Self Employed Mortgages
Our guide to home ownership when being self employed
Own a business in B.C.?
Own a business in B.C.?
At Silverman Mortgage Group, we help contractors, gig workers and entrepreneurs secure self-employed mortgages.
Being your own boss is hard work — securing a self-employed mortgage shouldn't be.
Whether you're a full or part-time entrepreneur, contractor or gig economy worker, investing in a home can be a great way to secure your financial future.
Unfortunately, scoring a great rate on a self-employed mortgage can be an uphill battle. Big banks have always given preferential treatment to borrowers who are employed in a 'regular' job, but the reality is there's more entrepreneurs than ever before, and many are exceptionally successful.
We get that.
At the Silverman Mortgage Group, we're up-to-date on the latest rules and requirements for B.C. home buyers who are self-employed. We work hard to help business owners and freelancers become homeowners with customized financing options.
Multiple jobs? Have hourly and self-employment income? No problem.
Multiple jobs? Have hourly and self-employment income? No problem.
If you're like a lot of folks, you earn income from more than one source. Maybe you work 30 hours a week at a desk job, and moonlight as a server. Or you're running a successful business, but you also pick up a few shifts to help out your old boss.
No matter how you earn your money, our mortgage planners are here to make financing your home purchase simple and stress-free.
While the big banks haven't quite embraced self-employed borrowers, at the Silverman Mortgage Group, we do. We'll work with you to remove traditional barriers to buying a home, including the narrow lending criteria used by many financial institutions.
Click here, when you're ready to get started on your self-employed mortgage application. Or take a look at our guide below for more information.
Overcoming the challenges of being self-employed.
Jordan de Brouwer
"I had a great experience with them. I was a first time home buyer and didn't know much about the mortgage application experience. They made the whole process very easy and stress free and explained each step in detail. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a mortgage, especially first time home buyers."
Leah Allen
"We purchased a second property and Silverman Mortgage Group made the process so easy and quick. I especially liked the personalized video presentation which made it possible for us to clearly understand the process. At a very busy time in our lives almost everything was completed in the comfort of our home."
Reid Arkinstall
"My wife and I had a great experience working with the Silverman Mortgage Group. It took us a while to find the right home but Zach and his team worked with us throughout the entire process, ensuring we always had the most up-to-date mortgage information. We look forward to working with SMG in the future."
Ready to Get Started?
Our team of all licensed experts is available to help you move forward.
Resources to help business owners with mortgage financing
Alternative Lending Provides You With Options
If you’re a business owner, you most likely have write-offs that make sense for tax planning reasons but don’t do much for your verifiable income. Learn more about how alternative lenders can offer competitive mortgage products for you.
An Overview of the Home Buying Process
If you’re planning to buy either your first home or your next home, let’s assess your creditworthiness, take a look at your income, plan for a down payment, and nail down exactly how much you can afford to borrow.
GDS/TDS Ratios Explained
One of the major qualifiers lenders look at when considering your application for mortgage financing is your debt service ratios. Learn more about how your gross debt service ratios (GDS) and total debt service ratios (TDS) impact your mortgage qualification.
Fixed-Rate or Variable-Rate Mortgage
If you’re weighing the options between a fixed and variable rate mortgage, consider the penalty incurred should you need to break the mortgage. Learn more here.
Learn more about how credit impacts a home purchase
Credit and Mortgage Financing
Credit is the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that you will make payments in the future. When you borrow money to buy a property, you’ll be required to prove that you have a good history of managing your credit.
How to Handle Missed Payments
If you’ve missed a payment on your credit card or line of credit and you’re wondering how to handle things and if this will impact your creditworthiness down the road, here’s the plan for you to follow.
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Chances are if the title of this article piqued your interest enough to get you here, your family is probably growing. Congratulations! If you’ve thought now is the time to find a new property to accommodate your growing family, but you’re unsure how your parental leave will impact your ability to get a mortgage, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s how it works. When you work with an independent mortgage professional, it won’t be a problem to qualify your income on a mortgage application while on parental leave, as long as you have documentation proving that you have guaranteed employment when you return to work. A word of caution, if you walk into your local bank to look for a mortgage and you disclose that you’re currently collecting parental leave, there’s a chance they’ll only allow you to use that income to qualify. This reduction in income isn’t ideal because at 55% of your previous income up to $595/week, you won’t be eligible to borrow as much, limiting your options. The advantage of working with an independent mortgage professional is choice. You have a choice between lenders and mortgage products, including lenders who use 100% of your return-to-work income. To qualify, you’ll need an employment letter from your current employer that states the following: Your employer’s name preferably on the company letterhead Your position Your initial start date to ensure you’ve passed any probationary period Your scheduled return to work date Your guaranteed salary For a lender to feel confident about your ability to cover your mortgage payments, they want to see that you have a position waiting for you once your parental leave is over. You might also be required to provide a history of your income for the past couple of years, but that is typical of mortgage financing. Whether you intend to return to work after your parental leave is over or not, once the mortgage is in place, what you decide to do is entirely up to you. Mortgage qualification requires only that you have a position waiting for you. If you have any questions about this or anything else mortgage-related, please connect anytime. It would be a pleasure to work with you.
Dreaming of owning your first home? A First Home Savings Account (FHSA) could be your key to turning that dream into a reality. Let's dive into what an FHSA is, how it works, and why it's a smart investment for first-time homebuyers. What is an FHSA? An FHSA is a registered plan designed to help you save for your first home taxfree. If you're at least 18 years old, have a Social Insurance Number (SIN), and have not owned a home where you lived for the past four calendar years, you may be eligible to open an FHSA. Reasons to Invest in an FHSA: Save up to $40,000 for your first home. Contribute tax-free for up to 15 years. Carry over unused contribution room to the next year, up to a maximum of $8,000. Potentially reduce your tax bill and carry forward undeducted contributions indefinitely. Pay no taxes on investment earnings. Complements the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP). How Does an FHSA Work? Open Your FHSA: Start investing tax-free by opening your FHSA. Contribute Often: Make tax-deductible contributions of up to $8,000 annually to help your money grow faster. Withdraw for Your Home: Make a tax-free withdrawal at any time to purchase your first home. Benefits of an FHSA: Tax-Deductible Contributions: Contribute up to $8,000 annually, reducing your taxable income. Tax-Free Earnings: Enjoy tax-free growth on your investments within the FHSA. No Taxes on Withdrawals: Pay $0 in taxes on withdrawals used to buy a qualifying home. Numbers to Know: $8,000: Annual tax-deductible FHSA contribution limit. $40,000: Lifetime FHSA contribution limit. $0: Taxes on FHSA earnings when used for a qualifying home purchase. In Conclusion A First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a powerful tool for first-time homebuyers, offering tax benefits and a structured approach to saving for homeownership. By taking advantage of an FHSA, you can accelerate your journey towards owning your first home and make your dream a reality sooner than you think.