Best Self-Employed Mortgages Lenders for Self-Employed Borrowers (2026)
A self-employed mortgage is any home loan designed for borrowers who own a business, freelance, or earn 1099 income and cannot easily document income with W-2s and pay stubs. This overview covers the full menu of alternative-documentation options and routes you to the right specific product.
Typical Rates
7.0%–9.5% (approx.)
Max LTV
Up to 90% (purchase)
Typical Terms
30-year fixed or ARM
Min Credit
620–680
What Are Self-Employed Mortgages?
If you are self-employed, qualifying for a mortgage is less about whether you can — there are many paths — and more about which path fits your paperwork. Strong tax filers may still get the lowest rate with a conventional self-employed loan. Borrowers with heavy write-offs usually turn to bank statement, 1099, P&L, or asset-based programs that look past the tax return. This page is the map; each linked product explains exactly how it qualifies you.
Who Are Self-Employed Mortgages Best For?
- Business owners and sole proprietors
- Freelancers, consultants, and gig workers
- Commission-based earners
- Anyone whose tax returns understate their true income
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Multiple qualification paths beyond tax returns
- +Programs for owner-occupied purchase and refinance
- +Can combine personal and business income sources
- +Available even with one year of self-employment in some cases
- +Conventional self-employed loans also remain an option for strong filers
Cons
- –Non-QM paths cost more than conventional financing
- –Documentation requirements vary widely by lender and program
- –Underwriting is more manual and can take longer
- –Best pricing still requires strong credit and reserves
Best Self-Employed Lenders (12)
These lenders offer self-employed mortgages, ranked by our editor rating. Click any lender for a full review with detailed terms and expert analysis.
| Lender | Rates | Max LTV | Min Credit | Speed | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griffin Funding | 7.25%–9.75% | 90% | 620 | 21–35 days | Self-employed borrowers, Apply direct (no broker) | 4.5 |
| Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions | 7%–9.75% | 90% | 620 | 25–40 days | Broadest non-QM menu, Via broker only | 4.5 |
| New American Funding | 7%–9.5% | 90% | 620 | 21–40 days | Apply direct (no broker), Full product menu | 4.0 |
| Newfi Lending | 7.25%–9.75% | 90% | 620 | 21–35 days | Apply direct (no broker), Non-QM specialist | 4.0 |
| Northpointe Bank | 7%–9.5% | 85% | 640 | 25–40 days | FDIC-insured bank, Apply direct (no broker) | 4.0 |
| Carrington Mortgage Services | 7.25%–10% | 85% | 600 | 25–45 days | Lower credit scores, Apply direct or via broker | 4.0 |
| Deephaven Mortgage | 7%–9.75% | 90% | 620 | 25–40 days | Non-QM pioneer, Via broker only | 4.0 |
| Acra Lending | 7.25%–10% | 90% | 600 | 25–45 days | Established non-QM lender, Via broker only | 4.0 |
| A&D Mortgage | 7.25%–9.99% | 90% | 620 | 25–45 days | Full non-QM menu, Via broker only | 4.0 |
| Newrez | 7%–9.75% | 90% | 620 | 25–40 days | Apply direct or via broker, Smart Series non-QM | 3.5 |
| LoanStream Mortgage | 7.25%–9.99% | 90% | 620 | 25–45 days | NanQ non-QM line, Via broker only | 3.5 |
| Champions Funding | 7.25%–10% | 90% | 600 | 25–45 days | CDFI lender, Via broker only | 3.5 |
Griffin Funding
4.5Griffin Funding is a consumer-direct lender that has built much of its brand around non-QM lending for the self-employed. Borrowers can apply directly online — no broker required — across bank statement, asset-based, 1099, and P&L programs in addition to conventional and VA loans.
7.25%–9.75%
90%
620
21–35 days
$100K–$5M
No experience required
Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions
4.5Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is one of the largest and most established non-QM lenders in the country, with the broadest self-employed menu in the market. Important for consumers: Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is a wholesale lender — you cannot apply directly and must work through a mortgage broker.
7%–9.75%
90%
620
25–40 days
$100K–$4M
No experience required
New American Funding
4.0New American Funding (NAF) is one of the largest privately held mortgage lenders in the country, offering a full retail menu that includes non-QM options for self-employed borrowers alongside conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo loans. Borrowers apply directly through NAF.
