Most lenders don’t understand RSUs. We do. Let’s turn your stock grants into a smooth, confident path to homeownership.
Use RSU Income To Qualify For a Mortgage
Whether you’re at Google, Meta, Nvidia, or any company that issues RSUs, we can help you leverage your full income, including RSUs or stock grants, to buy your dream home
How Can Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Help You Qualify for a Mortgage?
At LendFriend, we specialize in helping tech employees and professionals at publicly traded companies use their RSU income to qualify for a mortgage—without the friction you’ll run into at most banks.
Here’s how we make it easier:
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Higher qualifying income: By documenting your RSU equity compensation clearly—through pay stubs, vesting schedules, or tax returns—we help increase the income you’re qualified on, which can expand your homebuying budget.
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Down payment source: Many of our clients use vested RSUs to cover some or all of their down payment. We help walk you through what documentation is needed so it’s clean and easy for underwriting. Whether you’ve already sold shares or plan to, we’ll help make the process seamless.
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Debt-to-income improvement: We’ll evaluate how your RSU income fits into the bigger picture and make sure it’s reflected when lenders calculate your DTI.
Keep Your RSUs. Buy The House. No Capital Gains Tax
At LendFriend, we work with types of clients with RSUs, including those whose wealth is tied up in equity—not base salary. If you’ve got millions in vested RSUs but a relatively low W-2, you’ve probably been told you “don’t qualify” for a mortgage.
That’s where we come in.
Instead of forcing you to sell shares and trigger capital gains, we may be able to help you leverage your RSU balance as an asset—similar to how we structure asset depletion loans. You keep your stock, maintain your investment position, and still qualify to buy the home you want.
It’s a smart solution for:
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Early employees at IPO-stage companies
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Tech execs with lopsided comp plans
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Anyone whose liquid wealth lives in equity
We match you with lenders who understand modern compensation—and structure your file to reflect your real financial picture.
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Stronger Negotiating Position when Buying a Home
The equity in your current home is unlocked and used as a downpayment on your new home; meaning no sales contingency required! Sellers HATE sales contingencies. Without a sales contingency, your offer is stronger, increasing your chances of buying your next home with ease.
Get the Highest and Best Sale Price
Without feeling pressured to sell quickly, you can wait for the best offer on your current home. List your home at the best time, market it effectively, and attract more competitive offers. With no rush, you can negotiate better terms and get the highest selling price.
Reduced Stress
Don't worry about finding temporary housing or organizing multiple moves. Avoid the chaos of having to coordinate the sale of your current home and the purchase of a new one. Transition seamlessly from one home to another and reduce stress or anxiety, making the moving process more manageable and organized.
Time for Improvements
Make necessary renovations or updates to your new property before you move in. Painting, remodeling, or other improvements would be more challenging if you were already living there. Moving into a freshly updated home (instead of living in it during renovations) is just so much nicer!
Want to buy a house without selling your RSUs?
Talk to Us About Your Options Today!
Why Tech Employees Trust LendFriend For Their Mortgage
LendFriend is an Austin-based mortgage broker that’s helped hundreds of tech professionals qualify using RSU income—whether they’re relocating to the fastest-growing tech hub in the U.S. or staying put in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, or Denver.
We work with software engineers, developers, product managers, designers, and executives at:
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Google
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Meta
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Amazon
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Salesforce
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Apple
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Nvidia
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Oracle
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And other public companies
Most lenders still underwrite like it’s 1995. They want two years of W-2s, perfect pay stubs, and zero equity compensation. We take a modern approach—tailoring your loan strategy around your actual income, not just what fits in a box.
Whether you're using RSUs for qualification, a down payment, or both, LendFriend finds the right lender who understands how tech employees get paid—and helps you maximize what you can afford.
FAQs: How RSU Income Mortgages Work
Does RSU count as income for a mortgage?
Yes—many lenders will count vested RSU income as qualifying income, especially if you've received consistent stock grants for 1–2 years. At LendFriend, we work with lenders who understand RSU compensation and know how to document it properly.
How do you calculate RSU income for a mortgage?
Most lenders average your vested RSU income over the past 24 months using pay stubs, W-2s, or tax returns. In some cases, we can use your grant schedule or employer compensation letter to support a shorter income history.
Can I qualify for a mortgage if my base salary is low but I have a large amount of RSUs?
Absolutely. We specialize in working with clients whose wealth is tied up in equity—not just W-2 income. Our lenders often treat RSU income similarly to asset depletion, helping you qualify based on your full financial picture.
Can I use unvested RSUs to qualify for a home loan
Typically, unvested RSUs aren't counted as income—but if you have a signed offer letter or upcoming grant schedule, we may be able to use that as supplemental documentation. We’ll review everything upfront to give you a clear path forward.
Do I need to sell my RSUs to qualify?
No. In some cases, we can help you qualify by treating RSUs as assets rather than income. This strategy can help avoid capital gains events while still leveraging your equity.
Will selling RSUs affect my mortgage approval?
It can, depending on timing and documentation. That’s why it’s important to work with a lender like LendFriend who understands the RSU timeline and can help you plan the sale (or avoid it altogether).
What credit score do I need to get approved?
Most RSU mortgage programs require a credit score of 680 or higher—but every file is different. We’ve helped clients with complex income or credit profiles get approved by presenting their equity story the right way.
Hear it from our happy homebuyers
5/5 Star Reviews on Google, Zillow, and Experience.
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We worked with the LendFriend team and could not recommend it more. As first time home buyers, there is a lot to learn - and LendFriend know how to share their knowledge with patience and professionalism.For anyone considering working with them, just go ahead and give them a call. You will not regret it.
Jesper Holdensen
Closed June 2025 -
Wow my husband and I were truly impressed with how easy the LendFriend team made our home buying experience. Eric and his team took extra care in explaining and outlining each step -- a real customer first experience. On top of that, each member of the team was incredibly knowledgeable, organized, and responsive; resulting in an expeditious close! The website promise of working around the clock to support you is 100% factual, we had staff answering questions late night and weekends. The entire team was a real pleasure to work with, so if you are looking for a mortgage broker look no further, LendFriend is the team for you! They will give you peace of mind, get you the best rates, and make you feel confident when buying your home :)
Sarah Carr
Closed May 2025 -
I had been looking for a house for 2-3 years and while it was a journey as a business owner with a difficult financial situation this company did what 6 others could not. They got me a jumbo loan based off my business income and when I needed more they just made it happen twice. This process of funding can be extremely difficult and basically a blow to the ego but Eric and his team are literally magicians and my fiancee and I are now closed on out dream house. I recommend them whole heartedly
Shawn Tassone, MD, PhD
Closed April 2025 -
LendFriend is the only place to go for mortgage brokerage services. Their unparalleled technical knowledge, relationships with a wide array of lenders, and outstanding service make them the absolute best place to secure your next mortgage.
Robert Daake
Closed March 2025 -
LendFriend was such a wonderful partner in the process of buying our first home. They were so helpful and patient in giving us guidance, and their availability to communicate was next-to-none. I can't recommend them highly enough!
Hunter Hampton
Closed February 2025 -
Highly recommend LendFriend!!! As daunting as the process can be to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan, the entire team was great that we worked with that got us to the finish line. Each team member helped us in clearly communicating each step to ensure every step was smooth, in addition being available for a quick call to walk through our questions and concerns when needed. LendFriend was also very competitive with rates and dropped our interest rate last minute right before we closed! They got the job done and made it as stress free as possible.
Ingrid Eichenberger
Closed December 2024
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