6 Documents Lenders Review When Qualifying You For a Bank Statement Mortgage 

What is a Bank Statement Mortgage?

A bank statement mortgage, sometimes referred to as a non-QM loan, is a mortgage product where your income is verified through bank statements and other financial documents, instead of the traditional salary documentation. In order to confirm you have the ability to take on and pay back a mortgage, lenders will review these documents to assess your viability. While the name implies you only submit bank statements, it’s a vague term and needs clarification to make sure you’re fully aware of the requirements in applying. Here is an overview of the documents you may need to provide to apply for a bank statement loan.

 

Personal Bank Statements

When it comes to personal bank statements for a mortgage, lenders are most interested in your checking and savings accounts. These accounts offer a window into your financial habits and stability – two things crucial for securing a loan.

What Do Lenders Look for in Your Statements?

Think of your bank statements as a financial story. Lenders meticulously review these documents to understand several key aspects:

• Income Verification: Especially relevant for self-employed individuals, lenders analyze deposits to verify income consistency. Regular paychecks, freelance deposits, or recurring rental income all paint a picture of reliable income for future mortgage payments.
• Debt Management: Lenders assess your ability to handle debt by looking at recurring outgoing transactions. Consistent payments on existing loans and credit cards demonstrate responsible financial management.
• Savings Habits: Having a healthy savings balance reflects your ability to weather financial fluctuations. This showcases your preparedness for unexpected expenses and instills confidence in lenders.
• Large Deposits/Transfers: Unexplained large deposits or frequent transfers raise questions. Be prepared to explain these with documentation if necessary (e.g., sold a car, received a bonus).

How Far Back Do Bank Statements Need to Be?

The typical timeframe for personal bank statements requested by lenders is 12-24 months. This allows them to see a comprehensive picture of your financial health and spending habits. However, this can vary depending on your specific situation and lender requirements.

Why Are Bank Statements So Important?

Bank statements provide a real-time snapshot of your financial well-being. By reviewing them, lenders gain valuable insights into your ability to manage finances and make responsible decisions. It’s like showing lenders a track record of financial responsibility, ultimately increasing your chances of mortgage approval for your dream home!

Business Bank Statements

Owning a business is a rewarding journey, but securing a mortgage as a self-employed individual can feel like navigating uncharted territory. Here’s where the magic of bank statement loans comes in! However, to qualify, lenders need a peek into your business’s financial health – that’s where your business bank statements take center stage.

What Statements Matter Most?

For a bank statement loan, lenders typically request business bank statements for 12-24 months. These statements can be from:

• Business Checking Account: This is the heart of your business transactions. Lenders analyze deposits (income from sales, client payments) to verify your income stability.
• Business Savings Account: Having a healthy business savings balance demonstrates responsible financial management and the ability to handle unexpected expenses.

Why Do Business Statements Matter?

Think of your business statements as a financial report card for your business. Here’s why lenders meticulously review them:

• Income Verification: Unlike traditional W-2s, business statements provide a clear picture of your income stream. Consistent deposits from clients or sales demonstrate a reliable income source for future mortgage payments.
• Expense Tracking: Lenders analyze outgoing transactions to understand your business’s financial obligations (rent, payroll, equipment costs). They want to ensure enough income remains after expenses to cover the mortgage payment.
• Financial Transparency: Business statements reveal your spending patterns. Lenders look for responsible financial management, with limited unnecessary or excessive spending.

Beyond the Statements:

Remember, business statements are just one piece of the puzzle. Lenders may also request:

• Profit and Loss Statements: These documents detail your business income and expenses over a period. Consistent profitability reassures lenders that your business can support a mortgage payment.
• Tax Returns (Business and Personal): Tax documents provide a more holistic view of your financial health and income stability.

 

Profit and Loss Statements

Think of your P&L statement as a business performance report card. It goes beyond income verification and showcases your business’s overall financial health, which is critical for lenders. Here’s how they analyze it:

• Income Stability: Lenders assess your P&L to understand the consistency of your business income. Consistent profitability over several years demonstrates a reliable income stream to support your mortgage payments.
• Expense Management: The P&L breaks down your business expenses (rent, payroll, materials). Lenders analyze these to determine your financial obligations and ensure sufficient income remains after covering business costs. This directly impacts the amount of mortgage you can qualify for.
• Profitability Trends: The P&L reveals trends in your business’s profitability. Lenders look for a positive trend or at least stable profitability. A declining profit margin might raise concerns about your ability to handle additional debt.

The Numbers Tell the Story:

Several key numbers in your P&L statement significantly impact your loan qualification:

• Gross Revenue: This showcases your overall income-generating capacity.
• Operating Expenses: Lenders assess these to understand your business’s cost structure and remaining profit after expenses.
• Net Income (Profit): This is the ultimate number lenders focus on. Consistent and healthy net income demonstrates your business’s ability to handle a mortgage payment on top of existing financial obligations.

 

Tax Returns

Unlike traditional W-2 employees, self-employed individuals lack the standard income verification of pay stubs. This is where tax returns come in. They provide a verified record of income reported to the IRS, giving lenders a clearer picture of your financial stability.

