FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers for borrowers and loan officers, plus deep-dive guidance for complex scenarios.
For borrowers
8 questions
- Proof of Income: Last 30 days of pay stubs and last 2 years of W-2s.
- Assets: Last 2 months of bank statements.
- ID: Government-issued photo ID.
- Self-Employed: See our 'Complex Scenarios' section for alternative documentation options.
- In the sidebar, tap Create Loan.
- Describe your scenario — purpose (purchase or refinance), location, and approximate amount.
- Submit it, then start matching from your dashboard.
- Verified loan officers in our network review your scenario and reach out with options.
- Open the secure link from the document-request email.
- Confirm your email address to unlock the upload.
- Upload your files — snap a photo on mobile, or drag and drop on the web.
- Your files are encrypted, and the link is single-use for your security.
For loan officers
7 questions
- Tap the match notification to open the listing.
- Send your introductory message with Respond.
- Sending your intro spends 1 credit.
- If the borrower does not reply within 7 days, that credit is automatically refunded to you.
For realtors
7 questions
- Invite your buyer and link their account to yours.
- In the sidebar, tap Create Loan.
- Post the scenario on their behalf.
- You stay on the resulting message thread, so you can follow every update.
Advanced strategies
Complex loan scenarios
8 questions
For investors with multiple properties, a traditional refinance can mean a lot of paperwork because lenders usually analyze the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio across your entire portfolio.
One option: DSCR loans
With a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loan, the lender looks primarily at the cash flow of that specific property rather than your personal DTI or tax returns.
- If the rent covers the mortgage payment (DSCR > 1.0), you can often qualify.
- No tax returns or income documentation for your other three properties.
Many business owners write off expenses to lower their tax bill, which unfortunately lowers the "income" traditional banks see.
What usually works: bank statement loans
Instead of tax returns, you can use 12 to 24 months of business bank statements to document your income. Lenders look at your real deposits to calculate your buying power.
Traditional mortgages (Conventional/FHA) require a home to be in "livable condition." They won't fund a house with a missing kitchen or leaking roof.
A common route: hard money / rehab loans
Hard money lenders focus on the future value (After Repair Value or ARV) of the property. They lend you the money to buy AND fix the house.
- Speed: Can close in as little as 7-10 days.
- Strategy: Buy, fix, then either flip (sell) or refinance into a long-term rental loan (BRRRR method).
Investing in US real estate is popular, but traditional banks often require a Social Security Number and US credit history.
Worth a look: foreign national programs
Specialized lenders offer Foreign National programs that qualify you on the property's income potential (similar to DSCR) rather than a US credit history. Expect to need a valid passport, a 25-30% down payment, and adequate reserves; some lenders accept international credit reports or credit reference letters in place of a US score.
Traditional banks often struggle with "sourcing" crypto assets because of volatility and tracking difficulties.
One possibility: crypto-friendly lenders
Some programs accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDC for reserves and down payments. Most require converting to USD and seasoning the funds in a US bank account for around 30 days, and a few will count your crypto portfolio as liquid assets for asset-depletion qualification.
Standard lenders typically only count income from long-term (12-month) lease agreements, making it hard to qualify for vacation rentals.
What many investors use: short-term rental (STR) loans
Specialized DSCR programs allow you to use AirDNA or market rent projections for short-term rentals rather than existing leases.
- Projections: Lenders use data providers to estimate what the property will earn as a nightly rental.
- Experience: Some programs require you to be a current homeowner, but many allow first-time investors.
This is the classic "Move-Up Buyer" trap. In competitive markets, offers contingent on selling your old home often get rejected.
A potential solution: bridge loans
A bridge loan is a short-term loan that uses the equity in your current home to fund the down payment on your new home.
- Buy first, sell later: Secure the new house immediately as a non-contingent buyer.
- Interest only: Payments are typically interest-only (or sometimes deferred) until you sell your old home.
Retirees or entrepreneurs often have high net worth but low "taxable income," causing automatic rejections from standard algorithms.
Often a fit: asset depletion
Lenders calculate a qualifying income from your total liquid assets, typically dividing the portfolio by a set term — a $1,000,000 portfolio over 84 months works out to roughly $11,900/month. Employment income isn't required if your assets are sufficient to cover the loan.