The best mortgage lenders for self-employed borrowers in 2026

Getting a mortgage can be especially hard if you run your own business.

Lenders are less likely to approve self-employed borrowers for conventional or government-backed mortgages because they consider them to be a higher risk.

Fortunately, there are non-qualifying mortgages — or non-QMs for short — which don't have to conform to the strict approval criteria set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They typically require larger down payments and charge higher interest rates, but have more flexible income and credit requirements.

CNBC Select reviewed more than 30 mortgage lenders to find the best non-QM loans for self-employed borrowers, based on rates, loan types, down payment options and other criteria. (See our full methodology.)

Who's this for? If you're looking for a non-QM mortgage but you have less-than-perfect credit, look into CrossCountry. Most lenders require a credit score of 620 or higher for a non-QM loan, but Cross Country Mortgage accepts scores as low as 500 for certain non-traditional mortgages.

Standout features: CrossCountry's FastTrack review speeds up the underwriting process, allowing approved borrowers to close in as few as 10 days.

Who is this for? If you want a lender that offers versatility, consider Guild Mortgage. It offers a robust variety of non-QM mortgages, including bank statement loans, DSCR loans, and interest-only options, which can enable you to allocate more funds to other expenses early in your mortgage. 

Standout features: Guild uses alternative credit check methods for government-backed loans, making it easier to qualify even with less-than-ideal credit. 

Who's this for? Most lenders won't approve borrowers with a debt-to-income ratio higher than 45% or 50%. First National Bank of America accepts DTIs up to 60%, making it an excellent option for small business owners, who are often highly leveraged.

Standout features: FNBA's Alt-A Premier non-QM mortgage makes up to $3 million available to borrowers with debt-to-income ratios of 60%. In addition, no cash reserves are required and borrowers can put gift funds toward their down payment.

Who's this for? If you're getting beat out by all-cash offers and don't have the liquidity to make one of your own, New American Funding can help. NAF Cash offers upfront funds, enabling buyers to make all-cash offers and gain a competitive edge in a tight housing market. 

Standout features: NAF is ideal for self-employed borrowers who want a streamlined application process. Its sleek website and mobile app list its competitive rates and enable homebuyers to track payments, equity and home value. It also offers online and hybrid closings, allowing you to review and sign most documents electronically.

Who's this for? If you're self-employed and looking for a home equity product, Angel Oak Loan Solutions could be a strong choice for you. It offers several home equity options for self-employed individuals, including a bank statement HELOC.

Standout features: If a HELOC isn't the right fit, AOMS also offers closed-end second mortgages and DSCR closed-end second liens.

Who's this for? If you need your mortgage ASAP, A&D Mortgage is a strong choice. It claims to fund home loans in as little as 24 hours. Borrowers applying with this wholesale lender must work with a third-party mortgage broker. 

Standout features: AD offers Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) loans for foreign nationals, immigrants and other borrowers without a Social Security number. It's also one of the few lenders with an online calculator for non-QM loan terms. 

In general, if you don't receive a Form W-2 from an employer, but you earn income through a job, you are considered self-employed.

Independent contractors, gig workers, sole proprietors, members of business partnerships, and anyone otherwise in business for themselves are considered self-employed, according to the IRS.

There is no single mortgage type for all self-employed borrowers. Instead, your options are based on the kind of work you do and the earnings documents you have available.

For example, a bank statement loan may be ideal for a freelancer who can use their bank account to demonstrate steady work over the past several years and a debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR) loan is great for those who earn income through renting out property.

Across all non-QM loans, lenders typically want to see at least two years of steady income through self-employment before they approve someone.

To get a mortgage when you're self-employed, look for lenders that offer non-QM loans.

You'll need to provide the standard identification and financial statements, along with documents verifying you have adequate income:

• Employment verification: A business license, proof of insurance, verification of membership in a professional organization, or a letter from a client or CPA.
• Tax returns: Tax returns for the past two years and any tax forms relating to your business, including Schedule C for LLCs, Form 1065 for partnerships and Form 1120 for C or S corporations.
• Business financials: Bank records, P&L reports or cash-flow statements for the last two years
• Future-looking documents: Structured forecasts of how your business is expected to grow and how much you'll earn in the years ahead.

Once you apply, it can take several weeks to process and underwrite the loan, during which you'll need an appraisal and a title search. Once that is done, you'll attend the closing and sign the paperwork that outlines the amount you'll receive and the rate and terms of your repayment.

There is a range of mortgages for individuals with non-traditional income streams, weak credit, no Social Security number or who otherwise don't qualify for a conventional home loan.

• Bank statement loan: Uses 12 to 24 months of bank statements to document income rather than traditional tax documents
• 1040 or 1099 loan: Freelancers, contractors, or gig workers providing proof of their earnings without a W-2.
• DSCR loan: Debt service coverage ratio loans enable real estate investors to demonstrate steady cash flow with rental income, rather than personal income.
• P&L loan: Rather than a W-2, small business owners can use their business's profit and loss (P&L) statements to verify income.
• Interest-only loan: Borrowers pay only interest on the loan for a specified period.
• ITIN loans:  Individual Taxpayer Identification Number loans, also known as foreign national loans, are available to non-citizen residents, non-residents and others without an SSN.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to deliver high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make informed financial decisions. Every mortgage review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of mortgage products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content independently of our commercial team and any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on maintaining high journalistic standards and ethics.

CNBC Select reviewed dozens of mortgage lenders to find the best ones for those who are self-employed, focusing on:

• Loan type: All the lenders on our list offer a range of non-QM options, including bank statement loans, DSCR loans and P&L loans.
• Loan variety: We considered the proportion of a business dedicated to non-QM loans and mortgages available to self-employed borrowers in general.
• Availability: We considered the number of states a lender operates in and the products available in each state.
• Fees: when reviewing each lender, we evaluated common mortgage fees, including origination fees, closing costs and private mortgage insurance.
• Closing: Lenders with shorter-than-average closing times were given more weight.
• Customer Service: We evaluated each lender based on the quality of its customer service, the availability of customer representatives and whether it offered a digital approval process. When possible, customer satisfaction rankings from J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau were incorporated.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Based on this criteria, our picks for best mortgage lenders for self-employed are:

• Best for bad credit: CrossCountry Mortgage
• Best for loan variety: Guild Mortgage
• Best for a high debt-to-income ratio: First National Bank of America
• Best for all-cash offers: New American Funding
• Best for HELOCs: Angel Oak Loan Solutions
• Best for speedy closing: AD Mortgage LLC

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.