Investment Properties
Rental and fix-and-flip investors often hold complex income structures that don't translate cleanly to W-2s. Stated income lets the deal and the borrower's credit profile speak louder than paperwork.
STATED INCOME LOANS
Stated Income Loans 2026: Ultimate Guide for Self-Employed Buyers
Stated income loans let qualified borrowers on the application — no tax returns, no pay stubs, no W-2s. Credit, assets, and reserves are still verified, keeping you on a credible, lender-approved path.
- Simplified Income Declaration
- No Tax Returns or Pay Stubs
- Built for Investors & Business Owners
- NMLS Registered
The Process
A Simpler Path to Approval.
Unlike fully-documented loans, a stated income program removes the burden of tax-return assembly. You declare your income, we verify the rest — credit, assets, and reserves — and move quickly toward approval.
Declare Your Income. Complete the loan application with your stated monthly income — no tax documents, W-2s, or pay stubs required to substantiate the figure.
Verify Credit & Assets. The lender reviews your credit profile, liquid assets, and cash reserves to confirm the compensating factors that support your declared income.
Receive Approval. With a strong credit profile and adequate reserves in place, the portfolio lender issues approval — often faster than a fully-documented loan process.
Where It Fits
Built for These Situations.
Stated income financing is purpose-built for property types and borrower profiles where personal tax documentation doesn't tell the full story.
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Commercial Properties
Office buildings, retail storefronts, and mixed-use properties are evaluated more on the asset and the borrower's overall financial profile than on personal income documentation.
Bridge Loans
Short-term bridge financing benefits from the speed of a stated income approach — close quickly on the new property while you arrange long-term financing or sell the prior asset.
Portfolio Loans
Portfolio lenders hold loans on their own books, giving them flexibility to underwrite stated income programs that don't conform to agency guidelines — ideal for investors with multiple properties.
Entity/LLC Purchases
When purchasing property through an LLC or other business entity, declared income on the entity's application — rather than personal tax returns — keeps the transaction clean and efficient.
Cash-Out Refinance
Access equity in an investment property without assembling full income documentation. Stated income cash-out refinance is common for business owners who prefer not to expose personal tax returns.
Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals investing in U.S. real estate often cannot supply domestic tax documents. Stated income programs designed for foreign national borrowers rely on credit history and asset verification instead.
Multi-Unit Properties
Two-to-eight-unit residential or small apartment buildings qualify for stated income programs, with rental income and asset strength often weighing more heavily than personal income documentation.
The Advantage
Why Investors and Business Owners Choose Us
A stated income program built around the way investors and business owners actually operate — not the way W-2 employees file taxes.
No Tax Return Documentation
Declare your income directly — no assembling tax transcripts or explaining complex deductions to an underwriter.
Fast, Streamlined Approval
Without the back-and-forth of full documentation requests, stated income loans typically move from application to approval more quickly.
Flexible for Complex Income
Seasonal income, business distributions, and self-employment earnings don't need to be normalized across two years of tax returns.
Ideal for LLC & Entity Purchases
Entity and LLC purchasers avoid the complication of commingling personal tax returns with business financials during underwriting.
Strong Credit Gets Strong Pricing
Borrowers with excellent credit profiles and ample reserves are rewarded with more competitive terms, even in a non-QM program.
Multiple Property Types Considered
From investment single-families and multi-unit buildings to commercial and mixed-use, stated income programs cover a broad range of eligible property types.
Cash-Out Options Available
Access equity from investment properties through a stated income cash-out refinance without the documentation burden of a conventional loan.
Access to Multiple Lenders & Programs
We work with a network of portfolio lenders offering a range of stated income and non-QM programs, matching your credit profile and property type to the best available option.
Requirements
What You'll Need to Qualify
Because income is declared rather than independently verified through tax documents, stated income programs rely on stronger compensating factors to offset that risk. Here's what lenders typically expect:
- 1
Strong Credit Profile — Typically 680 or Above
A demonstrated history of responsible credit use is the primary compensating factor. Many programs set a minimum score around 680, with better terms available for scores well above that threshold.
- 2
Larger Down Payment — Often 20–30%
A larger equity stake reduces lender exposure when income isn't verified through documentation. Expect down payment requirements higher than those of conventional, fully-documented loans.
- 3
Verifiable Liquid Assets and Cash Reserves
Lenders will verify bank accounts, investment accounts, and reserve balances. Adequate reserves — typically several months of mortgage payments — are a core underwriting requirement, not an option.
