What Is a Non-QM Loan?
Most people buying or refinancing a home end up with what the mortgage industry calls a qualified mortgage, or QM. These are loans that meet the underwriting guidelines set by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA, or the VA. They are standardized, well-understood, and the lenders who make them can sell them into the secondary market. For the majority of borrowers with steady W-2 income, decent credit, and manageable debt levels, a qualified mortgage is the right tool. But a significant portion of creditworthy borrowers do not fit neatly into that box. Non-QM loans exist for them.