RSU Mortgage After Relocating from the USA

Scenario

Helping a tech professional unlock their London dream home by securing a mortgage that values Restricted Stock Unit income

In this scenario, a tech professional working for a US Social Media firm, is relocating back to the UK, setting their sights on a £1.7 million home in London. They wish to use both base salary and Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) income to secure a mortgage. However, on approaching a high street bank for a £950,000 loan, the bank’s adviser had never dealt with RSU income before.

This is where an experienced mortgage broker like Cleerly can provide the specialist expertise required.

Cleerly understand modern compensation packages, where income can be considerably more complex. In this case, by conducting a comprehensive assessment, our experienced broker would assess niche lenders who would consider both US Dollar salary (soon to be paid in GB Pounds) and RSUs.

To ensure smooth approval, we might advise our client to borrow just over £1 million, qualifying them for the lender's premier service and a pre-agreement ahead of the full application. Thanks to an 10% annual overpayment allowance, they could further pay down the extra amount at their own pace.

Highly recommend to other contractors! After running into challenges with high street mortgage lenders on a somewhat standard remortgage, I sought help from Cleerly and Mark McBurney. Mark successfully secured us a high street remortgage product at a competitive rate. Very grateful for Marks work and the overall service provided by Cleerly.

I had only recently started my Ltd company and all mortgage brokers were telling me I needed at least 1 years’ worth of accounts to be able to secure a mortgage offer. Until I spoke to Cleerly, they were able to secure an offer in a matter of weeks and were a pleasure to deal with. I would recommend Will and Cleerly to anyone looking to secure a mortgage. Great service.

I would recommend Will, from the first initial introduction that I had with him he gathered enough details on what my needs were and what as a company they could offer. Very professional, financial consultant company who kept me abreast from the word go he also explained any legal jargon and financial implications very clear. Would I use them again, yes especially when it comes to mortgage or remortgage you want someone with experience and knowledge to help with your search and assure what you are committing. So, thank you for your excellent service and negotiating a deal on my behalf.

In order to finance a move, we intended to port our mortgage and extend the borrowing, but our existing lender through in so many curveballs that is was impossible to stay with them. Matthew worked tirelessly to find us a second option which we then secured. I can't imagine what would have happened without his help and support throughout.

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Proving RSU Income to Lenders

To verify a client's RSU income, we would present the following documentation to a specialist lender:

Updated Employment Contract: Reflecting the recent move back to the UK

Vesting Schedule: An official document from our client's employer detailing upcoming vesting dates and the shares they would receive

P60s: Their last two years' P60s, to demonstrate full taxable income

Brokerage Statements: Evidence of past stock sales and the proceeds paid

Award Letters: Confirmation of RSU grants

Standard Documents: The latest three months of payslips and bank statements

Addressing Clients’ RSU Mortgage Questions

Do RSUs (Restricted Stock Units) need to be sold before applying?

Clients may understandably be concerned that they would be required to sell their RSUs before applying for a mortgage.

In this example, Cleerly's High Net Worth Specialists might confirm that while demonstrating a history of selling shares (liquidation) can strengthen a client's application by proving the income is "realised", many lenders are comfortable accepting RSUs based on the vesting schedule alone. Clients generally do not need to sell shares just to qualify, provided you can demonstrate they are vesting regularly.

Fluctuating share prices during the mortgage process

Many clients in publicly listed businesses express concern about their employer's share price volatility, worrying that this would affect the short-term value of their RSUs.

Generally speaking, lenders typically use an average share value from the last 12 to 24 months, rather than just the current price. Lenders also assess the employer's financial stability to confirm the income source is reliable.

Could RSUs received in US Dollars be used for a UK mortgage?

Yes, they can. Many employees at global tech or finance firms receive RSUs in USD or EUR. Specialist lenders are experienced with this and will convert the value for affordability calculations. However, they may apply a small discount to account for exchange rate fluctuations.

Outcome: Dream Home - Secured

In this example, the borrower successfully purchased a new family home with a mortgage tailored to their unique income structure and long-term goals. With Cleerly, expert guidance makes all the difference, turning a complex income structure into a straightforward, successful mortgage solution.

As RSU policies vary significantly between lenders, a generic "salary-only" approach can substantially undercut your borrowing power. A specialist broker like Cleerly can:

Identify which lenders accept up to 100% of RSU income

Structure your application to highlight your total wealth

Navigate complex documentation to prevent delays

Connect you with private banks that offer tailored terms for high-net-worth individuals