3.5% Down Self-Employed Mortgage. No Tax Returns.
A self-employed mortgage — the alternative to bank statement home loans. Same alt-doc qualification, but at 3.5% down instead of 20%. Built for self-employed, 1099, and gig-economy buyers.
How this stacks up
The only program in the market combining 3.5% down with no tax returns required.
| ConventionalConv. | FHA | Bank StatementBank Stmt | 3.5% Down P&L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. down payment | 3.5–5% | 3.5% | 15–20% | 3.5% |
| Tax returns required | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Income method | AGI / Schedule C | AGI / Schedule C | 12–24 mo deposits | 12–24 mo P&L |
| Self-employed friendly | Often no | Often no | Yes | Yes |
| Closing timeline | 30–45 days | 30–45 days | 21–30 days | 21–30 days |
Already shopping a bank statement loan?
If a lender has quoted you a bank statement loan, you've already accepted alt-doc qualification. The catch they didn't fix: 20% down. We run the same kind of qualification on a P&L instead — at 3.5% down.
Built for you if you're a:
Bank-statement-loan shopper
Already in-market for a 20%-down bank statement loan. We do the same alt-doc qualification at 3.5% down — keep the difference in your business.
High-write-off business owner
Strong revenue, aggressive (legitimate) deductions. Schedule C net doesn't tell your story. We use your real P&L.
1099 contractor or gig worker
1099 income, app-based, or gig work — even with less than two years on tax returns. Conventional won't touch you. You have the income — we just need to read it differently.
Cash-strong, down-payment-poor
Reserves tied up in equipment, inventory, or a recent business roll-over. You have cashflow, not 20% sitting in checking.
No Tax Returns Needed
Traditional lenders want two years of tax returns. We don't. Qualify on your 12–24 month profit-and-loss statement instead.
Better Than Bank Statement Loans
Bank statement loans need 24 months of statements and usually 20% down. Our P&L program is the same 24-month window — but a borrower-prepared P&L instead of statements, and 3.5% down instead of 20%.
No CPA Letter Required
Prepare your own P&L. No accountant, no CPA letter, no extra fees — we send a simple template and tell you what's acceptable.
1099 Contractors Welcome
Independent contractors, gig workers, and freelancers — if you have 24 months of P&L, you can qualify.
How it works
Send us your P&L
24 months. Borrower-prepared is fine — no CPA or bookkeeper required.
Real pre-qual in 24 hours
No commitment. No hard pull required for the soft review. Honest yes-or-no.
Close in as little as 21 days
Once you're under contract, we move fast. Most files close in 21–30 days.
Founded by Chris Harris — UCLA-trained electrical engineer, NASA veteran, inventor of a life-saving robotic medical device. Best Finance was built to bring engineering rigor to mortgage lending.
The Lesson
The number on a P&L is almost always materially higher than the number on a tax return for the same business. That gap is the entire point of this program.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really not need tax returns?
What's the rate?
I was already approved for a bank statement loan at 20% down. Why switch?
Is the qualification difficult?
Who prepares the P&L?
Why would a P&L be any different than showing tax returns?
Get a real answer in 24 hours.
You've already been told no by lenders who don't understand self-employed income. We do.
NMLS# 2011725 · Best Finance · Equal Housing Opportunity. All loans subject to credit approval and underwriting. Rates, terms, and program availability subject to change without notice. Not a commitment to lend.