Two weeks ago, we discussed how first-time home buyers and those with little money could buy a house with a small down payment. For those of you who have a large savings account and excellent credit, here are some options for investing in property, whether it’s a new home or a second home, with a minimum down payment.

Conventional Mortgage Down Payments

Conventional mortgages are best for those with perfect or near-perfect credit. If you have at least 20% down payment, you can avoid paying for PMI (private mortgage insurance). The federal government does not guarantee or insure this kind of loan, and it’s limited to loans up to $453,100. Those buying multi-unit homes can qualify for larger loans, though. The minimum down payment required for a conventional mortgage is 3%, although Riverbank Finance allows you to put down as little as 1% (see Conventional 1% Down Mortgage).

Jumbo Loan Down Payment

A loan of more than $453,100 is called a Jumbo Loan, according to Fannie Mae’s guidelines. Most banks do not have jumbo mortgages, but Riverbank Finance specializes in it. There are many options for jumbo loans, including a 40-year fixed rate, 30-year fixed rate, 15-year fixed rate, 3/1 Jumbo ARM, 5/1 Jumbo ARM, 7/1 Jumbo ARM, and an interest-only Jumbo Loan. You will need at least 10% down payment to qualify for most jumbo loans, although 20% is encouraged. However, if you’re buying a home in a high-cost area, such as Hawaii, California, Alaska, or Guam, you may not need a jumbo loan at all.

Vacation Home Down Payment

If you want to invest in a vacation property for personal use, Riverbank Finance allows for a minimum 10% down payment, although you can waive PMI with a 20% down payment. The requirements are a bit stricter here: You can’t have any recent foreclosures or bankruptcies, you must provide documented banking or retirement assets, your DTI (debt-to-income ratio) is limited to 45%, and the property you’re considering needs to be in acceptable condition.

Investment properties Down Payments

If you want to buy investment properties to rent to other people, you will need to have at least 20% down payment with Riverbank Finance. Your total DTI cannot exceed 45%. Freddie Mac requires you to have at least two years of landlord experience, documented in your tax returns, to consider any projected rent as your income. However, Fannie Mae does not. You must buy the property as an individual, not an LLC, and you cannot receive any amount of the down payment as a gift. You will also need at least six months’ worth of house payments reserved in savings to qualify.

For more information or to speak with a loan officer about any of these mortgage options, call Riverbank Finance at (800) 555-2098.

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