Introducing the Ability-First Mortgage™
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A smarter path to homeownership for how people actually earn today
For decades, getting approved for a mortgage has depended on fitting into a very specific box: steady W-2 income, predictable paychecks, and a credit profile that follows a straight line.
But that’s not how most people work anymore.
Millions of hardworking, financially responsible buyers earn income through businesses they own, contracts they manage, platforms they use, or multiple income streams they’ve built over time. They pay rent on time. They manage cash flow responsibly. They support families and businesses. Yet when it comes time to buy a home, they’re often told the same thing:
“You don’t qualify.”
At Doorly, we believe that’s not a credit problem — it’s a system problem.
That’s why we built the Ability-First Mortgage™ (AFM).
What Is the Ability-First Mortgage™?
The Ability-First Mortgage™ is Doorly’s proprietary home financing product designed to evaluate what truly matters: your real ability to repay, not whether your income fits outdated templates.
AFM looks beyond rigid credit score cutoffs and one-size-fits-all income rules. Instead, it evaluates the full financial picture — including earning power, cash flow, reserves, payment history, and sustainability over time.
The result is a mortgage product built for modern workers, not a workforce that no longer exists.
Why Traditional Mortgages Miss the Mark
Traditional underwriting was designed decades ago for a different economy. It assumes:
- One employer
- One paycheck
- Linear income growth
- Predictable documentation
If your income fluctuates, comes from multiple sources, or doesn’t fit neatly into a W-2 box, the system often treats you as higher risk — even if you’ve proven you can comfortably afford a home.
AFM flips that logic.
Instead of asking, “Does this borrower look perfect on paper?”
We ask, “Can this person responsibly own and sustain a home?”
How AFM Is Underwritten
AFM is built on a fully documented, compliance-driven underwriting framework that focuses on ability to repay, not arbitrary thresholds.
While every loan is evaluated individually, AFM underwriting emphasizes:
- Verified income and earning power (including non-traditional sources)
- Cash flow consistency and reserves
- Debt obligations relative to real income
- Payment history and financial behavior
- Responsible loan-to-value standards
Credit scores matter — but they’re treated as one data point, not the entire story.
How AFM Works with Doorly’s Platform
AFM is integrated into Doorly’s end-to-end homeownership platform.
Here’s what makes it different:
- Pre-approval is based on real financial capacity, not just credit rules
- Doorly purchases the home in cash, enabling faster, more reliable closings
- Ownership transfers to you immediately through a same-day resale
- Your name goes on the deed at closing — not rent-to-own, not delayed equity
AFM doesn’t just approve a loan. It enables a cleaner, faster path from application to keys.
Built for Buyers the System Overlooks
The Ability-First Mortgage™ was designed for buyers who are often underserved by traditional lending, including:
- Self-employed professionals and entrepreneurs
- Freelancers and gig-economy workers
- Small business owners
- Buyers rebuilding credit after life events
- Households with multiple income streams
These buyers aren’t risky — they’re just misunderstood by legacy systems.
Responsible Access, Not Shortcuts
AFM is not about cutting corners or loosening standards. It’s about using better standards.
Doorly operates under formal underwriting guidelines, full disclosures, and compliance-driven processes. Buyers see their terms clearly before closing, understand their obligations, and enter homeownership with transparency from day one.
Our goal isn’t just access — it’s sustainable ownership.
A New Definition of “Qualified”
The Ability-First Mortgage™ is built on a simple belief:
Being qualified for homeownership should be based on reality — not outdated assumptions.
AFM represents a shift away from rigid checklists and toward smarter, more human underwriting. It’s how Doorly helps buyers move from locked out to moved in — responsibly, transparently, and with ownership from day one.
If you’re ready to explore a different path to homeownership, Doorly is ready to look at your full financial story.
There’s another way — and it starts with ability.