You have the documentation. You just missed the box. A Full Doc loan is for borrowers who fully document their income — W-2s, pay stubs, and tax returns — but trip an agency guideline on debt-to-income ratio, loan amount, or a recent credit event. It's the classic near-agency miss.
What Is a Full Doc Loan?
A Full Doc non-QM loan is documented like a conventional mortgage but underwritten outside Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (agency) rules. Because it isn't bound by agency caps, it can accept a higher debt-to-income ratio, a larger loan amount, or a borrower still recovering from a credit event — while still using your full income documentation. CrossCountry Mortgage offers it through two tiers: Full Doc Platinum Jumbo and Full Doc Portfolio Select.
Who It's For
✓High-DTI borrowers whose ratio runs past the agency cap
✓Jumbo buyers above conforming loan limits
✓Borrowers with a recent credit event — foreclosure, bankruptcy, or short sale
✓Self-employed professionals with one to two years of full documentation
✓Investors with strong income but complex files
✓Unique properties that trip conventional overlays
Two Full Doc Tiers at CrossCountry Mortgage
Full Doc Platinum Jumbo
Built for strong-credit jumbo borrowers who miss on loan amount or DTI. Minimum credit scores around 680 with loan-to-values up to 90% on qualifying files.
Full Doc Portfolio Select
Built for borrowers with credit events. Minimum credit scores around 640, loan-to-values up to 85%, and shorter seasoning after a foreclosure or bankruptcy.
Requirements at a Glance
- Full income documentation — W-2s, pay stubs, and tax returns
- Credit scores from about 620–640 (better pricing at 680+)
- Down payments commonly 10–20%
- Debt-to-income ratios beyond the 43–50% agency cap
- Loan amounts up to $3M+
- Seasoning as short as 1 year from foreclosure, 2 years from bankruptcy
- Primary, second, and investment properties
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Keep your full documentation — no alternative-income gymnastics
- Higher DTI and loan amounts than conventional
- Faster path back after a credit event
- Works for jumbo and non-warrantable scenarios
Cons
- Rates typically above conventional
- Larger down payment in many cases
- Full tax returns and income documents required
Jimmy's tip: A conventional turndown isn't the end of the road. If your documents are in order, a near-agency-miss Full Doc loan often closes the deal — bring your W-2s, tax returns, and the reason for the decline.
Full Doc Loan FAQs
Straight answers to the questions borrowers ask most. Your loan officer is always your best resource for your specific situation.
What is a Full Doc non-QM loan?
A Full Doc loan is documented like a conventional mortgage (W-2s, pay stubs, and tax returns), but it isn't bound by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (agency) limits. If your file is solid but narrowly misses a guideline such as debt-to-income ratio, loan amount, or a recent credit event, a Full Doc loan can get it closed.
How is a Full Doc loan different from other non-QM loans?
Full Doc means income is verified the traditional way (tax returns and W-2s) rather than with bank statements, 1099s, or a P&L. The loan is non-QM because it flexes somewhere else, usually DTI, loan size, or seasoning after a credit event.
What debt-to-income ratio is allowed?
Agency loans typically cap DTI around 43 to 50 percent. Full Doc programs can go meaningfully higher when the rest of the file is strong. Files with DTI in the 50s have been approved.
What credit score and down payment do I need?
Most Full Doc programs start around a 620 to 640 credit score, with better pricing at 680 or higher. Down payments are commonly 10 to 20 percent. CCM's Full Doc Platinum Jumbo and Full Doc Portfolio Select tiers cover a range of credit profiles.
Can I use a Full Doc loan after a foreclosure or bankruptcy?
Yes, this is a core use case. Full Doc Portfolio Select can allow as little as one year from a foreclosure and two years from a bankruptcy, short sale, or deed-in-lieu, where conventional loans require much longer seasoning.
How much can I borrow with a Full Doc loan?
Full Doc jumbo loans commonly reach $3 million and up. The Platinum Jumbo tier is built for high-balance purchases that exceed conforming loan limits.
CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC · NMLS #1444822 · Equal Housing Lender
This page is for informational purposes and is not a commitment to lend. Program availability, guidelines, rates, and terms vary and are subject to change. Your rate may vary. Terms apply.