Being self employed has many benefits. When you are self-employed, you can write off all of your deductions on your taxes. You have the potential to make more income than someone who is employed by someone else. You have the freedom to be your own boss. One of the few times when being self employed has some drawbacks is when you go to get financing for a home or a major purchase. But, here are some things to know that can help you make the mortgage loan process run smoothly when you are self employed.
When verifying income - In general, lenders want to see at least 2 years of self employment history, sometimes they want to see 3 years. They will want to see this history verified in tax returns, usually. Sometimes the lenders will figure your income as being the average income you claimed on your income taxes as profit, not your gross business income. Sometimes the lender will figure your income as the lowest of the two years and sometimes as the highest of the two years. Talk to your mortgage broker or lender and find out which way they verify. Sometimes lenders will figure a portion of your write-offs or deductions back into your income. There are ideas of other ways that a lender may be able to verify your income and if you are self employed it will help you to be able to show a more of your income.
A. Use bank statements as proof of income ? Find a lender who will accept 1-2 years of bank statements as proof of income. It is becoming more common nowadays for lenders to verify your income this way. This way usually works better in proving income than going off of your tax returns, because you can usually prove a lot more cash flow than tax returns will show. On your tax returns you usually subtract each and every business expense before you claim any profit. When using bank statements, you are still proving income, this does not put as much emphasis on your credit score or down payment as the stated income or no doc loan will.
B. Do a stated income or no doc loan ? These types of loans are done all of the time, where you need no proof of income, you only state on a form what your income is, and you do not need to verify it. This can help if you are self employed and want to state your income as it is and not worry about having the lender average out your income from the last two years instead. Make sure you are accurate in stating your income, because the lender may be able to obtain past taxes from the IRS to confirm it. When you do a stated income loan, this will put more emphasis on your down payment or credit score. So, you will usually need one of these factors to be strong if you want to go this route. Most of the time when you do a stated income or no doc loan, you will be charged a slightly higher interest rate because of the extra risk the lenders carries.
C. Put together a profit & loss statement stating accurately stating your profits and expenses from the last two years. This can be a time consuming project, but it can sometimes be used as income verification for a lender. It is more usable if you have had it signed or verified by your accountant.
There are many ways that lenders can work with you if you are self employed. There are many programs available to help you and if you have a down payment or decent credit, you are almost guaranteed to be able to get approved somewhere. To see our list of recommended lenders that would be able to help you, visit here: Recommended Mortgage Loan Companies Online or here Recommended Bad Credit Mortgage Loan Companies Online
Written by Carrie Reeder, Owner of ABC Loan Guide. Carrie's website is an informational mortgage loan website. Her website has articles and a list of recommended mortgage lenders for many different types of mortgage loans.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Refinancing can be a very simple process. You fill out... Read More
Home mortgage interest rates hit record lows in 2004 and... Read More
When refinancing your home, it's helpful to know a few... Read More
Getting approved for a jumbo mortgage loan online is similar... Read More
As a first time home buyer, there are several things... Read More
The process of obtaining a mortgage or home loan can... Read More
Home equity loans are a popular way for homeowners to... Read More
The Research Rates of Agri MortgageFirst thing, when finding an... Read More
By refinancing your property online you can take advantage of... Read More
When trying to obtain the best mortgage rate compare offers... Read More
Refinance NOW-before it's too lateIf you haven't found the time... Read More
Imagine paying your mortgage off in 15 years! Think of... Read More
I fully realize if it sounds too good to be... Read More
When you're self employed you have numerous advantages. As you... Read More
Before you go looking at houses, you'll need to find... Read More
Uncle Sam has a gift for the men and women... Read More
"How much should you borrow?" is a question people with... Read More
Financial difficulties are married to bad credit. It is a... Read More
Obtaining a home equity loan does not have to be... Read More
We all know that there are a lot of mortgage... Read More
Finding a good lender to help you with refinancing your... Read More
Well, we did it. We are buying a beautiful, brand... Read More
Refinancing and Car Finance - Is it Worth It?No doubt... Read More
If you have low income and are looking to get... Read More
Mortgage lenders have set up shop online, but they aren't... Read More
I continue to see the same For Sale signs in... Read More
Homeowners facing foreclosure should be aware of unscrupulous lenders and... Read More
There are hundreds of mortgage companies in the Jacksonville real... Read More
When you're looking for a mortgage, whether it's a first... Read More
Mortgages are easy as long as you understand them well.... Read More
While most multi family properties are designed to allow the... Read More
Purchasing a home involves certain important, even essential, steps that... Read More
Home ownership has risen sharply in recent years, and the... Read More
Finding a cheap home improvement loan can be a challenge... Read More
Whether you are looking to purchase your first home, sell... Read More
There has been so much fraud discovered in the FHA... Read More
Your goal is not only to find the best rates... Read More
The process of obtaining a mortgage or home loan can... Read More
Mortgage lenders have set up shop online, but they aren't... Read More
You have finally found the home of your dreams. You... Read More
How To Release Equity Locked Up In Your Home For... Read More
If you are considering buying a home, then you may... Read More
A home equity loan can be an excellent way to... Read More
Although any loan used for buying real estate is strictly... Read More
Slight increases in the interest rates raise your hackles. Tension... Read More
Buying a home with bad credit doesn't have to stop... Read More
Everybody wants to own a house because it is something... Read More
A Bridging Loan is a short-term loan used as a... Read More
If you buy new windows, you'll not only pay for... Read More
Being a creature of habit can cost you plenty when... Read More
Your equity is the amount your home is worth, on... Read More
A stated income or no doc mortgage loan allows individuals... Read More
Many homeowners want to know if it worth taking a... Read More
Help is available to borrowers who have claims against their... Read More
If you've been thinking about applying for a direct homeowner... Read More
When you refinance your home mortgage, lenders often tempt you... Read More
Procuration fees paid by some sub-prime lenders are too high.Fact.There... Read More
As the term implies, with a fixed rate mortgage the... Read More
Here is a useful guide to home equity loans. A... Read More
Whether you need some extra cash to pay off some... Read More
Here is a useful guide to the different types of... Read More
Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that in... Read More
If you are a homeowner, you've probably received offers to... Read More
Texas was one of the last states to allow homeowners... Read More
Private lenders, banks, and mortgage companies are all setting up... Read More
What is a mortgage? Here's what The New Merriam ?... Read More
Mortgage Refinance |