Separate received earnings from future awards
We identify basic salary, cash bonus history, deferred compensation and awards subject to vesting or other conditions. Award letters and payslips may describe different stages of the same payment, so it is important not to count it twice. A change of employer or a guaranteed joining payment adds another timing question.
Keep the deposit and affordability evidence distinct
A vested award sold for a deposit needs a clear trail. An unvested award is a different proposition. We discuss the available funds, future obligations and the income a lender is being asked to assess.
How I approach the case
We begin with what you want to achieve, your timescale and any part of the case that needs explaining. I review the evidence and suitable lender routes, then explain the available options and their costs. A recommendation follows the individual assessment; an initial conversation does not commit you to an application.
Where legal, tax or other specialist advice is needed, we identify it early so the finance fits the wider transaction. Tell me about any change in employment, borrowing, deposit or property details before proceeding.
What to prepare
- Employment contract and salary evidence
- Cash bonus history and award letters
- Deferred award and vesting statements
- Deposit receipt and transfer trail
- Existing mortgages, commitments and reserves
You do not need every document before saying hello. Start with a short outline; detailed or sensitive records should follow through an agreed secure route.
Income acceptance, borrowing amount and term depend on the lender’s individual assessment. Future awards, distributions, business exits or asset growth are not guaranteed. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments.
Your questions, answered
Will all of my bonus be included?
No percentage is assumed. Acceptance depends on the history, payment structure and the lender’s current assessment.
Can deferred stock be treated like cash salary?
It should be presented separately, with vesting conditions and payment evidence. It is not automatically equivalent to received cash.
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Preparation guide reviewed 11 September 2026. General information; individual lender assessment is required. Further reading: MoneyHelper: buying a home and mortgages.
