Guy Troxler
Yes, you can get a mortgage with less than two years of self-employment, and sometimes with just one year. But here’s the catch almost no one explains: the exceptions exist, they’re real, and they’re barely documented anywhere you can find them. The “two-year rule” is repeated so often that most self-employed borrowers assume it’s an … Read more
Lenders can freeze or reduce a HELOC when the risk behind it changes. Typically, when your home’s value drops, your financial situation weakens, or you miss payments. Your HELOC agreement gives the lender the contractual right to suspend future draws or lower your credit limit under specific conditions, and federal rules permit it in defined … Read more
Yes, in most cases you can pay off a HELOC early without a penalty, but there’s one important distinction that trips up thousands of borrowers. Paying your balance down to zero is not the same as closing the account. Making extra principal payments during the draw period is almost always penalty-free. The fee, when one … Read more
Yes, you can absolutely get a DSCR loan through an LLC, and in fact, most DSCR lenders welcome it. This is one of the biggest advantages DSCR loans have over conventional mortgages. Because a DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loan is a business-purpose loan that qualifies based on a rental property’s income rather than your … Read more
Key Highlights for Self-Employed Home Loans in 2026 You don’t need tax returns to qualify. Non-QM loans let self-employed borrowers prove income through bank deposits, assets, or rental cash flow instead. Multiple programs exist for every situation — bank statement loans, P&L loans, 1099 loans, DSCR loans, asset depletion loans, and fast digital HELOCs. Credit … Read more
The Short Answer From a Non-QM Lending Perspective After years of helping self-employed borrowers get financed, I can tell you the choice usually comes down to one thing: how clean and steady your business finances are. A bank statement loan proves your income by looking at the money that actually flows through your bank accounts. … Read more
Most non-QM HELOC lenders look for a credit score around 620 to 680, though some portfolio lenders go as low as the mid-500s when you have strong equity. That’s generally more forgiving than a traditional bank HELOC, which often wants 680 or higher. Your credit score is only part of the picture, as non-QM lenders … Read more
Yes, you can usually get a HELOC on a home held in a revocable living trust. Many home equity lenders allow it, because you still control the trust and can change it anytime. You’ll need to give the lender a copy of your trust documents, and you may need to sign both personally and as … Read more
The best HELOC loan for a self-employed borrower is almost never a conventional bank home equity line of credit. It’s a 2026 alternative-documentation program that underwrites your cash flow instead of your tax returns. These low-doc HELOCs are especially beneficial for self-employed borrowers who may have irregular income patterns and need flexible borrowing options. You … Read more
Yes, you can use a HELOC for a down payment and many people do. A home equity line of credit or HELOC lets you borrow against the equity in a home you already own, and you can use that money for almost anything, including the down payment on another property. Here’s how it works in … Read more
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