Sacramento’s economy — state government, healthcare, agriculture, technology, and a growing small business sector — produces a workforce where a significant share of high earners are self-employed, contract-based, or operating S-corps. For these borrowers, traditional mortgage qualifying using W-2s and tax returns often fails: legitimate business deductions reduce taxable income far below actual cash flow. I work with self-employed Sacramento buyers regularly and bank statement loans are the most common solution. I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700, DiVita Home Finance, Tiburon, CA. Call me at (800) 239-1103.
How Bank Statement Loans Work
Instead of using tax returns to verify income, a bank statement loan uses 12 or 24 months of bank deposit history. A lender reviews your deposits, applies an expense ratio (typically 50% for business accounts, or actual documented expenses), and uses the net figure as your qualifying income. If your business deposits $30,000/month over 24 months, you may qualify using $15,000/month in income — regardless of what your Schedule C shows.
Who Uses Bank Statement Loans in Sacramento?
- Business owners, contractors, and freelancers with strong cash flow but low taxable income
- Healthcare professionals, attorneys, and consultants operating as S-corps or sole proprietors
- Real estate agents and brokers paid on commission
- Agricultural business operators in the Sacramento Valley
- Government contractors and technology consultants
Sacramento Loan Amounts and Limits
Sacramento County’s 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750. Bank statement loans are available both within and above the conforming limit — many Sacramento self-employed buyers use bank statement programs for jumbo loans above $832,750 when they need to purchase in East Sacramento, Land Park, or newer suburban developments in Folsom and El Dorado Hills.
What Lenders Look For
- 12 or 24 months of consistent bank deposits
- Self-employment of at least 2 years
- Credit score typically 680+ (some lenders go to 660)
- Down payment of 10–20% depending on loan amount and credit
- Sufficient reserves (typically 3–12 months of payments)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use personal bank statements instead of business statements?
Yes. Many lenders accept personal bank statements using a 100% deposit count — since personal accounts already reflect after-expense income, no expense ratio is applied. Business statements typically use a 50% expense ratio. Your loan officer can advise which approach produces the stronger qualifying income for your specific situation. If you have both personal and business accounts, we can often blend the two statements to maximize your qualifying income.
How long do I need to be self-employed to qualify for a bank statement loan?
Most lenders require 2 years of self-employment history, documented via a business license, CPA letter, or business bank account history. Some programs allow 1 year of self-employment for borrowers transitioning from the same field — for example, a healthcare worker who moved from W-2 employment at a hospital to a self-employed private practice in the same specialty.
Are bank statement loans available above the Sacramento conforming limit?
Yes. Bank statement loans are available for both conforming and jumbo loan amounts in Sacramento. Sacramento County’s 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 — purchases above this amount require jumbo financing. Bank statement jumbo loans typically require 20–25% down, 700+ credit, and 12+ months reserves. For Sacramento buyers targeting East Sacramento, Midtown, or the Folsom/El Dorado Hills corridor where prices often exceed $900,000, bank statement jumbo loans are a common solution.
Sacramento Bank Statement Loan Consultation
Free consultation. DiVita Home Finance — 40+ wholesale lenders.
DiVita Home Finance | NMLS #323700 | CA DRE #01818285
Related Reading
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | Licensed since 2007. DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
