Guy Troxler
An interest-only mortgage lets you pay just the interest for a set period, keeping your monthly payment low — but by federal rule, it can never be a “qualified mortgage.” That’s not a trick or a loophole. The rules that define a safe, standard mortgage specifically forbid interest-only features. So every interest-only mortgage is, by … Read more
An interest-only DSCR loan lets a real estate investor pay only the interest for a set period, with no principal, which lowers the monthly payment and makes the property’s coverage ratio look stronger. That can help a rental qualify and can boost cash flow early on. But it comes with a real trade-off: during the … Read more
Most mortgage lenders look back 2 to 3 months on your bank statements for a regular loan, but for a non-QM bank statement loan, they look back 12 to 24 months. The difference comes down to why they’re looking. For a regular loan, lenders just want to confirm you have enough money for the down … Read more
Yes, you can refinance a DSCR loan and real estate investors do it all the time. A DSCR refinance replaces your current investment-property loan with a new one, based on whether the property’s rental income covers its payment. Just like the original loan, a DSCR refinance qualifies on the property, not on your personal income … Read more
Can I Get a Home Equity Loan If I’m Self-Employed? Yes, you can absolutely get a home equity loan if you’re self-employed. You just prove your income a little differently than someone with a regular paycheck. If you own a business, freelance, or work as an independent contractor, you don’t get a W-2, which is … Read more
Yes, self-employed people can absolutely get a mortgage, you just need to prove your income a little differently. If you own a business, freelance, or work for yourself, you don’t get a regular paycheck or a W-2 form, which is what traditional lenders expect. But that doesn’t shut the door. In my years helping self-employed borrowers, … Read more
A good DSCR ratio in 2026 is 1.25 or higher. That number means a rental property earns 25% more than its loan payment, which unlocks the best loan terms. A ratio of 1.0 is the usual minimum, it means the property just breaks even. As someone who helps real estate investors qualify for these loans, … Read more
Yes, retirees on a fixed income can qualify for a mortgage using non-QM loans, which offer flexible ways to prove you can afford the payment. Traditional loans often struggle with retirement income, but non-QM loans were built for exactly this situation. They can count your savings, investments, and other income sources that regular loans overlook. I … Read more
An asset depletion loan lets you qualify for a mortgage using your savings and investments instead of a regular paycheck. It’s perfect for people who have a lot of money saved but little or no monthly income — like retirees. The lender turns your assets into a monthly “income” figure on paper, then uses that to … Read more
When you sell a house that has a HELOC on it, the HELOC gets paid off at closing from the sale money — before you receive any cash. A HELOC is a loan tied to your home, so it must be cleared when the home changes hands. The good news is that this usually happens automatically … Read more
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