7%–9.5%
90%
620
21–40 days
$100K–$5M
No experience required
Newfi Lending
4.0Newfi Lending is a non-QM specialist that operates a genuine consumer-direct retail channel in addition to wholesale. Self-employed borrowers can apply directly for bank statement, asset-utilization, 1099, and ITIN programs without going through a broker.
7.25%–9.75%
90%
620
21–35 days
$100K–$4M
No experience required
Northpointe Bank
4.0Northpointe Bank is an FDIC-insured chartered bank that portfolios select non-QM products, letting self-employed borrowers apply directly for bank statement, asset-depletion, and P&L programs. As a depository institution, it underwrites and holds some of these loans itself.
7%–9.5%
85%
640
25–40 days
$100K–$3M
No experience required
Carrington Mortgage Services
4.0Carrington Mortgage Services is a vertically integrated lender and servicer with a deep non-prime and non-QM focus. Its "Flexible Advantage" series targets self-employed and credit-challenged borrowers, and consumers can apply directly through Carrington's retail channel.
7.25%–10%
85%
600
25–45 days
$100K–$4M
No experience required
Deephaven Mortgage
4.0Deephaven Mortgage is a pure non-QM lender (owned by Pretium) that has focused exclusively on alternative-documentation loans since 2012. For consumers, the key point is that Deephaven is wholesale and correspondent only — you reach its programs through a mortgage broker, not directly.
7%–9.75%
90%
620
25–40 days
$100K–$4M
No experience required
Acra Lending
4.0Acra Lending (formerly Citadel Servicing) is one of the oldest and largest dedicated non-QM lenders and an active securitizer. It is a wholesale lender — consumers reach its bank statement, 1099, P&L, ITIN, and other programs through a mortgage broker rather than applying directly.
7.25%–10%
90%
600
25–45 days
$100K–$4M
No experience required
A&D Mortgage
4.0A&D Mortgage is a Florida-rooted, nationwide non-QM specialist serving thousands of broker partners and an active issuer of non-QM securitizations. It is a wholesale and correspondent lender — borrowers reach its full self-employed menu through a mortgage broker.
7.25%–9.99%
90%
620
25–45 days
$100K–$5M
No experience required
Newrez
3.5Newrez is a large national lender and servicer (part of Rithm Capital) offering its "Smart Series" of non-QM products. It operates both retail and wholesale channels — consumers can apply directly, though the broadest non-QM guidelines often live on the broker side.
7%–9.75%
90%
620
25–40 days
$100K–$4M
No experience required
LoanStream Mortgage
3.5LoanStream Mortgage offers a well-known non-QM line branded "NanQ," covering bank statement, 1099, P&L, asset, and ITIN programs. The NanQ line is a wholesale staple — consumers reach it through a mortgage broker rather than applying directly.
7.25%–9.99%
90%
620
25–45 days
$100K–$4M
No experience required
Champions Funding
3.5Champions Funding is a 100% non-QM lender and a Treasury-designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a status that supports more flexible, exception-based underwriting for underserved borrowers. It is a wholesale lender — consumers apply through a mortgage broker.
7.25%–10%
90%
600
25–45 days
$100K–$5M
No experience required
Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Employed Mortgages
How long do I need to be self-employed to get a mortgage?
Conventional loans generally want two years of self-employment history. Many non-QM programs accept as little as one year (sometimes 6–12 months in the same line of work), especially if you have a prior related W-2 history. Requirements vary by lender, so it pays to compare.
Which self-employed mortgage is cheapest?
A conventional loan is almost always the lowest-rate option if your tax returns show enough qualifying income. If write-offs reduce that income too far, a bank statement, 1099, or asset-depletion loan may approve you at a rate roughly 1–2% higher. The cheapest loan you can actually qualify for is the right one.
Can I combine W-2 and self-employment income?
Yes. Many borrowers have a W-2 job plus a side business, or a spouse with W-2 income. Lenders can blend documented W-2 wages with self-employment income calculated from bank statements, 1099s, or a P&L, which often improves how much home you can afford.
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