How to Apply For A Mortgage And A Business Loan (2024)

You know that mortgage lenders pay close attention to your three-digit FICO® credit score. If your score is too low, you won't qualify for a mortgage. And if you do, your loan will come with a higher interest rate. That leads to the big question: Can your business loan hurt – or help – your credit score?

The answer, not surprisingly, is complicated.

If you as a sole proprietor or partner in your business personally guarantee your small business loan, it can impact your credit score. Under such an arrangement, if your business fails to make its payments, the lender of your business loan can try to collect its missing dollars from you personally.

This makes you a co-signer on your business loan. This means that the debt can show up on your credit reports. The more debt you have, the worse it is for your credit score and your efforts to get into a new home.

If you rely on business credit cards to fund your small business, you can again impact your personal credit scores. This is especially true if you operate as a sole proprietor. In such cases, your business and personal credit will be the same.

This means that if you make your business credit card payments on time each month, it will help your credit score. But if you make payments 30 days or more past your due date, your score will drop because these payments will be reported as late to the three national credit bureaus of Experian, Equifax® and TransUnion®.

Maybe you’ve taken out a home equity loan or line of credit to help fund your small business. This can definitely impact your credit score. Make those home equity payments on time, and your credit score will rise. Make them late, and it will fall. Of course, taking out home equity loans to support your business comes with an even bigger risk: If you default on these loans, your lender could take your home through the foreclosure process.

If you want to keep your business and personal credit separate, don’t work as a sole proprietor.. Instead, incorporate as an LLC, S Corporation or C Corporation. This way, your business loans or credit will not impact your personal credit score.

How to Apply For A Mortgage And A Business Loan (2024)

FAQs

Can you get a mortgage loan and business loan at the same time? ›

If you're shopping for both a mortgage loan and a business loan at the same time, you might see your credit score drop slightly because of hard pulls. The good news? It won't drop by much. That's because hard pulls for the same type of loan or credit during a short period are counted as just one.

Does having a business loan affect getting a mortgage? ›

Consequently, any challenges the business faces in meeting loan obligations may have repercussions on your personal credit. Mortgage lenders evaluating your application may take this additional financial liability into account, potentially influencing your eligibility and rates.

Does having an LLC affect getting a mortgage? ›

Difficulty Getting A Mortgage

The most difficult part of attempting to get a mortgage with an LLC structure is that residential lenders don't like to lend to LLCs because of the limited liability it offers. Banks know that LLC members and shareholders can't become personally liable for the LLC or corporation's debts.

Is it harder to get a mortgage as a business owner? ›

Yes, it can be harder to get a mortgage if you're self-employed. You'll need to provide more documentation than someone who has had the same W-2 employment for several years. Some lenders do not work with self-employed individuals because of the increased underwriting requirements.

How long do you have to own a business before you can get a loan? ›

To qualify for a business loan from a bank, you'll typically need to have been in business for at least two years. Online business loans tend to have less stringent requirements but still usually require at least six months in business.

What is a declining income for FHA loan? ›

Income Stability

If your lender notes a self-employed income decline of over 20% over the FHA-required income analysis period you may not qualify for the home loan.

What disqualifies you from getting a business loan? ›

The business is considered 'passive' (think rental real estate) or holds a portfolio of financial instruments (like home or auto loans). If you or an equity holder in your business is on parole, or has been convicted of a felony in the last year. If you cannot show the ability to repay the SBA loan.

What credit score is needed for a business loan? ›

Minimum credit score by business loan type
Term loanWhile banks and credit unions typically require a score of 670 or above, online lenders may only require a score of 500
SBA loanLenders offering SBA loans require credit scores between 620 and 680
4 more rows
Oct 13, 2023

Do business loans look at personal credit? ›

Different lenders will weigh your personal credit score when considering your business for a small business loan differently, but the following rules of thumb typically apply: A personal credit score below 680 will make a loan with a traditional lender like a bank or credit union problematic.

Why do people put their house under an LLC? ›

Protects From Personal Liability

Holding each investment property in its own LLC limits owner liability that is owed to any tenant, guest, invitee, trespasser, or random person walking by to the value of that specific investment.

Can LLC write off mortgage? ›

"If [the LLC is taxed as] a sole proprietorship, [mortgage interest can be deducted on Schedule E" of Form 1040, she explains.

Is it easier to get a loan with an LLC? ›

Yes, it can be easier to get an LLC loan. Some lenders won't lend to sole proprietors.

How to get approved for a mortgage as a small business owner? ›

How to get a mortgage when you're self-employed in 5 steps
  1. Determine if you're classified as self-employed. ...
  2. Prepare a pitch that explains your business. ...
  3. Gather necessary documents to show lenders. ...
  4. Shop multiple lenders. ...
  5. Boost your credit score. ...
  6. Lower your debt-to-income ratio. ...
  7. Make a larger down payment.
May 23, 2024

What income can be used to qualify for a mortgage? ›

In addition to your monthly income from wages earned, this can include social security income, rental property income, spousal support, or other non-taxable sources of income. Your work history: This helps lenders understand how stable your income is and how likely you are to repay your mortgage.

Can you borrow against your business to buy a house? ›

Conventional business loans are available for real estate purchase as term loans from banks Businesses needing more than $250,000, as well as those with good credit and heavy capitalization, are good fits for conventional small business financing.

Can I get a business loan if I already have a loan? ›

Many lenders prevent customers from taking out multiple business loans at a time. They do this for a few reasons: Collateral: You typically can't use the same piece of collateral on two separate loans. If you've already tied up your available collateral on your first loan, you might not have any left for a second.

Do mortgage lenders check business credit? ›

Business credit history

It's recommended that you keep your business and personal credit separate. However, depending on your business entity and how your business loan is structured, a mortgage lender may want to review your personal and business credit history.

Can you have two loans from the same loan company? ›

Yes. Many banks and lenders will allow you to take out more than one loan, but they typically have limits. These are a few lenders that cap the number of loans or amount of money you can borrow. Be sure to check the fine print or ask a lender directly if they aren't on this list and you want to know their limits.

Does a business loan show up on your personal credit report? ›

Business loans do not typically show up on your personal credit report unless the bank reports it to credit bureaus as personal lending under your social security number. Normally, your personal credit report shouldn't be impacted by a business loan, even if you've personally guaranteed the loan.

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