Tax Return Insights

Now, let’s get specific about the sections in your tax returns that lenders scrutinize:

• Gross Income: This is the total income reported before any deductions or adjustments. It paints a broad picture of your earning potential.
• Business Income (Schedule C, K-1 for partnerships/S corporations): This section details your business income, a crucial metric for lenders to assess your ability to repay the mortgage. Consistent and increasing business income over several years strengthens your application.
• Taxable Income: This number reflects your income after subtracting allowable deductions. While some deductions are beneficial, excessive deductions that significantly lower taxable income might raise eyebrows. Lenders aim for a balance between deductions and a healthy taxable income that supports the mortgage payment.
• Schedule 1 (Adjustments to Income): This section details adjustments that can increase or decrease your taxable income. Lenders review these adjustments to ensure they’re legitimate and don’t artificially inflate or deflate your income picture.
• Schedule D (Capital Gains and Losses): This schedule details any capital gains (profits) or losses from selling investments. While not directly impacting your income used for mortgage qualification, large capital gains could raise questions about the consistency of your income stream.

Beyond the Numbers: The Story Your Tax Return Tells

Numbers are important, but the narrative woven within your tax return also matters:

• Business Expenses: Lenders analyze the types and amount of business expenses you claim. Reasonable and legitimate expenses demonstrate responsible financial management. However, excessive or questionable deductions might raise concerns about your ability to manage finances effectively.
• Self-employment History: The duration of your self-employment is a factor. A long and consistent history of self-employment instills confidence in lenders about your business’s stability and your ability to sustain income.
• Tax Liens or Judgments: Outstanding tax liabilities or judgments against your business can negatively impact your loan qualification. It’s crucial to address these issues before applying for a mortgage.

Tax Return Impact on Loan Qualification:

Here’s how your tax return directly affects your bank statement loan qualification:

• Income Verification: Tax returns provide a verified record of your income, which lenders use to determine your eligibility for the loan amount and calculate your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).
• Tax Burden: The amount of taxes you pay reflects your overall income level. A high tax burden might limit the amount you can borrow, as lenders factor in your post-tax income to assess your ability to repay the loan.
• Financial Stability: Consistent income and a healthy taxable income over several years paint a picture of financial stability, increasing your chances of loan approval.

Optimizing Your Tax Return for a Bank Statement Loan:

While you cannot manipulate past tax returns, here are some tips for future filings that can benefit your mortgage application:

• Maintain Accurate Records: Meticulous bookkeeping helps ensure accurate tax return filing and avoids discrepancies that could delay loan processing.
• Consult a Tax Professional: A tax professional can help you maximize legitimate deductions while ensuring your return is compliant with regulations, boosting your loan application.

 If you don’t want to supply tax returns to apply for a loan, look into No-Doc Mortgages. These allow more flexibilty around the types of documents you need to share in order to apply.

Business Ownership Documents

These documents, like business licenses, registration documents, and formation documents (depending on your business structure), serve two key purposes:

• Verification of Ownership: Lenders use these documents to confirm your legal ownership stake in the business. This validates that the income flowing from the business accounts belongs to you, the borrower.
• Understanding Business Legitimacy: Ownership documents establish the legitimacy and legal existence of your business. This helps lenders assess the overall risk associated with your income stream.

Impact on Qualification:

Strong ownership documentation strengthens your mortgage application. Complete and verifiable documents demonstrate transparency and responsible business management, boosting your chances of loan approval. Conversely, missing or incomplete documents can raise red flags and potentially delay your application.

Proof of Assets

These documents showcase your financial reserves beyond just your income stream. Examples include investment account statements, retirement account statements (401(k), IRA), or evidence of ownership of valuable assets like real estate.

Lender Scrutiny:

Mortgage lenders meticulously review your proof of assets to assess your overall financial strength and risk profile. Here’s how they analyze this documentation:

• Understanding Liquidity: Lenders evaluate the ease with which you can convert your assets into cash. Readily available funds demonstrate your ability to cover unexpected expenses or potential shortfalls in income, mitigating risk for the lender.
• Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI) Boost: A healthy asset portfolio can positively impact your DTI (debt-to-income ratio) – a crucial metric for loan qualification. Assets can act as a cushion, giving lenders more confidence in your ability to manage your mortgage payment alongside existing debts.
• Financial Security: Proof of assets showcases your long-term financial planning and preparedness. This instills confidence in lenders that you’re a responsible borrower who can manage future financial obligations.

The Impact on Your Loan Journey:

Having a diversified portfolio of assets can significantly impact your loan qualification:

• Higher Loan Amounts: Strong assets can potentially qualify you for a larger loan amount, giving you more flexibility when purchasing your dream home.
• Favorable Interest Rates: Proof of assets can sometimes translate to lower interest rates as you represent a lower risk borrower in the eyes of the lender.
• Increased Loan Approval Chances: Demonstrating a strong financial safety net with assets can strengthen your application and increase your chances of securing a mortgage.

If you have significant assets, you may be best suited to an asset-depletion loans. Talk to our expert team about how to strategically navigate a mortgage application using your assets.