You can still qualify for a mortgage when working for a family-owned business, but expect stricter documentation requirements and potential questions about ownership. Whether you're applying for a conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA loan, lenders want to ensure your income is legitimate and sustainable—especially if your job offer hasn't started yet.
If you have a regular W-2 job, you must submit pay stubs and W-2s to your lender.
But things change if you work for a family-owned business.
Then, lenders may need some additional information.
First, they want to know if you are a part-owner of the business.
Additionally, they want to make sure none of the income documentation is “doctored” to inflate your qualifying income.
While you would probably never do this, lenders still make you jump through a few hoops if you are employed by a family. Here’s what to know.
Table Of Contents
Are You an Owner of the Business?
Documentation Needed When Employed by Family
Conventional Loans (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) When Employed by Family
FHA and a Family-Owned Business
Getting a VA Loan When Working for Family
USDA Loan Rules for Employees of Family Businesses
Are You an Owner of the Business?
If not, it can likely use your W-2 earnings to qualify you.
However, a borrower who owns 25% or more of a business is considered self-employed. The lender will need two years of personal and business tax returns, and you must show two years of ownership.
This is true even if you earn W-2 income along with business income.
The lender wants to know whether the business makes enough money to pay you W-2 earnings. For example, earning $100,000 per year from a family business that only brings in $90,000 is not sustainable.
Even if you own a small portion of the business, the lender will check whether that ownership results in an income gain or loss each year.
Check out our guide to qualifying for a mortgage for the self-employed to learn more.
Documentation Needed When Employed by Family
The documentation required will vary based on the loan type you’re getting. It may also change slightly from lender to lender.
Whereas some lenders underwrite loans strictly “by the book,” others “overlay” additional rules on top of official guidebooks.
The below should give you a good idea of what lenders might ask.
Conventional Loans (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) When Employed by Family
- Two years of tax returns for Fannie Mae
- One year of tax returns for Freddie Mac
- Preferably, a verification of employment by a third-party service such as The Work Number
The tax returns are to prove you have no income from business ownership, only from W-2 earnings.
The lender will request a verification of employment from the business. Expect additional prying since it’s likely a family member or someone who could be influenced by family who will be verifying your employment.
FHA and a Family-Owned Business
FHA loan guidelines are stricter than conventional loan guidelines on this matter. You'll need:
- A corporate resolution, business organization documents, business tax returns, Schedule K-1, or CPA letter on letterhead verifying you are not an owner of the business
- Personal tax returns
- Preferably, third-party verification of employment
The lender will use your salary amount as qualifying income if you are not an owner. If you are paid hourly and your work hours vary, the lender will average the last one to two years of income. The lender will follow similar guidelines as required for part-time income.
If you own more than 25% of the business, you will need to qualify for the loan based on FHA’s self-employed mortgage requirements.
Getting a VA Loan When Working for Family
While VA loan guidelines don’t specifically call out requirements for employees of family-owned businesses, expect additional questions and documentation, including:
- Minimum one year of work history at the family-owned business
- Personal tax returns showing no business ownership income
- Two years of business and personal tax returns if you own 25% or more of the business
- Third-party verification of employment
USDA Loan Rules for Employees of Family Businesses
The lender could request personal tax returns if it suspects you work for a family-owned business.
If you have no ownership, it will use standard W-2 income to qualify.
If you own 25% or more of the business, the lender will consider you self-employed and request two years of business and personal tax returns.
If you own less than 25% of the business, the lender will determine whether ownership results in business income or loss and add or subtract it from your employment income.
Eligibility income: USDA loans come with income limits. The lender will factor in business ownership income, which may put you over income limits. If you have no ownership, this won’t affect you.
Pending Job Offer From a Family Business
You can’t use income from a job that hasn’t started yet if it’s with a family business. Lenders generally allow you to qualify with a future-dated job offer or employment contract, but only under specific conditions, and those conditions vary by loan type.
Conventional loans allow future income if the job starts within 90 days of loan closing.
FHA and VA loans allow up to 60 days.
USDA loans allow only 30 days.
However, all of these programs exclude future employment with a family-owned business due to the potential for manipulation. Even with a signed offer, you’ll need to show income from a non-family employer that meets the program’s timing and documentation requirements.
Work for a Family Business? You Can Still Qualify
While there are extra rules when working for a family business, this is still eligible income for a mortgage.
Apply with a knowledgeable lender to meet your exact requirements and start the qualification process.
