Can I get a mortgage if I am self-employed?

Yes, self-employed borrowers can qualify for mortgages, but the documentation requirements are more extensive. Lenders typically require two years of personal and business tax returns, a year-to-date profit and loss statement, and bank statements. Income is usually calculated using the average net income from the last two years of tax returns — after business deductions. Since self-employed borrowers often deduct significant expenses, qualifying income may be lower than actual cash flow. Bank statement loans are an alternative that qualify income based on 12–24 months of bank deposits rather than tax returns, but typically come with higher rates.