https://selfmademortgage.com/blog Expert guides on Self-Employed Home Loans programs, eligibility requirements, and home buying tips from the Cook Brothers Mortgage Team. en-us Sun, 02 Aug 2026 19:17:48 GMT https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/refinance-self-employed-when-rates-have-changed A step-by-step guide for self-employed borrowers refinancing after a rate shift, using bank statement, 1099, or asset-based documentation instead of tax returns Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:10:38 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/refinance-self-employed-when-rates-have-changed https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/mortgage-ready-when-tax-returns-understate-income If your tax returns show less than your business actually earns, here's how to prepare for a mortgage using alternative income documentation options instead. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/mortgage-ready-when-tax-returns-understate-income https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/flexible-qualifying-vs-bank-statement-loans Not sure whether flexible qualifying or a bank statement loan fits you better? Compare requirements, documentation, and occupancy to choose the right path. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/flexible-qualifying-vs-bank-statement-loans https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/itin-and-foreign-national-home-loans-no-us-credit ITIN filers and foreign nationals can still buy U.S. property. Learn the two distinct loan paths for buyers without a Social Security number or U.S. credit. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/itin-and-foreign-national-home-loans-no-us-credit https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/mortgages-for-gig-workers-and-side-hustlers Gig workers and side hustlers can qualify for a mortgage without a W-2 history. See the documentation paths that fit rideshare, freelance, and app-based income. Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/mortgages-for-gig-workers-and-side-hustlers https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/pnl-only-loans-cpa-profit-and-loss-statement Learn how a P&L-only mortgage lets self-employed borrowers qualify with a 12-month CPA-prepared profit and loss statement instead of tax returns and a 4506. Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/pnl-only-loans-cpa-profit-and-loss-statement https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/credit-score-self-employed-mortgage What credit score you really need for a self-employed mortgage, from bank statement loans to flexible qualifying, and how each program's minimum works. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/credit-score-self-employed-mortgage https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/home-loans-business-owners-who-write-off-income Home loan options for business owners who write off most of their income: P&L-only, bank statement, and asset-based programs that look beyond your return. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/home-loans-business-owners-who-write-off-income https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/non-qm-vs-conventional-self-employed Non-QM vs. conventional for self-employed borrowers: when a bank statement loan makes more sense than tax-return-based underwriting, with a full comparison. Sat, 30 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/non-qm-vs-conventional-self-employed https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/how-underwriters-calculate-income-bank-statements How underwriters calculate self-employed income from bank statements: deposit windows, expense factors, and the math behind your qualifying monthly income. Mon, 25 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/how-underwriters-calculate-income-bank-statements https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/second-home-investment-property-without-tax-returns How self-employed buyers can purchase a second home or investment property using bank statement deposits instead of tax returns and business write-offs. Wed, 20 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/second-home-investment-property-without-tax-returns https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/personal-vs-business-bank-statements-to-qualify Personal or business bank statements can change your mortgage qualifying income. Compare the expense factors, scenarios, and math to decide which to use. Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/personal-vs-business-bank-statements-to-qualify https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/asset-based-mortgages-qualify-on-savings-investments Asset-based mortgages let you qualify using savings, investments, and retirement balances divided by 60 months. Here's how the math works and who it fits. Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/asset-based-mortgages-qualify-on-savings-investments https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/documents-you-need-self-employed-mortgage A step-by-step checklist of the documents self-employed borrowers need for bank statement, 1099, P&L, and asset-based mortgage programs before applying. Sun, 03 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/documents-you-need-self-employed-mortgage https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/home-loans-for-1099-contractors-and-freelancers 1099 contractors and freelancers can qualify for a mortgage using 1 to 2 years of 1099 forms instead of tax returns. Here's how the program works and who it fits. Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/home-loans-for-1099-contractors-and-freelancers https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/bank-statement-loans-explained-12-24-months-deposits See how bank statement loans use 12 or 24 months of deposits to qualify self-employed borrowers, including LTV tiers, FICO minimums, and how the program works. Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/bank-statement-loans-explained-12-24-months-deposits https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/broker-vs-direct-lender-self-employed An honest look at mortgage brokers vs. direct lenders for self-employed borrowers — and how a hybrid model combines in-house underwriting with reach. Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/broker-vs-direct-lender-self-employed https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/how-to-prepare-bank-statements-before-applying How to prepare your bank statements before a mortgage application: separate accounts, clean deposits, avoid unexplained transfers, and build a runway. Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/how-to-prepare-bank-statements-before-applying https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/non-warrantable-condos-condotels-financing What makes a condo non-warrantable, how condotels differ, and how non-QM financing handles both when the building — not the borrower — is the obstacle. Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/non-warrantable-condos-condotels-financing https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/qualifying-with-w2-and-self-employment-income How households with both W-2 and self-employment income qualify for a mortgage — side businesses, mixed-income spouses, and co-borrower W-2 income. Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/qualifying-with-w2-and-self-employment-income https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/home-loans-for-realtors-commission-earners How real estate agents and commission-based earners qualify for a mortgage using 1099s or bank statement deposits instead of tax returns and write-offs. Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/home-loans-for-realtors-commission-earners https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/bank-statement-loan-requirements Bank statement loan requirements: 640+ FICO, 12 or 24 months of deposits, eligible property and occupancy types, and what underwriters look for in statements. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/bank-statement-loan-requirements https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/cash-out-refinance-without-tax-returns How self-employed homeowners can cash-out refinance without tax returns — qualifying with bank statements, 1099s, or assets, plus how delayed financing works. Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/cash-out-refinance-without-tax-returns https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/why-one-lenders-no-isnt-final-non-qm-guidelines Non-QM guidelines vary by investor: minimum FICO, lookback months, expense factors. Why one lender's decline isn't final and how shopping 25+ investors works. Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/why-one-lenders-no-isnt-final-non-qm-guidelines https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/llc-s-corp-owners-mortgage-business-structure How LLC and S-corp structures affect mortgage qualifying: pass-through income, salary vs. distributions, business bank statements, and closing in an LLC. Sat, 21 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/llc-s-corp-owners-mortgage-business-structure https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/first-time-homebuyer-self-employed What self-employed first-time homebuyers can expect: the documents you'll need, a realistic timeline, common surprises, and how to get matched to a program. Sat, 14 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/first-time-homebuyer-self-employed https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/wvoe-loans-employment-verification-mortgage WVOE loans let eligible borrowers qualify with an employer-completed verification form instead of paystubs, W-2s, or tax returns. Here's how the program works. Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/wvoe-loans-employment-verification-mortgage https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/12-month-vs-24-month-bank-statement-loans 12-month vs. 24-month bank statement loans compared: how the deposit average is computed, when each lookback wins, and how seasonality changes the math. Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/12-month-vs-24-month-bank-statement-loans https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/self-employed-less-than-two-years-mortgage-options Self-employed less than two years? Compare the conventional two-year rule with non-QM options like 12-month bank statement and one-year 1099 loan programs. Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/self-employed-less-than-two-years-mortgage-options https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/can-you-get-a-mortgage-without-tax-returns Yes, you can get a mortgage without tax returns — by qualifying with bank statements, 1099 forms, a CPA-prepared P&L, or your assets instead. Here's how. Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT Zac Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/can-you-get-a-mortgage-without-tax-returns https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/what-is-a-self-employed-mortgage-complete-guide What is a self-employed mortgage? A complete guide to bank statement, 1099, P&L, WVOE, asset-based, ITIN, and foreign national loan programs in one place. Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT Tanner Cook https://selfmademortgage.com/blog/what-is-a-self-employed-mortgage-complete-guide