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Someone sits on a porch railing with suburban houses in warm evening light.
QualifyingQ&A6 min read

Bonus, overtime and commission: how lenders average two years of pay

How lenders average bonus, overtime and commission over two years, a worked example of why a raise counts less, and what 1099 earners should compare.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A snow-covered log cabin among tall pines at dusk, its windows and half-glass front door glowing warm against deep snow.
Loan optionsQ&A8 min read

Is a half-point rate drop worth a refinance?

Find your break-even month on a half-point refinance with a worked example, plus the VA and FHA rules and income proof for self-employed owners.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
People packing moving boxes in a bright living room with windows and a couch.
BuyingQ&A8 min read

Seller-paid 2-1 buydown: what it changes and what it doesn't

How a seller-paid 2-1 buydown steps up over three years, what each loan program lets a seller pay, and why it won't help self-employed income qualify.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A large modern home of glass, cedar and stone glowing at dusk behind a long reflecting pool and planted terraced garden.
Self-employedQ&A7 min read

Why your lender asks about large deposits

Fannie Mae's 50% large-deposit rule, when a purchase needs a paper trail, what a gift letter must say, and how self-employed buyers can plan ahead.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A cream cottage with an open navy door and boxes visible inside, a gravel path and lawn.
Loan optionsOptions10 min read

4 CalHFA loan options for self-employed first-time buyers in California

Four CalHFA options compared for self-employed first-time buyers in California: who qualifies for each, what each costs later, and which one fits your income.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A shingled craftsman house with a stone-pier porch and swing at evening before layered ridges.
Self-employedQ&A7 min read

Do lenders re-check self-employed income before closing?

Lenders re-check your job or business before closing. What self-employed buyers in escrow should hold steady, what can stop a loan, and who to ask first.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A shingled home with a garage and a small detached workshop on a lawn at golden hour.
QualifyingQ&A6 min read

Student loans in your DTI: each loan type has its own rule

FHA, VA, conventional and USDA loans can count an income-driven student loan payment differently. See what goes into DTI and what to ask each lender.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Worker organizing tools on a driveway in front of suburban homes during daytime.
Self-employedQ&A7 min read

Self-employed jumbo loans in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar

Where a jumbo loan starts in San Diego County in 2026, why lenders want a stronger file, how bank statements can stand in for thin tax returns, and extra costs.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Several key rings with a leather fob hanging from brass hooks on a wooden hook board.
Loan optionsOptions11 min read

4 loan options for seller credits: what each lets a seller pay

Seller credit caps for conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans side by side, what counts toward each cap, and how to size your request before you write the offer.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer

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