Being self-employed has many benefits. You get to set your own hours, decide what work you want to take on, and operate on your own terms.
But when it comes to getting a mortgage, being self-employed can make things more complicated. To be clear, it’s not that self-employment automatically prevents you from borrowing money to buy a home.
Plenty of self-employed people enjoy a steady stream of income, and a generous one at that. But verifying that income is harder for mortgage lenders when self-employed borrowers apply. So sometimes they’re stricter with the self-employed than with salaried workers. Such was the case during the pandemic.
Last year, many lenders tightened up borrowing requirements for the self-employed. But last month, mortgage credit availability increased for borrowers on the whole, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. And much of that growth stemmed from loans given to self-employed applicants.
6 Simple Tips to Secure a 1.75% Mortgage Rate
Secure access to The Ascent’s free guide that reveals how to get the lowest mortgage rate for your new home purchase or when refinancing. Rates are still at multi-decade lows so take action today to avoid missing out.
By submitting your email address, you consent to us sending you money tips along with products and services that we think might interest you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Please read our Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions.
Why self-employed borrowers make lenders nervous
Many self-employed people don’t have the same steady income salaried workers do. And in the absence of steady income, it can be difficult to convince mortgage lenders you can keep up with your home loan payments.
It’s common practice for mortgage lenders to thoroughly vet applicants’ finances before agreeing to lend them money. For a salaried worker, that generally means submitting the previous year’s tax returns and a couple of months of recent pay stubs.
Self-employed people, though, often have to provide a lot more financial information. If you’re self-employed, not only might your lender require copies of two years of tax returns, but you may also be asked to provide information such as:
- Your business’ license, balance sheet, and profit and loss statement
- A letter from an accounting professional stating that you have a viable business
- Copies of ongoing contracts with clients that prove you have income on the way
<p data-block-key="…….