They can, once they've vested. Lenders count what you can actually access, and your W-2 can overstate that. Restricted stock units usually vest on a schedule over three to five years, and only the portion that has fully vested and become accessible counts toward qualifying income. Unvested grants don't, even when they show up as taxable compensation on your pay stub or W-2, because you can't make a mortgage payment with money you can't yet touch. That distinction catches a lot of high earners off guard, since the total-comp number an employer quotes can run far larger than the income a lender will use. We worked with a Costco store manager whose pay was roughly 60% RSUs: strong income on paper, but only the vested, accessible shares counted, so the qualifying figure came in well below the headline total. Beyond vesting, lenders generally want a history of the RSU income and some basis to expect it continues, and they'll often average it and weigh the underlying stock's stability. If RSUs are a big part of your compensation, get your vesting schedule and grant history reviewed early, so you know which portion counts before you set a price range.