Bank Statement Loans in California

Bank statement loans in California make the state’s real estate market more accessible than ever for self-employed borrowers. No tax returns, no W-2s, and no pay stubs required. Qualify for a mortgage with just 12 to 24 months of bank statements. Whether you’re looking to purchase in Los Angeles or refinance in San Francisco, Griffin Funding offers flexible bank statement mortgage solutions across California.

  • Access home financing using bank statements 
  • No tax returns or pay stubs required 
  • Purchase, refinance, or cash-out options available 
  • Enjoy high loan amounts and flexible terms
  • Competitive bank statement loan rates in California
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Table of Contents

Why Bank Statement Loans Matter in California’s Market 

California’s housing market is known for having a high bar to entry. According to the California Association of Realtors, the statewide median home price is forecast to hit a record-breaking $905,000 in 2026. For context, the national median is less than half of that.

In high-demand metros like San Francisco and San Jose, even that figure looks modest. To qualify for a mortgage on California’s median-priced home, a household currently needs a minimum annual income of over $213,000. 

While sufficient income is one obstacle that Californians face in buying a home, even those who can afford a mortgage sometimes don’t qualify due to documentation. Traditional mortgage underwriting is focused on those working W-2 jobs, and doesn’t do a good job accommodating would-be home buyers who are self-employed or earn seasonal income.

This is where bank statement loans come into the California real estate picture. Bank statement loans are especially well-suited to California borrowers for a few reasons:

  • California has a big self-employed population: In 2024, 2.2 million Californians — 11.6% of the workforce — reported being primarily self-employed, a rate higher than the national average of 9.9%. The state also boasts 4.34 million small businesses, the most of any state in the country. 
  • An expensive market presents challenges for self-employed borrowers: California has one of the lowest home affordability rates in the nation — as of late 2025, only 18% of California households could afford the median-priced home in the state. For a self-employed borrower who claims significant deductions on their tax returns, qualifying for a home loan is even harder with conventional underwriting that only considers W-2 income.
  • Loan amounts need to be competitive: In pricey markets like the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, even mid-tier properties tend to exceed conventional conforming loan limits. As a type of non-QM loan, bank statement home loans in California can exceed conforming loan limits and offer highly flexible terms. 
  • California has a thriving gig and creative economy: Freelancers, consultants, real estate professionals, tech contractors, and entertainment industry workers often earn non-traditional income. Their income may be fluctuating and inconsistent, not tied to one particular job or company. These workers can struggle to qualify for conventional loans, making bank statement mortgage loans in California a great option. 

Why California Self-Employed Borrowers Choose Griffin Funding

California is Griffin Funding’s number one state for bank statement loans. We fund more bank statement loan volume here than anywhere else we lend, and California is also our top state for total loan volume in 2026.

A lot of that comes down to local fit. We have offices in Irvine and San Diego, and we lend in every California market, from Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Bay Area to Sacramento, Fresno, and the Inland Empire. 

Bank statement loans are one of several non-QM and conventional programs we offer statewide. See our full range of California home loan options.

We underwrite bank statement loans for freelancers, business owners, and 1099 earners every day, so we know what it takes to qualify in a high-cost market.

Griffin Funding is fully licensed to lend in California. We are licensed by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE #01943169) and by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law (CFL #60DBO-44274), and our NMLS ID is 1120111.

Today’s Bank Statement Loan Rates in California

Explore current bank statement loan interest rates in California for 2026. 

Free Tools for Self-Employed Borrowers in California 

Apply for a Bank Statement Home Loan in California 

Self-employed mortgages in California open a pathway to buying a home in California if you have non-traditional income streams. With a bank statement home loan in California, you can qualify for up to $4 million in financing with as little as 10% down — no tax returns or pay stubs required. Griffin offers 12- and 24-month bank statement programs, along with P&L and 1099 income options. See all bank statement loan types to find the structure that fits your income.

Griffin Funding has helped self-employed borrowers, small business owners, freelancers, and independent contractors qualify for bank statement mortgage loans in California. We’re a California-based lender that offers non-QM loans across the state, whether you’re looking to buy in Sacramento, San Diego, the Bay Area, the Inland Empire, or elsewhere. 

Reach out today to learn more about how to qualify for a mortgage in California if you’re self-employed. If you’re ready to get pre-approved and lock in your rate, get started online right away. 

Bank Statement Home Equity Loans and HELOCs in California

California homeowners hold some of the most home equity in the country, a direct result of the high home values covered above. If you’re self-employed, putting that equity to work can be just as hard as getting a purchase loan, because most banks still ask for tax returns to approve a HELOC or home equity loan.

Griffin Funding offers home equity options that let qualified self-employed California borrowers tap their equity using bank statements instead of tax returns. That opens up cash for a business expansion, debt consolidation, a renovation, or a down payment on a second property, without forcing you back into traditional income documentation.

The same flexibility that makes a bank statement purchase loan work for self-employed Californians applies here: we look at 12 to 24 months of deposits rather than W-2s or tax returns.

Compare your options and see how much equity you could access with our California home equity and HELOC programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

To qualify for a bank statement loan in California, you’ll generally need to be self-employed for two or more years, have a 620 or higher credit score, put down at least 10%, and provide 12 to 24 months of bank statements. Because California home prices and loan amounts run high, reserve requirements can be larger here than in lower-cost states. 

For the full list of requirements and how we calculate qualifying income, see our bank statement loan requirements.

Yes. Griffin Funding lends throughout California, including high-cost metros like Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego, and Orange County, as well as inland markets like Sacramento, Fresno, and the Inland Empire. Given that prices in coastal California markets frequently exceed average prices in the state, having access to higher loan amounts through a bank statement loan is particularly valuable for buyers in those areas.

Not necessarily. You can qualify for a bank statement loan in California with a down payment as low as 10%. However, the exact down payment requirements depends on factors like your financial profile and loan amount.

Yes. You can use a bank statement loan to purchase or refinance an investment property in California. That said, if you’re qualifying primarily on the property’s rental income rather than your personal deposits, a DSCR loan in California is often the better fit, since it qualifies based on the property’s cash flow instead of your bank statements. Many California real estate investors use both programs across different properties.

Yes. Griffin Funding offers bank statement home equity options for self-employed California homeowners, qualifying you on 12 to 24 months of bank statements instead of tax returns. Learn more about California home equity loans and HELOCs.