Your assets can help open the door.
Your savings, investments, or eligible retirement accounts may help you qualify for a mortgage—even when a regular paycheck doesn’t tell your financial story.
Conventional and Non-QM programs offer different ways to use assets. Some programs do not require you to be retired. We’ll help you compare the options that fit your goals.
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Asset depletion, also called asset utilization, is a way to calculate monthly qualifying income from eligible financial assets.
The lender reviews your assets, makes the program’s required adjustments, and divides the eligible balance over a set number of months. That calculated income can help determine whether the mortgage fits.
Here, the eligible asset balance has already been adjusted for this example’s program rules and funds needed for the transaction.
The method matters. Programs use different asset adjustments and calculation periods. Funds needed for closing and reserves are treated according to the selected program. This example illustrates a calculation, not a loan approval or a required monthly withdrawal.
Both may offer a path. The right fit depends on your assets, documentation, property, and the full cost of the loan.
| What to compare | Conventional financing | Non-QM financing |
|---|---|---|
| How assets can help | Eligible retirement distributions, interest, or dividends may count as income. Certain assets may also support an asset-based income calculation. | Some programs convert a broader range of eligible assets into qualifying income using lender-specific methods. |
| Program rules | Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set different asset, calculation, and transaction requirements. Lender requirements also apply. | Eligible assets, calculation periods, remaining-asset minimums, and whether other income can be combined vary by lender. |
| Why compare? | A conventional loan may be a suitable option when your income and assets meet its guidelines. | An alternative when conventional rules don’t fit your asset or income picture. Compare the rate, fees, and cash needed. |
Some Non-QM programs qualify borrowers through a separate asset-sufficiency method instead of a traditional monthly income calculation. We’ll explain how the selected program evaluates your assets and obligations. Credit, the property, and other lender requirements still matter.
Lenders review eligible financial assets, their source, and your access to them. Different programs may count different amounts.
Checking, savings, CDs, and money market accounts may be eligible in some programs. Ownership, sourcing, and any seasoning requirements need review.
Eligible stocks, bonds, and mutual funds may count. Lenders may use a reduced value to account for market changes or exclude pledged funds.
Eligible IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement funds may help. Access, vesting, withdrawal restrictions, and potential penalties affect the calculation.
An asset that works for a down payment may be treated differently when calculating qualifying income. We’ll review the accounts and the program together.
| What we review | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Account ownership & access | Statements showing eligible assets, who owns them, and whether funds are available. Restrictions, account loans, and pledged assets may affect eligibility. |
| Credit & obligations | Your credit history and existing debts remain part of the review. The selected program determines how repayment capacity is assessed. |
| Down payment & remaining assets | The funds needed for closing, any required reserves, and eligible assets left afterward. The same dollars cannot automatically serve every purpose. |
| Property & loan purpose | Property value, type, occupancy, and whether you’re purchasing or refinancing. Primary-home, second-home, investment, and cash-out eligibility vary by program. |
Look at the interest rate, lender fees, closing costs, payment, and cash you’ll need. We’ll help compare suitable conventional and Non-QM options using the same goals.
An asset calculation doesn’t automatically mean selling all your investments or taking monthly distributions. Funds needed for closing must be available. Consider how any necessary sale or withdrawal affects taxes and your longer-term plans.
You don’t need to know which program fits before reaching out. We’ll help work through your accounts and options.
No. Some programs may suit borrowers who are still working, self-employed, or between income sources. Retirement-account access can depend on age and account rules, while other eligible assets may offer another path.
Potentially. Lenders review ownership, vesting, access, restrictions, and any withdrawal penalties. Existing distributions may be evaluated as income under a different method. We’ll check the account and the selected program’s requirements.
An asset-depletion calculation does not, by itself, require selling all your investments or taking a monthly withdrawal. The lender may require evidence of access or liquidation for funds used at closing. Any pledged-asset arrangement would have separate conditions.
Some programs allow eligible asset-based income to supplement other documented income. Other programs use assets as the sole qualifying source. We’ll check the rules and avoid counting the same asset or income twice.
Some Non-QM asset programs do not require tax returns or employment income for qualification. Other approaches require income documentation. Account statements, credit, identification, and property documentation still need review.
Purchase and refinance options may be available. Cash-out, occupancy, and property eligibility depend on the specific program. We’ll review what you want to accomplish before recommending a path.
Tell us about your home plans. We’ll help you understand how your assets may support your next move.
Program guidance. Content researched October 8, 2026. Conventional guidance: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Program availability, eligible assets, documentation, calculations, and terms vary by lender and may change. All loans are subject to credit, property, and lender approval. This page provides general information, not a loan commitment.
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