Self-Employed Mortgage Loans in California
Your income may look different when you work for yourself. Explore home purchase and refinance options for business owners, independent contractors and freelancers.
- Business Owners
- Independent Contractors
- Purchase & Refinance
45+ Google Reviews · Santa Cruz
20+ Years
Mortgage Broker Experience
60+ Google Reviews · Carmel
NMLS #279284
Licensed Mortgage Professional
Tell Us About Your Work and Home Financing Goals
You don’t need to know which mortgage program to ask for. Share how you earn your income and what you’re planning. SV Mortgage Group can help you explore relevant options and understand what information may be needed.
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Your Business & Income
Tell us what you do, how long you’ve been self-employed and whether your income comes from a business, contract work or multiple sources.
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Your Purchase or Refinance
Share the property’s location, how you plan to use it and an estimated purchase price or current value. If you’re refinancing, tell us what you hope to accomplish.
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Your Questions & Timeline
Mention any income documentation concerns, recent changes in your work or financing challenges you’ve encountered, along with your preferred timing.
Discuss Your Self-Employed Mortgage Options
Understanding Your Income
How Lenders Review Self-Employed Income
Your business revenue is only part of the picture. Lenders review the income available to support your mortgage payments, how consistently you earn it and the documentation required by the selected program.
Revenue vs. Qualifying Income
Business sales and bank deposits don’t automatically equal the income used to qualify. Lenders account for expenses and apply the selected program’s calculation method to determine how much income can support your loan.
Adjustments to Business Income
Qualifying income may differ from the profit shown on your tax return. Under applicable guidelines, certain expenses, such as depreciation, may be added back during income analysis. Not every deduction receives the same treatment.
Income History & Trends
Lenders consider how long you’ve earned the income and whether earnings are stable, increasing or declining. Seasonal fluctuations, recent business changes and prior experience may require additional context and supporting records.
Ownership & Access to Income
Your ownership share, business structure and access to earnings can affect the review. Income reported by a business is not always available for personal mortgage payments, so distributions and ongoing business needs may also be considered.
Credit, existing debts, available funds and the property also influence qualification.
Preparing for Your Mortgage
What Documents Should You Prepare?
The documents you need depend on your business structure and the mortgage program being considered. You don’t need to gather everything before contacting us—we can help identify which records are relevant to your purchase or refinance.
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Income Records
Personal and business tax returns with applicable schedules, or bank statements for programs using alternative income documentation. Forms such as 1099s or K-1s may also be relevant.
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Business Information
Evidence of business ownership and operating history. A current profit-and-loss statement or balance sheet may be requested to clarify recent performance.
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Funds for Your Transaction
Statements documenting your down payment, closing costs and any required reserves. If you plan to use business funds, mention that early so the documentation requirements can be reviewed.
Start with a conversation, then provide financial records through the designated secure application or document-upload process.
Discuss Your Mortgage OptionsLocal Guidance · Statewide Service
Mortgage Guidance for California Business Owners
SV Mortgage Group helps self-employed borrowers in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and throughout California explore financing for home purchases and refinances. Whether you own an established business, work as an independent contractor or combine several income sources, the conversation starts with your work and your goals.
You may be buying your first home, moving to a different property or reviewing an existing mortgage after becoming self-employed. We help you understand which financing approaches may fit and what information is needed for a closer review.
Experienced Guidance for Your Self-Employed Mortgage
Running a business can make mortgage questions more complicated. SV Mortgage Group takes time to understand how you earn your income, what you want to accomplish and which financing approaches may fit your situation.
Shane Valente brings more than 20 years of mortgage broker experience to borrowers whose income and documentation need a closer look.
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A Review Built Around Your Business
We discuss your business history, income sources and any challenges you’ve encountered so the financing conversation starts with your circumstances.
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Help Comparing Relevant Mortgage Options
As a mortgage broker, we can explore programs from multiple lending sources and explain differences in income documentation, costs and loan terms.
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Clear Guidance Through the Next Steps
Understand which records to prepare, why additional information may be requested and what remains to be completed as your application moves forward.
More Questions About Self-Employed Mortgages
Wondering how your business history, income records or available funds affect your options? These answers cover common questions about buying or refinancing while self-employed.
Requirements vary. Fannie Mae generally looks for a two-year earnings history. A shorter self-employment history may be considered when tax returns show a full year of income from the current business and records establish prior income at the same or a higher level in similar work, subject to additional review.
A program that requests only one year of tax returns does not necessarily accept just one year in business. Share your business start date and previous work history.
Some programs allow qualifying income to be evaluated through alternative documentation. For example, bank statement loans may use eligible deposits instead of relying on tax-return income.
This still involves an income review and other qualification requirements. Supporting records, including tax returns in some circumstances, may be requested depending on the lender and program.
You may be. Under Fannie Mae guidelines, owning 25% or more of a business makes you self-employed for mortgage purposes, even if that business pays you a W-2 salary.
Tell your mortgage broker about your ownership share so the appropriate documentation can be identified.
Potentially. The lender will review your access to the funds and applicable program requirements. When business income also supports qualification, a cash-flow analysis may be required to confirm that withdrawing funds will not harm business operations.
Discuss this before transferring money so you know which records to provide.
Not automatically. There is no single down-payment requirement for all self-employed borrowers. The amount depends on the mortgage program, property use, credit profile and other transaction details.
Alternative-documentation programs can have different requirements from conventional loans. Compare the total funds needed, including closing costs and any required reserves.
Yes, refinancing may be possible if you meet the selected program’s requirements. The new application generally involves a review of your current income, credit, equity and property.
Share when you became self-employed and whether you want to change your loan terms or access equity. Qualifying for your original mortgage as an employee does not automatically qualify you for a refinance.
Let’s Review Your Income and Home Financing Goals
Tell us about your business, how you earn your income and your purchase or refinance plans. SV Mortgage Group can help you compare relevant mortgage options, understand documentation requirements and decide what to do next.