Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a self-employed electrician or carpenter in Columbus working on Intel or data center projects — can I get a mortgage?

Yes. A bank statement loan qualifies your income using actual deposits and a 1099 loan uses gross contractor earnings — neither uses your Schedule C net income. Central Ohio technology corridor trades workers with 2+ years of self-employment regularly qualify through Non-QM programs.

I work in the New Albany/Licking County tech corridor — what Columbus neighborhoods are best for me to buy in?

New Albany offers maximum proximity but high price points. Westerville and Gahanna offer strong schools and accessible prices in the $350,000–$450,000 range. Pataskala and Reynoldsburg provide lower price points with reasonable commutes. Heath and Granville in Licking County are directly adjacent to the Intel fab site.

How does Intel’s Central Ohio investment affect my income stability as a trades worker?

Intel’s announced $20 billion semiconductor fabrication investment in Licking County is one of the largest manufacturing commitments in Ohio’s history. Combined with hyperscale data center campuses from AWS, Google, and Microsoft in the New Albany corridor, Central Ohio represents years of sustained construction employment for licensed tradespeople — one of the strongest income runway arguments for any Non-QM borrower profile.

Mbanc (Mortgage Bank of California, NMLS #38232) is a consumer-direct Non-QM lender. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit approval.

Mbanc NMLS #38232 | Equal Housing Opportunity Lender

About the Author

Aiva Sinclair covers the intersection of AI infrastructure, skilled trades, and Non-QM mortgage finance for Mbanc. Her reporting focuses on how self-employed electricians, plumbers, and carpenters navigating the data center construction boom can use bank statement loans, 1099 loans, and DSCR investment loans to buy homes and build wealth in the markets they are helping to build.

Contact: sales@mbanc.com | mbanc.com/non-qm-trades