You’ve been there before. A borrower comes to you with strong assets, good reserves, and a clean record of paying bills on time. But the tax returns? Complicated. The income? Doesn’t show up the way traditional lenders want to see it. The result? A deal that dies on the desk, unless you’re offering non-QM financing options.
It’s not that the borrower is risky. It’s because the loan box is too small.
Non-QM financing exists for this exact reason. And if you’re not offering it to your clients, someone else is.
This isn’t about niche lending or one-off scenarios. Non-QM loans are now a key tool for brokers who want to grow, stay relevant, and serve the real world, not just the agency-approved version of it.
Let’s break down what Non-QM is, who it’s for, and how it can add real volume to your pipeline.
WHAT IS NON-QM FINANCING?
Non-QM (Non-Qualified Mortgage) loans fall outside of the standard requirements for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or FHA loans. But they’re not subprime, and they’re not shortcuts. These are full-doc loans underwritten with care, just using a different playbook.
Think: asset-based borrowers. Investors. Self-employed clients. Retirees with significant wealth but no W-2s. Non-QM loans are built for them.
WHY BROKERS CAN’T IGNORE NON-QM ANYMORE
There’s been a shift. More and more borrowers don’t look like the textbook version from five years ago. According to recent industry data, self-employed workers now make up over 10% of the U.S. labor force. Many others earn income through gig work, side businesses, and investments.
These clients aren’t fringe. They’re becoming the norm.
Traditional lending doesn’t accommodate them well. Brokers who rely only on agency products are watching viable clients slip away.
Non-QM fills that gap. And brokers who embrace it aren’t just saving deals—they’re building a whole new channel of business.
CLIENT SCENARIOS THAT CALL FOR NON-QM
You’ve seen them before:
- A self-employed borrower whose taxable income doesn’t reflect actual earnings.
- A real estate investor who owns multiple properties but can’t qualify due to DTI limits
- A foreign national with assets and income abroad but no U.S. credit or tax returns.
- A retiree with millions in reserves but minimal active income.
- A buyer with a recent credit event that doesn’t reflect their current stability.
With traditional guidelines, these scenarios often stall out. With Non-QM, they move forward.
LENDSURE’S COMMON-SENSE APPROACH
At LendSure, we don’t look for ways to say no. We look at how a deal can make sense. Our Non-QM programs are designed to meet borrowers where they are:
Bank Statement Loans – Use 12 or 24 months of deposits instead of tax returns.
DSCR Loans – Qualify investors using property cash flow, not personal income.
Condotel Loans – Finance vacation properties with hotel-like amenities.
Foreign National Loans – Support international buyers with no U.S. credit history.
Asset Depletion Loans – Qualify based on the borrower’s liquid assets.
Each program solves a specific problem that traditional financing doesn’t address.
THE BROKER ADVANTAGE
Non-QM isn’t just good for the borrower. It’s a serious value-add for brokers:
- Close more loans. Non-QM turns declines into approvals.
- Serve new referral partners. Financial advisors, CPAs, and real estate agents send clients who need flexible financing.
- Position yourself as a problem solver. Clients remember the broker who saved the deal.
- Build long-term client relationships. Many Non-QM borrowers refinance into traditional loans later—you keep the relationship either way.
In a market where every deal counts, this kind of edge matters.
WHAT MAKES A NON-QM LENDER BROKER-FRIENDLY?
Not all Non-QM lenders are the same. Here’s what to look for:
- Fast turn times
- Clear guidelines (and reps who help interpret them)
- Common-sense underwriting
- Scenario desk access for quick answers
- Support for multiple borrower profiles
LendSure checks all those boxes. We work the way brokers work—fast, direct, and flexible.
HOW TO START THE CONVERSATION WITH A CLIENT
You don’t need to explain the whole product matrix to get started. Ask questions that uncover Non-QM opportunities:
- How do you earn your income?
- Do you own any investment properties?
- Do you have tax returns ready, or would bank statements be easier?
- Are you looking to finance in an LLC?
- Have you had any credit challenges in the last 2-3 years?
The answers can guide you toward the right solution. And with LendSure, you’ll never have to guess whether a deal fits—just send the scenario and we’ll work with you. For a deeper dive into Non‑QM programs, check out LendSure’s white paper, which explains income documentation, investment property options, and other flexible solutions.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT DEAL
You’re not alone if you’re seeing more clients who don’t fit the conventional mold. And if you don’t have a reliable Non-QM partner, you’re likely losing business.
Now is the time to build your Non-QM strategy. Not just to save deals, but to win more of them from the start.
THE LENDSURE WAY
It’s simple. We make loans that make sense. We’re not in-the-box lenders. Of course, there are numbers ratios, and data to consider, but we know that behind every file, there’s an individual with a unique circumstance seeking a loan. We work hard to offer our common-sense take on lending to borrowers seeking funding for the home of their dreams, another addition to their investment property portfolio, or refinancing of a currently-owned property.
Are you ready to benefit from a common-sense approach to lending? Contact us today to learn more about non-QM loans and how partnering with LendSure Mortgage Corp. can help grow your bottom line.
