Restaurant ownership is one of the most financially complex small business models — high revenue, significant overhead, razor-thin reported margins, and often a personal tax return that looks nothing like how the business actually performs. Getting a mortgage as a restaurant owner requires a lender who understands hospitality industry financials.
Why Restaurant Owners Struggle with Conventional Mortgages
Your restaurant may generate $1.5 million in annual revenue, but after cost of goods, labor, rent, equipment depreciation, utilities, and all other deductions, your personal tax return may show $80,000 in net income. Conventional lenders qualify you on that $80,000. That number does not buy a home in most California markets.
Non-QM lenders look at your actual business performance instead.
Best Programs for Restaurant Owners
Bank Statement Loan
A bank statement loan averages your business bank deposits — the actual money flowing through your restaurant — over 12 or 24 months and applies an expense ratio to get a qualifying income figure. For restaurant owners with high gross deposits, this can produce a qualifying income several times higher than what your tax return shows.
Note: Restaurant businesses typically receive higher expense factors (60-70%) due to higher operating costs, but even at 40% of revenue the qualifying income often far exceeds the tax return figure. Bank statement loan details.
P&L Only Loan
If your accountant maintains proper monthly P&L statements for your restaurant, a P&L only loan may use that document as your income verification. P&L loan details.
What You Will Need
- 12-24 months business bank statements for the restaurant
- Business license and proof of ownership
- Minimum 620 FICO score
- 10-20% down payment
Call (800) 239-1103 — we work with restaurant owners across California regularly and understand your business model.
Related: Self-employed mortgage hub | Bank statement loans
DiVita Home Finance, Inc. | NMLS #323700 | Equal Housing Lender | Licensed in California
About DiVita Home Finance
DiVita Home Finance is a small, family-owned mortgage company based in Marin County, California. When you call, you speak directly with Michael DiVita — the owner — not a call center, not an out-of-state rep, not someone reading from a script. We’re here for a low-key, no-obligation conversation about your situation.
We take your privacy seriously. We will never sell your information to third-party lenders or lead generation companies — unlike many of the large mortgage platforms. Your inquiry stays with us, period.
📞 Call: (800) 239-1103 | 💬 Text Michael directly: (310) 849-9124
