Mortgage Tips for Temp Agency Workers

In today’s job market, more people are choosing flexible work arrangements through temp agencies and staffing firms. Whether it’s in healthcare, IT, manufacturing, or professional services, temporary work is no longer just a short-term fix, it’s become a long-term career choice for many.

But if you’re working through a staffing agency and considering buying a home, you may be wondering: Can I even qualify for a mortgage? The good news is, yes, you can. You just need the right documentation and an experienced mortgage broker who understands how to present your income correctly.

Why Temp Agency Income Is Misunderstood

Mortgage guidelines are traditionally designed for W-2 employees with steady paychecks.

But temporary workers often have:

• Multiple short-term assignments
• Fluctuating hours
• Gaps between jobs
• A mix of hourly, bonus, and shift-based income

This makes your income harder to categorize, but not impossible to qualify.

What Lenders Are Really Looking For

Whether you’re a temp nurse or a manufacturing worker at a plant, your income must meet three core criteria:

• Stability – Do you have a consistent job history?
• Predictability – Are your earnings somewhat regular over time?
• Likelihood of Continuation – Is there reasonable expectation your income will continue?

If we can document those factors, we’re often able to use your income to help you qualify.

Common Temp Worker Scenarios

Here are a few examples of how temp worker income is treated:

Long-Term Assignments (e.g. Manufacturing)

If you’ve been in a long-term position with no defined end date, like working for a Toyota or Mercedes plant through a staffing agency, we may be able to use current income (not an average) as long as:

• You’ve passed a probationary period
• The role is typical for the industry
• You have a 2-year work or education history

Short-Term or Fluctuating Assignments

If you’ve had multiple short-term gigs over the past 2 years, we’ll likely need to:

• Average your income over 24 months
• Use the lower of the average vs. your current income
• Document gaps, types of assignments, and progression over time

New to Temp Work?

If you’ve only recently started temp work and don’t have a long enough history with the agency or in your field, your income may not be usable, yet. But we can still map out a plan for when you will qualify.

Types of Income We May Consider

• Hourly Wages: Most common; we compare your current rate with a 2-year average.
• Assignment-Based Pay: Often used in IT or project work; must show consistent history.
• Overtime: Allowed if you’ve received it for at least 2 years.
• Shift Differentials: Extra pay for working nights/weekends; must be consistent and well-documented.
• Completion Bonuses: Can be averaged over time if consistent. One-time bonuses may help with closing costs but aren’t counted as income.
• Conversion Bonuses: Typically not counted, but can help with your down payment.

What Documentation You’ll Need

To present your income effectively to underwriters, we’ll work with you to gather:

• W-2s from all agencies for the past 2 years
• A full assignment history (dates, duration, employers)
• Current assignment offer letters or contracts
• Pay stubs showing hours and pay rates
• Written verification from the staffing agency about ongoing work

Best Practices: How We Help

At Innovative Mortgage Brokers, we specialize in helping clients with non-traditional income qualify. Here’s how we approach temp income:

• We layer guidelines from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, or USDA to find the best path forward.
• We look for patterns of increasing stability in your assignments.
• We take a conservative yet realistic approach to calculating your income, aiming for approval, not just a pre-qual.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a temp or staffing agency worker and you’re unsure whether you can qualify for a mortgage, don’t assume the answer is no.

With the right strategy and proper documentation, we’ve helped many clients like you become homeowners.

Let’s have a conversation about your goals and put a plan together.