Qualifying With Amazon, Microsoft and Tech RSU Income on a Washington Mortgage
Updated October 2026
A Seattle tech employee earning a $170,000 salary plus stock and bonuses may qualify on substantially less than their total compensation statement suggests. Mortgage underwriting separates dependable qualifying income from compensation that remains unvested, fluctuates sharply, or lacks enough payment history.
Build the file around income that can continue
Base salary is usually the simplest component. Bonus and restricted stock unit income require closer review of receipt history, employer documentation, vesting terms, and likely continuation. A recent promotion or refresh grant does not automatically make the entire award usable.
Prepare these documents before shopping:
- Recent pay statements and two years of W-2s.
- Employer compensation statements separating salary, bonuses, and equity.
- Vesting schedules showing historical distributions and upcoming vest dates.
- Brokerage records connecting vested shares to actual receipt.
- Explanations for leave, employer changes, or declining variable compensation.
Lenders may average eligible earnings and adjust for declining trends. RSU valuation methods differ by loan program and lender; today's share price multiplied by next year's scheduled shares is not necessarily qualifying income. Signing bonuses and relocation payments may be treated differently from recurring compensation.
Separate qualifying income from closing funds
Shares used for a down payment must satisfy asset documentation and accessibility requirements. Selling shares also changes the assets available for reserves, so coordinate the income calculation with the proposed liquidation rather than treating the same stock as unlimited support for both.
Washington has no state personal income tax, but federal withholding, payroll taxes, and potentially applicable Washington capital gains tax still affect available cash. Gross vesting value is not the same as spendable proceeds.
For larger purchases, compare high-balance and jumbo underwriting. Jumbo lenders can impose different reserve requirements and equity-income standards. The FHFA Loan Limits resource helps establish the applicable county boundary before choosing a program.
Stress-test the payment without a strong stock year
Run the proposed housing payment against salary alone, then against a conservative variable-income estimate. Include property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and existing debts in the monthly payment calculator.
A borrower who qualifies using stock income may still prefer a payment supported mostly by salary. Keep a cash buffer that does not depend on selling shares during an employer trading blackout or market decline.
Use the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance to compare Loan Estimates, then request a documented income review through Sound & Slope's free quote before committing to a purchase price.
Compare Current Mortgage Rates
Compare current APRs, points, fees, and estimated monthly payments from participating lenders below.
Loan Program Comparison: 2026 Benchmarks
Qualifying With Amazon, Microsoft and Tech RSU Income on a Washington Mortgage — Choose a mortgage by comparing eligibility, upfront cash and total monthly costs, not the advertised rate alone. Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA serve different borrowers. Confirm county limits, taxes, insurance and lender requirements before comparing personalized Loan Estimates for your household.
Historical 2025 one-unit comparison: conforming $806,500; FHA floor $524,225. County and unit-count limits can differ.
| Loan program | Down payment / equity | 2026 one-unit baseline | Costs and page-specific comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 3%–5% subject to eligibility | $832,750 | PMI generally below 20% down |
| FHA | 3.5% at 580+; 10% at 500–579 | $541,287 floor | 1.75% upfront MIP; 0.55% annual for >95% LTV, base loan ≤$726,200, term >15 years |
| VA | 0% for eligible borrowers | No VA limit with full entitlement | No monthly PMI; funding fee unless exempt |
| USDA | 0% for eligible borrowers | Income, address and repayment eligibility | Guarantee and annual fees; confirm current schedule |
| Jumbo | Lender-specific cash and reserves | Above applicable conforming limit | Lender-specific pricing and insurance |
| Home Equity / Refinance | Equity and underwriting dependent | Property and lender dependent | Compare closing costs, term and break-even |
Sources: FHFA limits; HUD FHA limits.
Editorial Methodology & Primary Sources
Verification date: Not recorded; check the primary source and lender timestamp before relying on an estimate.
Rate comparisons use participating lender feeds, not a whole-market survey or guaranteed offers. Freddie Mac PMMS is a market benchmark, not a personalized quote. Calculator models rely on published regulatory formulas and disclosed assumptions rather than fabricated first-person loan testing.
Monthly principal and interest use the amortization formula P × r / (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r is the monthly note rate and n is the number of payments; at zero interest use P / n. PITI adds monthly property taxes and homeowners insurance; PMI is separate. APR includes applicable finance charges under Regulation Z and is not the note rate used for payments. Compare lender Loan Estimates for actual APR and fees.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — Loan Estimates, APR and borrower disclosures; Regulation Z.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD / FHA) — FHA program guidance.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — VA loan eligibility and benefits.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) — published rate benchmarks.
- U.S. Census state tax collections — state property tax benchmarks; confirm parcel-specific assessments and exemptions with the state revenue department and local assessor.
The payment snapshot uses illustrative annual taxes of 1% of home price, $1,200 insurance and 0.5% PMI below 20% down, not verified local quotes. Other calculators disclose their inputs and assumptions. Published guidance and lender feeds may change independently; confirm current program rules, taxes and offers before a decision.