Can You Buy a Home If You're Self-Employed?

Short answer: Yes — self-employed borrowers can absolutely qualify for a mortgage, but standard income documentation (tax returns showing net income after deductions) often understates what a business owner actually earns, which is where alternative-documentation programs come in.

The core problem

Self-employed borrowers legally take deductions that reduce their taxable income on paper, which is exactly what your accountant should be doing for tax purposes. The downside: a standard mortgage application that qualifies you based on tax returns can make you look like you earn far less than you actually do.

The alternative: Community Mortgage

Our Community Mortgage program qualifies self-employed borrowers using bank statements or other alternative documentation instead of tax returns, on loans up to $2.5 million with no personal income documentation required. It’s built specifically for this situation.

Who this is for

Business owners, freelancers, gig workers, and anyone whose income doesn’t fit neatly into a standard W-2 application — especially if you’ve been told “no” by a conventional lender based on your tax returns alone.

Learn more

Visit our Community Mortgage program for full details, or talk to us directly about your specific situation.