Non-QM loan

A loan that doesn't meet the qualified mortgage rules. Common for self-employed borrowers who qualify on bank statements instead of tax returns. Rates are usually higher.

Financing · Updated September 2026

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Part 1 of 4

Why a seller cares

A self-employed buyer may be using a non-QM loan that qualifies on bank statements. It is a real loan with a longer underwriting tail, so the financing contingency window tends to run longer.

Part 2 of 4

A simple example

A buyer who owns a landscaping business offers $300,000 with a bank-statement loan. The lender wants 24 months of statements and 35 days to close.

Non-QM loan: a simple example
The loanWhat tends to be different
Non-QM, bank statementMore documents, a higher rate for the buyer, a longer timeline
ConventionalTax returns and pay stubs, a faster path
EitherThe same appraisal and the same closing table

Non-QM opens a loan to buyers whose income does not fit the form, at the cost of time.

Part 3 of 4

What people get wrong

That non-QM means subprime. It means the income is documented differently, and the buyer is often well off.

Part 4 of 4 · where to read next

Where it appears in the sale

What a definition is, and what it isn't

Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.

Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish

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