If you’re self-employed and searching for a mortgage broker who truly understands business income, you’ve probably noticed something frustrating: most lenders don’t.

Your income is real. Your business is real. But to traditional underwriting, your finances often look “complicated,” even when you’re doing well. That disconnect is where many self-employed buyers hit unnecessary roadblocks.

This is exactly the gap Rich Bonn fills.

When Being Self-Employed Becomes a Mortgage Obstacle

Business owners, consultants, freelancers, and 1099 earners often face the same issue. Their tax returns are optimized for taxes, not mortgages.

Write-offs, depreciation, and reinvestment reduce taxable income on paper, even when cash flow is strong. Many lenders stop at the tax return and never look deeper.

Self-employed buyers aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking for lending that reflects how they actually earn.

Meet Rich Bonn, Houston Mortgage Broker for the Self-Employed

Rich Bonn is a Houston-based mortgage broker with over 30 years of experience and the founder of Habayit Home Loans. He specializes in helping self-employed and non-traditional income borrowers qualify for home loans without unnecessary friction.

Rich is also the author of How to Get a Mortgage When Your Tax Return Says No, a practical guide written specifically for business owners and self-employed buyers who’ve been told they don’t “qualify” even though they earn good money.

His approach starts with understanding your business, not forcing it into the wrong box.

Why Self-Employed Mortgages Require a Different Approach

Self-employed mortgages aren’t harder. They’re just different.

The right mortgage broker knows how to evaluate income patterns, stability, and sustainability rather than relying on a single number on a tax return. The wrong broker simply looks for reasons to say no.

That difference impacts:

• How income is calculated

• Which documents are used

• Which loan programs are considered

• How underwriting questions are handled

Experience matters more here than anywhere else.

Mortgage Options Rich Uses for Self-Employed Borrowers

There isn’t one “self-employed loan.” There are multiple paths depending on how you earn and how your business operates.

Rich regularly works with:

• Bank statement loans

• Profit & Loss (P&L) loans

• 1099 income loans

• Asset-based and asset depletion programs

• DSCR loans for real estate investors

• FHA, VA, and Conventional loans when appropriate

The objective isn’t complexity. It’s choosing the option that actually fits.

A Straightforward Process That Respects Your Time

Rich’s process is simple and transparent.

He starts with a real conversation about how your business works, outlines realistic options, and explains what to expect before the process moves forward. You’re never guessing where you stand.

The same straightforward approach is reflected in his book, How to Get a Mortgage When Your Tax Return Says No, which breaks down self-employed lending in plain language without the jargon.

What Happens When the Right Broker Is Involved

When self-employed borrowers work with the right mortgage broker, they typically experience:

• Clear qualification expectations

• Fewer underwriting issues

• Reduced documentation fatigue

• A smoother path to closing

Just as important, they feel understood instead of judged.

Why Self-Employed Buyers Trust Rich Bonn

Clients often say:

• “He actually understood my business.”

• “The process finally made sense.”

• “I wish I had called sooner.”

Rich works extensively with clients in Inner Loop Houston and Southwest Houston, but helps self-employed buyers throughout Texas who need a mortgage broker that understands complexity without turning it into chaos.

If You Don’t Get the Right Help

Many self-employed buyers delay homeownership because they assume it’s too difficult or give up after one denial. Others choose lenders without deep experience in self-employed mortgages and face unnecessary delays or reversals.

Those outcomes are often avoidable with the right guide from the beginning.

A Better Path Forward

Self-employment shouldn’t block homeownership. It simply requires the right strategy and an experienced broker.

If you’re looking for a mortgage broker who specializes in self-employed borrowers, the next step is easy.

It starts with a conversation.

Schedule a call with Rich Bonn and get clear answers about your options as a self-employed homebuyer.