Finance

What is 'non-QM' (non-qualified mortgage) lending and when might a Hawaii buyer need it?

AA. A mortgage that fails federal lending standards and is illegal to originate
BB. A mortgage that doesn't meet standard Qualified Mortgage criteria (DTI, documentation, loan features); used for self-employed borrowers, investors, or those with non-traditional income✓ Correct
CC. A government program for buyers who have been denied conventional loans
DD. Any FHA or VA loan; they are not QM loans

Explanation

Non-QM loans are mortgage products that fall outside the Qualified Mortgage (QM) safe harbor but are still legal to originate. They serve borrowers who don't fit conventional documentation requirements: self-employed Hawaiians with complex income, real estate investors using rental income, borrowers with recent credit events, or those with high-value assets but irregular income (common in Hawaii's tourism and gig economy).

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