How to verify income for self-employed borrowers

How to verify income for self-employed borrowers

Most seller finance borrowers are self-employed, and that's where a lot of originators get tripped up. In this episode I walk through how we actually verify self-employed income at Call The Underwriter, why it matters for Dodd-Frank compliance and your own protection, and the system we use to get through it fast. I cover why W-2 and fixed-income borrowers are easy, why tax returns usually understate self-employed income, and why 12 complete business bank statements are the workhorse document. I also get into the expense ratio approach for turning gross deposits into usable income, the account and commingling problems we run into constantly, and what borrower behavior tells you before you ever see the file. Plus the story of a loan with a mystery dog kennel that supposedly made $30k in a single month. If you originate or buy seller finance notes, this one will clear up a lot of confusion around documenting income that doesn't come with a pay stub. Questions? Drop them in the comments or email dan at calltheunderwriter.com. For more info on underwriting seller finance loans or get started on a deal go to www.calltheunderwriter.com [https://www.calltheunderwriter.com/]

Wraps, Lease Options & Slow Flips: A Creative Finance Deep Dive with Philip Louden

Dan sits down with Philip Louden — former backpacker, digital nomad, and reluctant wholesaler — who found his calling in seller finance after realizing he was just "dropshipping houses." After a 30-year Kansas City mentor showed him the power of creative finance, Philip went on to originate over 70 deals and build the Wrap Academy community around a simple philosophy: prosperous, peaceful, passive portfolios. In this episode, they cover: * Why Philip walked away from a wholesaling operation doing 6 deals a month — and what it taught him about building businesses you actually want to live in * How he structures 10-year lease options, wraps, and slow flips — and when each one makes sense * The slow flip model: buying $20–30K properties in small markets and seller financing them to buyers who can't even rent for that price * Finding buyers through unconventional channels (including a $75K down payment from Craigslist) * Dan's note buying box — from 10-11% IRA-quality performers to 30-40% non-performing workouts — and how hypothecation creates spread * Why the seller finance note market has a supply-demand equation you won't find anywhere else in real estate Connect with Philip: Wrap Academy: https://wrapacademy.net/ [https://wrapacademy.net/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phil_louden/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/phil_louden/?hl=en] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-louden [https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-louden] Call The Underwriter Call The Underwriting prescreening guide: https://calltheunderwriter.com/prescreen/ [https://calltheunderwriter.com/prescreen/] Call The Underwriter [https://calltheunderwriter.com/] Register for the weekly Call The Underwriter onboarding call [https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rivv1dFnSX-rZhjBxp840w], every Thursday at 12 ET

Note Partials 101: Structure, Pricing, and What Happens If a Loan Defaults

In this episode of the Seller Finance and Creative Deals Podcast, Dan Deppen breaks down partials, one of the most talked about but least understood tools in note investing. Dan explains what a partial actually is (selling a defined chunk of future loan payments at a set rate of return), walks through a real numbers example on a $30K land contract, and covers why partials can be a win for both sides of the deal. Topics covered include why partials only work on performing loans, how sellers use them to recapitalize and scale without giving up the entire note, why buyers like the lower risk of front-end payments and the ability to get exposure to note investing with less capital, how to find partial buyers through your network rather than open marketplaces, typical interest rates sellers offer buyers, key structural decisions like who holds servicing and whether to sell full or fractional payments, and how defaults are typically handled when a partial is in place. Dan also shares an update on his Oklahoma City note portfolio acquisition and the current Note Accelerator cohort. Want to learn more about note investing, seller finance, or creative real estate deals? Check out Fusion Notes for coaching and courses, (www.fusionnotes.com) and Call The Underwriter (www.calltheunderwriter.com,) for flat-fee seller finance compliance and origination help. Note buying: www.fusionnotes.com [https://www.fusionnotes.com] Note origination and underwriting: www.calltheunderwriter.com [https://www.calltheunderwriter.com] Mortgage broker / DSCR servicers in TX, FL and CO: www.callthemortgageguy.com [https://www.callthemortgageguy.com]

How to Find Seller Finance Buyers

In the latest episode, Dan covers: * ✅ How to structure your listing language to attract qualified buyers from the start ("seller financing available for deserving borrowers with a large down payment" works wonders) * ✅ The best DIY platforms for finding seller finance buyers — Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are still producing results * ✅ How to find a great REO-specialist agent, even in markets you've never worked before * ✅ Why pre-screening takes just 5-10 minutes and filters out 95%+ of problem borrowers before you go under contract * ✅ A real deal breakdown: Dan's own recent Michigan REO — listed, 6 offers received, and closed in about two weeks with an 18% down payment and a 677 FICO borrower Dan also shares updates from his note portfolio, including a messy Wisconsin bankruptcy situation, a high-stakes California non-performing note, and news about the latest Note Accelerator cohort. This episode is a must-listen if you've ever found yourself stuck with a bad borrower — or if you want to make sure you never do. Call The Underwriting prescreening guide: https://calltheunderwriter.com/prescreen/ [https://calltheunderwriter.com/prescreen/] Call The Underwriter [https://calltheunderwriter.com/] Register for the weekly Call The Underwriter onboarding call [https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rivv1dFnSX-rZhjBxp840w], every Thursday at 12 ET

2025 Seller Financing Market Report with Fred & Tracy Rewey

Fred and Tracy Rewey share their 2025 seller financing market data With $29.5 billion in new notes created and home sales at a 30-year low, the big story is resilience. They cover LTV trends, top states, the mom-and-pop vs. professional note creator breakdown, the impact of ITIN lending changes, and their outlook for 2026. Get the seller finance report: https://noteinvestor.com/notes-101/seller-financing-2025-industry-report/ [https://noteinvestor.com/notes-101/seller-financing-2025-industry-report/] Call The Underwriter [https://calltheunderwriter.com/] Register for the weekly Call The Underwriter onboarding call [https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rivv1dFnSX-rZhjBxp840w], every Thursday at 12 ET