Your total compensation is a starting point.
For Amazon, Google and other tech employees, mortgage qualifying income can differ from the headline compensation package. Each component deserves its own review.
Base salary
Fixed salary is generally evaluated separately from bonuses and stock. Documentation and your overall income assessment still matter.
Cash bonuses
The lender reviews receipt history, frequency and trends. A target bonus in an offer letter is not automatically qualifying income.
RSUs & restricted stock
Vesting, actual distributions, award terms and the loan’s income calculation matter. Today’s share price alone does not tell the whole story.
Understand your vesting story.
Time-based awards follow a schedule tied to continued employment. Performance-based awards depend on specified conditions. Lenders distinguish between these structures and between recurring and one-time awards.
Future vesting can help a lender assess whether income is expected to continue. It does not turn the entire unvested grant into income available for qualification today.
There is no universal “two years of RSUs” rule. The selected loan’s requirements, your current employer history and evidence of distributions determine what may be usable.
Examples from Fannie Mae’s current guidelines
- Time-based awards require at least 12 months with the current employer.
- Performance-based awards generally call for two years; some histories of at least 12 months may be acceptable.
- Qualifying stock must have vested and been distributed without restrictions. Sign-on bonuses paid as restricted stock are ineligible.
- Share-based calculations use a 200-day average stock price.
These are examples from one set of loan guidelines, not a promise of approval. Other programs and lender requirements can differ.
Why two mortgage reviews can differ.
Illustrative example. Two employees may report the same annual compensation. If one receives mostly fixed salary and the other receives substantial stock awards, their qualifying income may differ.
Lenders review award terms, past distributions and future continuance under the selected program. The useful question is: “Which parts of my compensation can this lender use, and what supports that calculation?”
Salary, bonus and documentation details
Fannie Mae’s fixed-base-pay guidance has no minimum receipt-history requirement, although documentation and the overall assessment still apply. Its bonus guidance recommends two years of history and may accept at least 12 months with supporting positive factors.
Freddie Mac’s published documentation matrix also distinguishes time-based and performance-based awards and calls for analysis of continuance, distributions, public trading, award terms and vesting schedules.
Review financing before the move.
Some mortgage options can use a qualifying employment offer or contract. The review may include fixed base pay, start date, employment conditions, property type and available reserves.
An offer letter does not make every part of a new compensation package eligible. Review the details before committing to a purchase timeline.
Employment-offer guidance
Have the right documents ready.
Depending on the income and program, the lender may ask for:
- Recent paystubs and W-2s
- An employment offer or compensation agreement
- RSU or restricted-stock award agreements
- Schedules showing past and future vesting
- Statements documenting shares or cash actually distributed
Use the mortgage preparation checklist and ask Lance which records apply. When you’re ready to provide records, use our secure document upload.
Get clarity before you apply.
Can I qualify using RSUs?
Possibly. Award terms, receipt history, actual distributions and the selected loan’s rules determine what may be eligible.
Do I always need two years at my employer?
No. Fixed salary and stock compensation have different requirements. A recent job change needs a component-by-component review.
Can I use unvested shares as current income?
Do not assume so. Under Fannie Mae’s restricted-stock rules, qualifying stock must already have vested and been distributed. Future vesting may help document continuance.
Will a larger bonus immediately increase qualifying income?
Not necessarily. The lender reviews receipt history and the trend rather than simply using the latest payment.
Build a clearer mortgage plan.
Buying, refinancing or relocating? Talk with Lance about your goals, timing and compensation structure.
Please don’t send Social Security numbers, account numbers, paystubs or other sensitive records through ordinary text or email.
Sources and program details
Educational information reviewed October 15, 2026. Current lender and program rules control.
Loan availability and qualifying income depend on current program requirements, lender review and your complete application. This page is not a loan approval or commitment to lend. Employer names describe the people this guide may help. Seattle Wholesale Mortgage is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer named here.