Home loans for business owners
Reviewed by Chris Harris, NMLS #2011725 · Updated
Being your own boss shouldn't make buying a home harder. We specialize in helping self-employed borrowers, freelancers, and business owners qualify using their actual income — not just a W-2.
Get pre-approvedNo credit impact | No commitmentBuilt for business owners
We understand self-employed income is different. Our process is designed to capture your full earning picture — not just what shows on a pay stub.
Three ways to qualify
Unlike traditional lenders that only look at tax returns, we offer multiple paths to prove your income — so your write-offs don't work against you.
Tax Returns
The standard path for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. We use your last 2 years of personal and business tax returns to calculate qualifying income, adding back depreciation and non-cash expenses.
- Best rates available
- 2 years of 1040s + business returns
- Depreciation and amortization added back
- Income averaged over 2 years
Bank Statements
Use your business bank deposits instead of tax returns. We calculate income from your average monthly deposits — so business write-offs and deductions don't reduce your qualifying income.
- No tax returns required
- 12 or 24 months of business bank statements
- Income = average monthly deposits x expense factor
- Great for borrowers with heavy write-offs
Profit & Loss Statement
Qualify using a year-to-date profit and loss statement. This option uses your gross revenue minus business expenses to determine income — often higher than what shows on tax returns.
- Available with 3.5% down
- Borrower-prepared is fine — no CPA required
- Uses gross revenue minus actual expenses
- Can be combined with bank statements for verification
- Faster than waiting for tax return filing
How it works
From application to pre-approval in four simple steps.
Tell us about your business
Select self-employed in the dashboard and enter your business details — name, type, and years in operation.
Upload your documents
Upload your last 2 years of personal and business tax returns, or 12-24 months of bank statements if you're using the bank statement program. Our system automatically identifies the forms (1040, Schedule C, Schedule E, K-1) and tells you if anything is missing.
We calculate your qualifying income
We apply Fannie Mae income guidelines — adding back depreciation, averaging over 2 years, and accounting for your business structure — to find your true qualifying income.
Get your pre-approval letter
Once your income, credit, and assets are verified, you get an official pre-approval letter you can use to make offers.
This is the whole income document.
One page per year: what you made, minus what you spent. You fill it in, sign it and date it. No accountant. No tax returns. (Lenders call this a P&L.)
Almost no other lender approves a 3.5%-down mortgage on this one sheet.
| Income — Services | $142,000 |
| Total Income | $142,000 |
| Material and Parts | $31,000 |
| Fuel and Vehicle Expenses | $9,500 |
| Misc / Other | $2,500 |
| Total Expenses | $43,000 |
| Profit | $99,000 |
Three expense lines and the rest blank. That is a complete worksheet.
How we calculate your income
Sole Proprietor
Schedule C net profit + depreciation addback, averaged over 2 years
Partnership / LLC
K-1 income from Form 1065 + guaranteed payments, adjusted for ownership percentage
S-Corporation
W-2 wages from corp + K-1 distributions from Form 1120S, plus depreciation addback
Rental Income
Schedule E net rental income + depreciation addback, with lease agreements
Mortgage Payment Calculator
Estimate your monthly payment with taxes, insurance, and PMI
Guides for self-employed buyers
Written by Chris Harris, NMLS #2011725. Real numbers, sources cited.
- What is a P&L only mortgage?Plain-English definition, who prepares the P&L, what the underwriter looks at.
- Florida self-employed mortgage guide 2026Conventional vs FHA vs bank statement vs 3.5% down P&L, with Florida insurance and flood notes.
- Bank statement loan vs P&L mortgageSide-by-side table and the down payment math on a $500,000 home.
- 1099 contractor down payment guideDown payment by program and what you keep at 3.5% instead of 20%.
- Schedule C income for mortgage qualificationWhat underwriters add back and why tax returns come up short.
- Florida FHA loan limits 2026 by countyThe cap on the 3.5% down P&L program, county by county.
- Tampa Bay self-employed home buyer guideHillsborough and Pinellas math, insurance, flood zones and roofs.
- From denied to approved: a Florida contractorWorked example, Schedule C vs P&L qualifying income, 27-day close.
- Clearwater self-employed mortgage guideOur home county: Pinellas FHA limit, flood zones, the office on Cleveland St.
- St. Petersburg self-employed mortgage guideDowntown condos, Old Northeast, Kenwood: what 3.5% down buys and what to check.
Frequently asked questions
Self-employed? Let's get you pre-approved.
Our smart document engine tells you exactly what you need. No surprises, no runaround.
Start your application