- 4
Declared Income Consistent with Occupation or Business
The stated income figure should align reasonably with the borrower's stated occupation, industry, or business type. Lenders do not verify the number through documents, but an implausible claim will raise underwriting flags.
- 5
Eligible Property Type — Investment, Commercial, or Multi-Unit
Stated income financing is primarily available for investment properties, commercial real estate, and multi-unit buildings. Owner-occupied primary residences are rarely eligible under stated income programs.
- 6
Entity/LLC Documentation if Purchasing Through a Business
If the borrowing entity is an LLC, corporation, or partnership, lenders will request formation documents, operating agreements, and evidence of the entity's good standing — even though personal tax returns are not required.
Note: Specific credit score minimums, down payment requirements, reserve levels, and eligible property types vary by lender and program and are subject to change. The figures above are illustrative of common market ranges, not a guarantee of terms. Consult with a licensed mortgage professional for program-specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stated Income Loans
No tax returns, no pay stubs — just a straightforward income declaration and a fast path to approval.
Stated income loans are primarily designed for investment, commercial, and multi-unit properties rather than primary residences, since these purchases are typically evaluated more on the property and the borrower's overall financial strength than personal income. Some lenders may offer limited stated income options for owner-occupied properties, but availability is far more restrictive — investment and business-purpose properties remain the core use case for this loan type.
Lenders review declared income for reasonableness against your stated occupation, business type, and overall financial profile, even though they aren't verifying it through tax returns or pay stubs. If the declared figure appears inconsistent with your profession or credit/asset profile, underwriters may request additional context or decline the loan. Accurately representing your income — even without formal documentation — is essential to a smooth approval.
Stated income loans typically carry higher interest rates than fully documented conventional loans, reflecting the added risk of unverified income. The exact premium depends on your credit score, down payment, property type, and reserves — borrowers with stronger compensating factors generally see pricing closer to standard non-QM rates, while thinner profiles see a larger adjustment.
Yes — stated income financing is commonly used by investors building or scaling a rental portfolio, since qualification focuses on the deal and the borrower's overall financial profile rather than a personal debt-to-income ratio tied to W-2 or tax-return income. Individual lenders set their own guidelines on total exposure, reserve requirements, and number of properties financed as a portfolio grows.
Not exactly. "No-doc" is sometimes used loosely to describe stated income loans, but true no-documentation lending (common before 2008) required no income statement and minimal underwriting altogether. Modern stated income programs still verify credit, assets, and reserves — "stated" refers specifically to income not being independently documented, not an absence of underwriting entirely.
Stated income loans are primarily available for non-owner-occupied investment properties, commercial real estate (office, retail, mixed-use), multi-unit residential buildings (typically two units and up), and in some cases bridge loan scenarios. Owner-occupied primary residences are generally not eligible because federal mortgage regulations (ATR/QM rules) require income verification for owner-occupied loans. If you're purchasing or refinancing an investment property or commercial asset, stated income is far more likely to be an option.
Stated income loans offer a simplified path to financing for investment, commercial, and multi-unit properties, with credit, reserve, and down payment requirements that vary by lender. Consult a licensed mortgage professional to review current stated income guidelines and confirm the right fit for your purchase.
Get My Free QuoteBorrower Experiences
Real Outcomes for Real Investors.
"I hold eight rental properties and my tax returns are a mess of depreciation and pass-through losses. Every conventional lender turned me down based on paper income. The stated income program let me declare what I actually earn, and we closed in under three weeks."
Glen R.
Real Estate Investor — Investment Properties
"We acquired a mixed-use commercial building through this stated income program. As a seasonal business owner, my income looks low on paper every other quarter. Not having to justify that to a bank underwriter made the whole process infinitely less painful."
Diane L.
Business Owner — Commercial Property Purchase
"Our LLC has acquired four multi-unit properties in the past two years using stated income programs. The entity purchase process was straightforward — operating agreement, articles of organization, and proof of reserves. No personal tax returns, no drama."
James T.
LLC Principal — Multi-Unit Portfolio
Get Started
Ready to Skip the Paperwork? Choose a Stated Income Loan
Fill out the short form and a stated income specialist will follow up within minutes. No hard credit pull, no commitment — just clear answers about what you qualify for.
Response within minutes
A specialist reviews every submission and follows up fast — not days later.
No hard credit pull
Getting a quote doesn't touch your credit score. We only pull credit when you're ready to proceed.
Investor & entity purchase specialists
Our team works exclusively with investment, commercial, and LLC purchase scenarios.
Access to multiple lenders
We compare stated income and non-QM programs across our portfolio lender network to find the best fit.