Life’s big events often seem to happen all at once. While starting a business and buying a house are both major milestones that are best handled separately, you might find yourself needing to do both at the same time. Whether you moved to a better location for starting a business or finally have the means to buy a home now that your company is taking off, you may run into a few challenges with getting approved for a home loan. Knowing what hardships you may face can help you plan ahead and make it possible to achieve both goals.
Know the Recommended Time Frame
Most mortgage lenders require business owners to demonstrate at least two years of steady income from their companies. This is why you’ll often hear financial advisors recommend waiting this long before trying to buy a new home. However, there may be times when this is impossible, such as when you’re moving to a new location. Or you might have enough financial resources to prove you won’t have to rely solely on your business to get the home loan. In either case, you’ll want to quickly begin working on gathering the required documents for obtaining a home loan and making sure your financial history demonstrates your ability to cover a new house payment.
Explore Ways to Demonstrate Financial Responsibility
Employment verification is a little trickier for people who are self-employed. Lenders often ask for documents that prove you own your business. For instance, you might need to provide any state or business licenses you hold along with letters from your personal accountant or attorney. You can also use your business insurance as evidence that you own and operate a company. You’ll also need to show proof of generating an income, such as profit and loss statements, tax returns, and bank statements.
Expect to Pay Private Mortgage Insurance
Private mortgage insurance protects the lender in the event you can’t cover your house payments. While you can often avoid having to pay for PMI by making a down payment of 20 percent or higher, you might not be able to take advantage of this opportunity if you’ve been running your business for less than two years. Due to the higher risk, a self-employed buyer may also need to pay more for PMI compared to someone who works for a company that has been in business for years. You may still be able to keep your rates lower by bundling PMI with other types of insurance.
Increase Your Odds of Being Approved for a Loan
As with any home loan, your odds of getting approved go up with your credit score. Starting a business may lower your score temporarily due to the need to open new lines of credit or secure funding. Exploring ways to fund your business that won’t impact your credit score can help. Making as large a down payment as possible on your new home can also help lenders feel more secure about offering you a home loan.
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