Why Rich Bonn Is the Best Mortgage Broker for Written VOE Loans

December 18, 20253 min read

If you’ve ever asked, “What’s the mortgage where I don’t need tax returns, just something from my employer?”
You’re probably talking about a Written VOE loan.

And if no one has explained that clearly to you before, you’re not alone.

Written Verification of Employment loans are one of the most underused mortgage options, even though they’re often one of the cleanest approvals when the borrower’s story fits.

That’s exactly where Rich Bonn stands out.


When Your Income Is Real but Looks “Weird” on Paper

Many borrowers earn good money but don’t fit neatly into standard underwriting boxes.

You might:

  • Be paid mostly on commission

  • Earn a lot of overtime or bonuses

  • Work in sales or a performance-based role

  • Have recently changed roles or compensation structure

  • Have income that doesn’t show cleanly on pay stubs

Traditional lenders often respond by asking for more paperwork, more explanations, and more time, or by saying no altogether.

The problem isn’t your income.
It’s how it’s being documented.


What Is a Written VOE Loan?

A Written VOE (Verification of Employment) loan focuses on one simple thing:
How you earn and what you earn, confirmed directly by your employer.

Instead of digging through tax returns or piles of pay stubs, the lender obtains a written verification from your employer that outlines:

  • Your position

  • Your compensation structure

  • How you’re paid

  • Your current income

When done correctly, it creates a clean, straightforward picture of your earnings and can eliminate unnecessary documentation.

Shockingly, this option is still overlooked by many lenders.


Meet Rich Bonn, Mortgage Broker Who Knows When VOE Loans Work

Rich Bonn is a Houston-based mortgage broker with over 30 years of experience and the founder of Habayit Home Loans. He specializes in borrowers whose income doesn’t fit neatly into traditional formulas.

Rich is also the author of How to Get a Mortgage When Your Tax Return Says No, a guide written specifically for people whose income is real but misunderstood by the system.

Written VOE loans are a perfect example of Rich’s philosophy:
start with the story, then choose the structure.


Who VOE Loans Are Best For

Written VOE loans are ideal for people with:

  • Commission-heavy compensation

  • Sales-based income

  • Seasonal earnings

  • Overtime and bonus-driven pay

  • Recently adjusted roles or pay structures

If your employer can confirm your income in writing, Rich can often turn that confirmation into a viable mortgage strategy.

The key is knowing when this path fits and when it doesn’t.


Why Choosing the Right Broker Matters With VOE Loans

VOE loans aren’t complicated, but they are specific.

The wrong lender:

  • Doesn’t ask the right questions

  • Doesn’t explain how to structure the VOE

  • Misses the opportunity entirely

The right broker knows how to:

  • Identify when a VOE loan is appropriate

  • Communicate clearly with employers

  • Present income in a way underwriting understands

  • Keep the process simple instead of chaotic

This is where Rich’s experience makes the difference.


A Simple, Clean Process

Rich keeps VOE loans straightforward:

  1. Conversation first
    He listens to how you earn and what’s changed in your income.

  2. Confirm fit
    If a Written VOE loan is the right path, he explains exactly what’s needed.

  3. Employer verification
    Income is confirmed directly, clearly, and correctly.

  4. Confident closing
    Fewer surprises. Less friction. Cleaner underwriting.

When the story fits, VOE loans are often one of the easiest approvals available.


What Happens When Borrowers Don’t Know This Option Exists

Many buyers:

  • Assume they need tax returns

  • Think their income disqualifies them

  • Give up after one lender says no

In reality, they were often just asking the wrong lender the wrong question.


A Better Path Forward

If your income is legitimate but structured differently, a Written VOE loan may be the missing piece.

If your employer can confirm your income in writing, Rich Bonn can help determine whether this is the right mortgage path for you.

The next step isn’t more paperwork.
It’s a conversation.

Schedule a call with Rich Bonn and find out whether a Written VOE loan is your cleanest path to homeownership.

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Rich Bonn, NMLS #278696
Branch Manager

(281) 841-1723

4660 Beechnut Street, Suite 225, Houston, TX 77096

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