1099-Only Mortgages for Contractors and Gig Workers

1099-only mortgages let independent contractors, gig-economy workers, and commission-based earners qualify on the gross income shown on their 1099 forms — no tax returns to expose business write-offs, no bank statement deposit averaging. The most recent 1 or 2 years of 1099s drive qualifying income directly.

Highlights

  • Use 1, 2, or sometimes 3 years of 1099 forms
  • Gross 1099 income (less an expense ratio in some programs)
  • No tax returns required
  • Available with 1 year of self-employment in some programs
  • Up to 90% LTV with strong credit

Who it's for

Real estate agents, insurance agents, independent contractors, gig-economy workers (Uber, DoorDash), commissioned sales reps, and consultants who receive 1099s instead of W-2s.

Frequently asked questions

How is income calculated from 1099s?

Most programs use gross 1099 income with a small expense reduction (often 10%). A few programs use 100% of gross. The 1099 amounts are summed and divided by 12 or 24 to produce monthly qualifying income.

How many years of 1099s do I need?

Standard is 2 years, but many programs accept 1 year if the borrower had W-2 employment in the same industry the year prior. A few specialty programs accept 1 year unconditionally.

What if I have multiple 1099 sources?

Combine them. Most programs accept any number of 1099 issuers as long as the work is in the same general line of business.

Can a real estate agent use 1099-only?

Yes. This is one of the most common borrower profiles for 1099-only programs.

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Today's mortgage rates

Conventional

5.875%

5.911% APR

FHA

5.250%

5.278% APR

VA

5.250%

5.275% APR

Conv: 80% LTV, 780 FICO. FHA: 96.5% LTV, 680 FICO. VA: 100% LTV, 680 FICO. 30-yr fixed. Your rate may vary.