Life Situations
Every guide, comparison, calculator, and mortgage term we've published on this topic — 12 in total, written for people who have never bought a home.
Read the Life Situations topic hub overview →- Ask RED about your situationTool6 minRED handles the edge cases lenders won't explain.
- Can I buy a house after a divorce?Guide9 minDivorce doesn't disqualify you from buying — but the timing, documentation, and how you split shared debt matters more than most buyers realize.
- Can I buy a house if I'm paying child support?Guide6 minYes — but child support you pay counts as a monthly debt, even when it's not on your credit report. Here's how to plan around it.
- Can I buy a house if I'm recently married?Guide7 minMarriage doesn't change what you qualify for — but combining incomes, debts, and credit files can unlock (or complicate) a bigger loan than either of you could get alone.
- Can I buy a house if I'm retired?Guide9 minAbsolutely — retirees have some of the strongest mortgage files lenders see. Fixed income, assets, and no employment risk. Here's what actually counts.
- Can I buy a house right out of college?Guide8 minNew grads with a degree in a related field can often qualify with **less than 12 months** of income. Here's the college-completion exception and how student loans really count.
- Can I buy a house with 1099 income?Guide8 minYes — 1099 contractors qualify for every major loan program. Here's exactly how underwriters read your 1099 income and what alternatives exist when tax returns understate your business.
- Can I get a mortgage on commission income?Guide8 minYes — but commission is treated like self-employment. Here's the 2-year rule, how expenses affect qualifying income, and the sales-role playbook.
- Can I get a mortgage on Social Security income?Guide7 minYes — Social Security is fully qualifying income for every major loan program, and the non-taxable portion is grossed up 125%. Here's the full picture.
- Can I use bonus income to qualify for a mortgage?Guide7 minYes — bonus income is fully qualifying with a 2-year history. Here's the exact math and how to avoid the #1 documentation mistake.
- Can I use child support as income for a mortgage?Guide7 minYes — child support you receive is fully qualifying income, and it's tax-free so lenders gross it up 125%. Here's how to document it.
- Can I use RSUs to qualify for a mortgage?Guide8 minYes — but only the vested portion, and only when you have a documented 2-year history of receiving and selling them. Here's the exact math lenders use.