Asset Depletion · Process

The Asset Depletion Loan Process in California

From portfolio to keys, in eight steps. The work is documentation and divisor selection up front — get those right and underwriting is mostly math. Prepared well, it closes in about 21–30 days, and your investments never move.

8 steps~21–30 daysNo income docsNo liquidation
MBReviewed by Mike Basti, Mortgage Broker & Founder · NMLS #377740
Quick Answer

The process: 1) inventory assets → 2) apply haircuts & choose divisor → 3) add other income → 4) pre-approval → 5) find home & apply → 6) appraisal & underwriting → 7) clear conditions → 8) close. See Requirements.

The 8 steps to your keys

  1. Inventory your eligible assets

    List cash, investment & retirement accounts; gather 2–3 months of statements (every page), in your name.

  2. Apply haircuts & choose a divisor

    Correct haircut per asset class; model income across 60–360-month divisors to maximize qualification.

  3. Add any other income

    Layer in Social Security, pension, dividends to strengthen the file.

  4. Get pre-approved

    Submit statements, ID & credit → price & down payment you qualify for.

  5. Find your home & apply

    Shop within pre-approval; complete the app with contract. We shop specialty investors.

  6. Appraisal & underwriting

    Appraisal ordered; underwriting verifies assets, ownership, credit & reserves.

  7. Clear conditions

    Final items (updated statements, deposit letters) → clear-to-close.

  8. Close & get the keys

    Sign, fund down + costs. Closes in ~21–30 days — portfolio stays invested.

Expert tip: Two things decide the whole experience, and both happen in steps 1–2. First, complete statements: asset depletion is documentation-intensive, and the delays we see almost always trace to a missing statement page or an unexplained large deposit — so pull every page of every account, and be ready to explain any deposit that isn't a paycheck. Second, divisor selection: choosing the right depletion period before you apply can double your qualifying income, so it should never be an afterthought. Nail the documentation and the divisor, and the back half of the process is almost mechanical. We handle both with you before a single application goes out. Get pre-approved →

What's needed at each stage

StageWhat you provide / expect
Inventory2–3 months statements, all accounts, every page
DivisorBroker models 60–360-month options
Other incomeSS/pension/dividend documentation
Pre-approvalID, credit, proof of ownership
ApplicationPurchase contract
UnderwritingAppraisal, deposit explanations
Clear-to-closeUpdated statements / letters
ClosingSigned docs, down payment + costs

Reviewed by the licensing team at Save Financial, a California-licensed mortgage brokerage (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766) founded in 2009 and serving all 58 counties from offices in Newport Beach and Marina del Rey. Nothing here is tax advice.

Ready to start? Let's document your assets and get you pre-approved.

Send us your account list and we'll organize the statements, apply the best haircuts, choose the strongest divisor, and drive to a 21–30-day close across competing investors — without touching your portfolio. Free, no obligation.