What Is a Verbal Verification of Employment (VOE)?
A Verbal Verification of Employment (VOE) is a streamlined way for lenders to confirm a borrower’s employment and income status without requiring extensive written documentation. Instead of formal employer letters, pay stubs, or multi-year tax returns, a verbal VOE involves a phone call or oral confirmation that verifies:
- The borrower’s current employment status.
- The borrower’s role or business activity.
- The duration of employment or activity.
This simplified method is particularly appealing in today’s evolving economy, where self-employment, freelancing, and non-traditional income sources are increasingly common.
How Verbal VOE Works in Mortgage Qualification
With traditional mortgage products, borrowers are often required to provide paper-heavy documentation, including:
- Employer letters for W-2 workers.
- Two years of tax returns.
- CPA-prepared statements for the self-employed.
By contrast, the GMCC Hermes program allows borrowers to qualify using verbal confirmation rather than written documentation. Loan officers or underwriters simply need a call or oral verification from the borrower’s employer or, if self-employed, confirmation that the business is active and operational.
This process works hand-in-hand with other simplified documentation methods, such as bank statement qualification, to create a faster and more accessible loan product.
Why Verbal VOE Is Valuable for Borrowers
For many borrowers, VOE flexibility is a game-changer. Traditional documentation can be time-consuming, costly, and restrictive. Employers may not want to provide written letters, or tax returns may not accurately reflect an applicant’s income.
Verbal VOE removes these barriers by:
- Speeding up loan approvals.
- Reducing dependence on unpredictable employer cooperation.
- Helping self-employed borrowers avoid costly accountant involvement.
- Allowing borrowers to qualify based on current financial reality, not historical paperwork.
Verbal VOE for W-2 Employees
W-2 employees, while seemingly “straightforward” borrowers, often encounter problems like:
- Employers delaying written verifications.
- HR departments requiring lengthy processing times.
- Employment documentation not aligning perfectly with lender expectations.
How It Helps W-2 Borrowers
Under Hermes, a simple verbal confirmation of employment suffices. This prevents unnecessary delays and ensures borrowers who are steadily employed move quickly through the process without reliance on paperwork bottlenecks.
Verbal VOE for Self-Employed Borrowers
For the self-employed, who are often most penalized by traditional lending requirements, verbal VOE provides major flexibility.
Instead of requiring two years of tax returns or detailed P&L statements — which are often reduced by aggressive tax planning — Hermes accepts:
- Verbal confirmation that the business is active.
- Bank statements showing actual income flow.
This approach ensures business owners aren’t punished for legitimate write-offs or deductions that reduce their taxable income on paper.
No Profit-and-Loss (P&L) Statement Required if Qualified
In most self-employed loan scenarios, lenders require a CPA-prepared profit-and-loss statement to validate reported earnings. Preparing these statements costs time and money and may reduce qualifying income artificially.
With Hermes, a P&L statement is not required if a borrower qualifies through income verification alternatives such as bank statements plus verbal VOE. This is a significant relief for entrepreneurs and independent contractors since they can skip one of the most complex documentation hurdles.
Combining Verbal VOE With Bank Statement Programs
How It Works Together
Hermes couples verbal VOE flexibility with simplified bank statement qualification. Instead of 12 or 24 months of statements, borrowers only need 3 months of personal bank statements.
These statements are then averaged with 100% of deposits counted, providing a straightforward calculation of income. Combined with verbal employer or business confirmation, these two elements create a powerful and accessible path to approval.
70% Verbal VOE Flexibility: What It Means
Another borrower-friendly feature of Hermes is its 70% VVOE (Verbal Verification of Employment) policy.
This means that if at least 70% of the verification requirement can be fulfilled verbally, the condition is considered satisfied. Lenders recognize that in real life, full or precise documentation may not always be available — so this allowance makes approval possible without excessive red tape.
For example, a small business owner might be able to verbally confirm much of their business activity but doesn’t have a paper trail for every detail. Under Hermes, that’s still acceptable.
Benefits of Verbal VOE Loans Compared to Traditional Documentation
- Speed: Faster qualification compared to waiting for signed documents or tax filings.
- Simplicity: Reduces the paperwork required by underwriters.
- Accessibility: Opens mortgage doors for self-employed and alternative earners.
- Accuracy: Reflects real-world financial activity, not IRS-adjusted income figures.
- Flexibility: 70% VVOE standard increases approval chances.
Common Scenarios Where Verbal VOE Helps Borrowers
- Freelancers and gig economy workers with irregular income patterns.
- Small business owners whose tax returns are minimized by deductions.
- Employees changing jobs, where written HR verification may be delayed.
- Investors with multiple rental properties who need smoother qualification metrics.
These scenarios cover a wide swath of the modern workforce, making verbal VOE an approachable solution for many.
Rental Property Loan Benefits With Verbal VOE Programs
For investors, the Hermes program provides a unique pricing advantage. Unlike other non-QM programs that heavily penalize rental property loans, Hermes only applies a 0.25% rate hit at 70% LTV.
This makes verbal VOE loans attractive not only for employees and self-employed borrowers but also for investors looking to expand rental portfolios without sacrificing returns.
Higher Loan-to-Value (LTV) Opportunities
Whereas many non-QM programs cap at 70–75% LTV, Hermes has expanded capacity through its CRA option, allowing up to 80% LTV.
This is a critical feature for:
- Borrowers with limited down payment capacity.
- Investors wanting to leverage capital more aggressively.
- Buyers in high-cost markets like California, New York, or Washington D.C.
Why Borrowers Choose Verbal VOE Loan Programs
Borrowers are increasingly choosing Hermes and its verbal VOE options because they:
- Simplify the process.
- Reflect real income, not tax-minimized figures.
- Save costs by avoiding CPA-prepared financial documents.
- Provide expanded opportunities for renters, buyers, and investors alike.
These benefits make Hermes one of the most borrower-friendly programs in the non-QM lending space.
Is It for You?
The GMCC Hermes Verbal VOE Mortgage Program is an ideal solution if you:
- Are self-employed or own a business.
- Prefer a fast, low-documentation process.
- Want to avoid preparing P&L statements or lengthy financial packages.
- Plan to invest in rental properties and want pricing that won’t erase profits.
- Need higher borrowing capacity, up to 80% LTV.
- Live in one of the many states where Hermes operates.
In today’s evolving economy, where more people are self-employed, freelancing, or investing in real estate, Hermes provides a real-world approach to mortgage lending. By embracing verbal verification alongside flexible bank statement qualification, it creates a unique bridge between non-traditional earners and property ownership.
