Can workers at tech firms like SpaceX paid a salary plus RSUs get mortgages?

Can SpaceX and tech employees paid with salary plus RSU income get mortgages?

SpaceX employees who receive Restricted Stock Units, or RSUs, may be able to use this income to support a UK mortgage application. However, not every lender accepts RSU income, and the application needs to be packaged carefully.

SpaceX was founded in 2002 to revolutionise space technology and designs, manufactures and launches rockets and spacecraft. It has become one of the world’s best-known private technology and aerospace companies, with employees often receiving a mixture of basic salary, bonus and equity-based compensation.

Companies like SpaceX where employees may have meaningful stock options, RSUs or equity income usually include late-stage technology, AI, software, fintech, aerospace and cyber-security firms. For mortgage purposes, lenders tend to be more comfortable where the company is public, the shares are liquid, and the employee has a track record of vested stock income.

Recent or relatively recent IPO examples include CoreWeave, ServiceTitan, Rubrik, Reddit, Astera Labs, Circle and Klaviyo. CoreWeave floated in March 2025 and was one of the biggest US technology IPOs of 2025, while ServiceTitan listed in December 2024. Reddit, Astera Labs and Rubrik were notable 2024 technology IPOs

Can SpaceX RSU income be used for a mortgage?

Yes, some lenders may consider RSU income when assessing mortgage affordability, but the rules vary significantly. Many mainstream lenders still prefer straightforward salary, bonus and commission income. RSUs are more complex because they can depend on vesting schedules, share value, company performance, liquidity and whether the shares can be sold. The good news is that some lenders offer higher income multiples for higher earners at up to 6.5 times single or joint incomes, which means RSUs may not need to be used.

Some lenders will consider RSUs with a clear track record of vesting over two or three years. Others may use only a percentage of the vested RSU income, such as 50% or 60%. A smaller number of lenders may use up to 100% of vested RSU income where the borrower has a strong history, good affordability and a suitable deposit. Trinity Financial has access to around eleven lenders offering RSU income mortgages. 

Can SpaceX and other tech employees get a mortgage without selling shares?

Potentially, yes. A lender may use RSU income for affordability without requiring the employee to sell all of their stock, provided the income is evidenced properly and has vested or been paid consistently.

However, if the borrower wants to use RSUs as a deposit, repayment strategy or asset-based support, the lender may need to understand whether the shares are liquid, saleable and accessible. This can be more complicated where shares are in a private company or subject to restrictions.

Some borrowers prefer not to sell stock because they believe the company value may increase, they want to avoid triggering tax issues, or they do not want to reduce their long-term investment position. In these cases, the mortgage may need to be structured using salary, bonus and acceptable RSU income rather than relying on stock sale proceeds.

What documents will lenders want?

SpaceX and tech employees paid with RSUs may need to provide:

• Latest payslips

• P60s or tax documents

• Employment contract

• RSU grant documents

• Vesting schedule

• Evidence of historic vested RSUs

• Share statements or platform statements

• Evidence of tax paid on vested awards

• Bank statements showing income received

• Confirmation of any restrictions on selling shares

The stronger and clearer the evidence, the more likely the lender is to consider the RSU income.

What income multiples can SpaceX employees get?

Income multiples depend on the lender, deposit size, credit profile, property type and overall affordability.

Some mainstream lenders may lend around 4.5 to 5 times income. Higher earners with strong deposits may be able to access 5 times income, and some lenders may consider around 6.5 times income in the right circumstances. Mainly when they earn over £100,000 a year.

Where RSU income is accepted, the lender may use basic salary plus an allowable percentage of vested RSU income. For example, one lender may use salary plus 50% of average vested RSUs, while another may use more if the income is consistent and well evidenced.

Private banks may take a more bespoke view of SpaceX employees with larger mortgages, significant assets, strong future earnings or complex stock-based compensation.

Why can RSU mortgages be difficult?

RSU mortgage applications are more complex because lenders assess stock-based income differently. Some lenders ignore it completely. Others want a two or three-year history. Some will not use unvested awards. Others may be cautious if the company is private, the shares are hard to value, or there are restrictions on selling.

This means two borrowers with the same SpaceX package could receive very different mortgage offers depending on which lender is approached.

Aaron Strutt, product director at Trinity Financial, says:

“SpaceX employees and other technology professionals with RSU income can be strong mortgage applicants, but they need the right lender. The issue is not always whether they earn enough; it is whether the lender understands how the income is paid and whether it can be used for affordability.

“Some banks will ignore RSU income, while others may use a meaningful percentage of vested stock awards alongside basic salary. This can make a huge difference to the amount a borrower can raise.

“Clients should not assume they need to sell shares to get a mortgage. In some cases, RSU income can support affordability while the borrower keeps their stock position, but the application needs to be evidenced and structured properly.”

SpaceX employees are mainly based in the United States, with the biggest hubs in Texas, California, Washington and Florida.

Key locations include Starbase/Brownsville, Texas, now widely reported as SpaceX’s corporate headquarters and the centre of Starship development; Hawthorne, California, its long-standing engineering, manufacturing and mission-control base; McGregor, Texas, used for rocket engine and stage testing; Redmond, Washington, a major Starlink satellite and operations hub; and Cape Canaveral, Florida, one of its main launch locations. SpaceX’s own careers site currently lists roles in locations including Hawthorne, Starbase, Bastrop, Redmond, Cape Canaveral, Woodinville and Palo Alto.

SpaceX employees are largely US-based, so UK lenders may need to assess US dollar income, RSU income, tax documents and any visa or residency position carefully before offering a mortgage.

Why use Trinity Financial?

Trinity Financial regularly helps technology employees, private equity professionals, bankers, entrepreneurs and high earners with stock-based compensation secure mortgages.

Our brokers can compare lenders that understand RSUs, vested stock, bonus income, foreign income and complex pay structures. This can help SpaceX employees work out how much they can borrow and whether they can secure a mortgage without selling stock.

Call Trinity Financial on 020 7016 0790, book a consultation, complete our mortgage questionnaire, or use our appointment calendar.

The information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change. It is for general information purposes and is not advice.

Your mortgage is secured on your property. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.