showing him three years of Airbnb statements, and he just kept asking if I had a “real” job
That’s the classic response. Lenders are still slow to adapt—if it’s not W-2 income, they get nervous. I’ve found some portfolio lenders will consider rental income more seriously, but you have to dig for them. The irony is, a well-run short-term rental can be far more reliable than some “real” jobs these days. It’s frustrating, but persistence usually pays off.
I get where you’re coming from, but I can see why lenders are cautious. Short-term rental income can look great on paper, but it’s not always predictable—seasonality, regulations, even a bad review can throw things off. I’ve had projects where the numbers looked solid, then a city ordinance changed everything overnight. W-2s aren’t perfect, but they’re easier for banks to model risk. It’s not ideal, but I kind of get their side too.
Honestly, I’m right there with you on the unpredictability. When I was looking at buying, I thought about using some side gig income from rideshare apps—looked solid for a few months, then demand totally tanked after the holidays. Banks didn’t want to count it, which felt unfair at first, but I get why they’re hesitant. Still, it’s frustrating when you know you can make the payments but don’t fit their neat little boxes.
BANKS DON'T GET HOW REAL LIFE WORKS SOMETIMES
Totally get where you’re coming from. When I bought my first place, I had a good chunk of freelance income—steady for years, but the lender basically shrugged at it. They wanted two full years of tax returns and even then, acted like it was Monopoly money. It’s weird how they’d rather see a W2 from a job you might hate than actual hustle. The system’s slow to catch up, but you’re not the only one frustrated by it. Hang in there... sometimes it just takes finding the right person who actually listens.
