Not every solid borrower fits the boxes that conventional and government loans use. Non-QM mortgages exist for the people in between: business owners, retirees living on savings, borrowers with an ITIN and buyers of condos that agency loans will not finance. If you live in Shirley, this page explains what makes a loan non-QM and how to weigh the programs and lenders available in New York.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about Non-QM loans in Shirley. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Non-QM lending signals in Suffolk County
2024 HMDA filings for Suffolk County show 377 first mortgages with an interest-only period, a balloon payment or another non-amortizing feature. Those features are not allowed in a Qualified Mortgage, so loans that carry them fall outside the QM rules. Among first-lien loans in the county that reported a debt-to-income ratio, 11.9% had a ratio above 50%. 16.0% of Shirley residents were born outside the U.S., a group that can include ITIN filers and buyers with foreign income or credit history.
What makes a mortgage non-QM
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Ability-to-Repay rule requires lenders to make a reasonable, good-faith determination that you can repay a mortgage before they make it. Loans that meet the Qualified Mortgage definition are presumed to satisfy that rule. A QM cannot include risky features such as negative amortization, an interest-only period or, with limited exceptions, a balloon payment. It must also stay within limits on upfront points and fees and on pricing, and the lender must verify income or assets and debts.
A non-QM loan is simply one that does not meet that definition. It might document income another way, include an initial interest-only period or finance a property agency loans avoid. The lender must still verify that you can repay.
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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.
The non-QM program menu and how to pick from it
Non-QM is a menu, not a single product. Bank statement programs estimate income from deposits. Profit-and-loss programs use a statement prepared or verified by a CPA, EA or licensed tax preparer. Asset depletion programs, also called asset utilization, divide eligible assets by a number of months the program sets to create a qualifying income figure, which can suit retirees and savers with modest earned income.
Other programs serve borrowers with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number, foreign nationals buying in the United States, borrowers with a past foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy, and buyers in non-warrantable condo projects. Rental-property loans based on the property's rent are a separate category. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Who this tends to fit
- You had a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy that agency waiting periods still count against you
- You want an initial interest-only period, which a Qualified Mortgage cannot include
- A bank declined you and you want to know which non-QM programs might fit instead
- You live mainly on savings, investments or retirement assets rather than a paycheck
- You have an ITIN instead of a Social Security number
Local offices and New York rules to know
- Deed and mortgage recording: Suffolk County Clerk's Office. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
Mortgage lenders, brokers and loan originators serving New York are licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Non-QM loans are made by the same licensed lenders and brokers, so you can confirm any company's or loan officer's license on NMLS Consumer Access before you apply.
Comparing non-QM lenders and brokers in Shirley
Non-QM guidelines are written by the investors who buy the loans, and each investor draws its lines differently. One may be more flexible about a past credit event, another may accept a condo project the rest decline, and a third may handle asset-based income in a way that suits you. That variety is why the lender or broker you choose matters more here than with agency loans.
A mortgage broker can submit your file to several wholesale non-QM lenders and compare how each treats it. A direct lender offers its own programs. Either way, ask which programs they can offer, how they would document your income and what could change between application and closing. Then compare the Loan Estimate each one provides.
Before you call
- A plain description of how you earn money and how it reaches you
- A sense of how long you expect to keep the home and the loan
- Your preference between fixed and adjustable rates and whether interest-only appeals to you
- A plan to request Loan Estimates from more than one lender or broker in the same window
- Dates and details of any past foreclosure, short sale, bankruptcy or loan modification
Questions Shirley borrowers ask about Non-QM loans
Do non-QM programs work for ITIN holders and foreign nationals?
Programs exist for borrowers with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number and for foreign nationals buying in the United States. Lenders commonly ask for an ITIN letter from the IRS, a passport, a visa if applicable, foreign bank statements, a U.S. bank account and credit references. For questions about immigration or tax residency, consult an immigration attorney or talk to a tax professional.
What is a non-QM loan?
A non-QM loan is a mortgage that does not meet the Qualified Mortgage definition under the CFPB's Ability-to-Repay rule. It may use alternative income documentation, include a feature such as an initial interest-only period, or finance a borrower or property that agency guidelines will not. The lender must still make a reasonable, good-faith determination that you can repay. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Should I use a broker or a lender for a non-QM loan?
Both can work. Because each non-QM investor writes its own guidelines, a broker who submits to several wholesale lenders may find a program that fits an unusual file. A direct lender may offer more control over its own process. Ask either one which programs they can offer, how often they close non-QM loans and how they would compare options for you.
Is non-QM the same as subprime?
No. Subprime describes a borrower's credit, while non-QM describes how a loan relates to the Qualified Mortgage rules. Many non-QM borrowers have strong credit and substantial assets but earn income in ways standard guidelines handle poorly. Non-QM loans must also meet the Ability-to-Repay rule that followed the 2008 crisis, so the lender has to document that you can repay before closing.
Get answers about Non-QM loans for a home in or around Shirley. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for Shirley borrowers
Bank statement loans in ShirleySelf-employed in Shirley1099 loans in ShirleyP&L loans in ShirleyAsset depletion in ShirleyNo-doc / stated income in ShirleyNew self-employed in ShirleyITIN loans in ShirleyForeign national in ShirleyNon-warrantable condo in ShirleyBank statement HELOC in ShirleyInterest-only in ShirleyAfter bankruptcy in ShirleyBad credit in ShirleySelf-employed refinance in ShirleyNon-QM jumbo in Shirley
Non-QM Loans near Shirley
- Non-QM Loans in Mastic, NY (2 mi)
- Non-QM Loans in Mastic Beach, NY (3 mi)
- Non-QM Loans in Yaphank, NY (4 mi)
- Non-QM Loans in North Bellport, NY (4 mi)
- Non-QM Loans in Center Moriches, NY (4 mi)
- Non-QM Loans in East Patchogue, NY (6 mi)
- Non-QM Loans in Manorville, NY (6 mi)
- Non-QM Loans in Medford, NY (6 mi)
Related guides
- What Is a Non-QM Loan?
- QM vs. Non-QM Loans: What the Difference Means for You
- How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
Non-QM Loans across New York · Non-QM 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 Suffolk County (first liens, excluding reverse mortgages, lines of credit and business-purpose loans)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B05002 and B25032