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It seems almost redundant. After all, isn’t every property an investment of some kind?
While that may be true, when it comes to obtaining a mortgage, the definition of an investment property, and the requirements surrounding its loan, are pretty clear.
To put it simply, primary residence refers to a home occupied by its owner the majority of the year. When borrowing, the prospective owner will be expected to acknowledge this status on several loan documents. Once a home is classified as “owner occupied,” it receives a better interest rate than an investment property.
An investment property is any home that is NOT occupied by the owner. It can, however, also be a second home or vacation home that is too close in proximity to the primary residence. Investment properties such as these pose a bigger risk to lenders and therefore carry a higher interest rate.
One way new investors approach buying investment properties is to leverage the better loan rates that apply to multi-unit properties if you plan to live in one of the units. If you take up residence on your property, and collect rents from the other units, you can usually pay your entire mortgage and cover upkeep of the property while living rent free yourself. This is a great way to get into real estate investing. Just don’t get in over your head, as you’ll be living in your investment, and if you lose it, you lose your home as well.
Currently, Fannie Mae allows each investor to carry up to 10 loans at any one time. Taking advantage of the 10-loan limit requires a lender with the right experience.
Credit-qualification guidelines are NOT created equal. For loans 1 through 4, a minimum credit score of 620 is required. Loans 5 through 10 require a credit score of no less than 720.
There are also requirements when it comes to cash. In addition to the down payment, investment property mortgage lenders require 6 months of cash reserves available per property. In other words, if you own a primary residence and are buying an investment property, the lender will require you to have 6 months of mortgage payments (principal, interest, taxes and insurance) available for both properties.
For a better understanding of what it will take to purchase an investment property, ask your investment property mortgage lender for the estimated monthly payment. Or, use our Instant Rate Quote, available 24/7.
As with credit-qualification, down payments also have two sets of guidelines. Loans 1 through 4 for a single-family home require a 20% down payment. Loans 5 through 10 require 25%.
For loans 1 through 10 pertaining to multi-family dwellings, a 25% down payment is required. It’s important to note, however, that many lenders require 30% after loan 4.
On a side note, refinance transactions for any investment property will require a 25% down payment.
We wish you the luck with your home purchasing endeavors. For more information, or to find out how Sammamish Mortgage can help you with your investment property, we invite you to contact us today. As a Mortgage Company, we currently lend in all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado & California.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.