
Local offices and New York rules to know
- Property assessment: NYC Department of Finance (Property). Homeowners contact the Department of Finance online, through 311 ('DOF benefits'), or at a DOF office about property tax exemptions and abatements; the STAR credit is administered by New York State (tax.ny.gov/star).
- Deed and mortgage recording: Richmond County Clerk (Staten Island records property documents here, not at the NYC City Register). Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
New York recording costs: Mortgage recording tax (state, plus local mortgage recording taxes in New York City, Yonkers and some counties), paid to the county recording office when the mortgage is recorded; real estate transfer tax on deeds/conveyances (filed with Form TP-584, or TP-584-NYC in New York City), including the additional 'mansion tax' on higher-priced residential purchases, which is paid by the buyer. Your Loan Estimate lists the taxes that apply to your loan.
Appraising a high-value home in Staten Island
Appraisals on higher-priced homes are often harder than on typical houses. There may be fewer recent sales of similar homes nearby, and features such as acreage, waterfront, custom construction or a guest house are harder to value. Lenders commonly use more experienced appraisers for these files and may order a second appraisal or a desk review on larger loans.
Because your down payment and the loan amount both depend on the appraised value, a low figure can force a change in plans. Ask whether the lender requires one appraisal or two, who chooses the appraiser, and how a reconsideration of value works. Share a list of upgrades and recent comparable sales your agent has found so the appraiser has full information.
Before you call
- A clear idea of your down payment source and what you will keep in reserve
- Complete statements, every page, for each checking, savings and brokerage account
- Personal or business bank statements for the review window the program uses
- A CPA or preparer letter if business funds will be used to close
- Retirement account statements showing vested balances
Questions Staten Island borrowers ask about Non-QM jumbo loans
Can I use business funds for a jumbo down payment?
Many programs allow it with documentation. Lenders commonly want proof that removing the money will not hurt the business, often through a CPA or tax preparer letter or a review of business cash flow. Moving funds into a personal account early and keeping a clear paper trail can make sourcing simpler. Ask your loan officer how they handle business assets.
What makes a loan a jumbo loan?
A jumbo loan is any mortgage larger than the conforming loan limit FHFA sets for the county where the home sits. Loans under that limit can be bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Loans above it are held by banks or sold to private investors. Limits differ in some high-cost counties, so ask a loan officer to confirm the figure for your property.
Can I get a jumbo loan with bank statements?
You may be eligible. Many non-QM jumbo programs review personal or business bank statements over a set window and apply an expense factor or a preparer's expense letter to business deposits. Expect closer review of reserves, credit and the appraisal than on a smaller loan. Requirements differ by borrower, property and investor, and each file is subject to credit approval.
Should I try a full-doc jumbo before a non-QM jumbo?
If your tax returns support the income you need, a full-doc jumbo is usually worth pricing first, since it often costs less and draws on more lenders. If your returns understate your earnings because of deductions or a recent jump in business income, a non-QM jumbo may be the realistic path. Asking for both scenarios at once shows you the real difference.
Get answers about Non-QM jumbo loans for a home in or around Staten Island. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for Staten Island borrowers
Bank statement loans in Staten IslandNon-QM lenders in Staten IslandSelf-employed in Staten Island1099 loans in Staten IslandP&L loans in Staten IslandAsset depletion in Staten IslandNo-doc / stated income in Staten IslandNew self-employed in Staten IslandITIN loans in Staten IslandForeign national in Staten IslandNon-warrantable condo in Staten IslandBank statement HELOC in Staten IslandInterest-only in Staten IslandAfter bankruptcy in Staten IslandBad credit in Staten IslandSelf-employed refinance in Staten Island
Non-QM Jumbo Loans near Staten Island
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- Non-QM Jumbo Loans in Linden, NJ (5 mi)
- Non-QM Jumbo Loans in Bayonne, NJ (6 mi)
- Non-QM Jumbo Loans in Elizabeth, NJ (6 mi)
- Non-QM Jumbo Loans in Avenel, NJ (6 mi)
- Non-QM Jumbo Loans in Rahway, NJ (7 mi)
- Non-QM Jumbo Loans in Roselle, NJ (8 mi)
- Non-QM Jumbo Loans in Perth Amboy, NJ (8 mi)
Related guides
- QM vs. Non-QM Loans: What the Difference Means for You
- Asset Depletion Loans Explained: Qualifying With Savings and Investments
- How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
Non-QM Jumbo Loans across New York · Non-QM Jumbo Loans guide · New York overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for Richmond County