For those who have a higher income, getting a mortgage can be difficult. Those who have higher incomes may be looking for nicer homes that will naturally have a larger mortgage. There are certain limits on many conventional loans that can make it harder to obtain.
If this situation describes you, you may be interested in a jumbo loan. A jumbo loan will offer the ability for a borrower to get a much larger amount of money than is normally allowed.
There are many benefits to these loans. The main benefit is that a jumbo loan will allow you to go outside of the typical limitations.
You are still able to get a competitive interest rate and finance the home you want without being restricted. The rates on jumbo mortgages can fluctuate and can sometimes even be lower than a conventional 30-year mortgage.
Jumbo loans are a convenient way to finance property. Instead of having to get two loans to finance the home, this option gives you just one loan. Some borrowers want to finance more of the cost instead of tying up cash, which makes a jumbo loan an attractive option and a helpful financial tool.
How Do Jumbo Loans Work?
Depending on where you live, you will fall under different loan restrictions. These restrictions are called the “conforming loan limit.” The limits will vary depending on where you live because some real estate markets are going to be pricier than others.
This is the largest amount a borrower can get on one single mortgage. It can be from $400,000 and $650,000 in many areas. By getting a higher mortgage, there are some tradeoffs.
Mortgage rates can be higher because there is a greater risk for the lender, and you will usually need a higher credit score and not a lot of outstanding debt.
Qualifying for Jumbo Loans
The underwriting process for a jumbo loan can be a bit stricter since the loans are much riskier to lenders.
Credit Score: The lender can require you to have a FICO score that is higher than 700. Many lenders require the score to be as high as 720 before you can qualify for a jumbo loan option.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: Since you are taking on a much higher mortgage, lenders consider the debt-to-income ratio in order to make sure you are not going to become overextended. Lenders can be more flexible on this requirement if you can show plenty of cash reserves.
Cash Reserves: You will be more likely to be approved for this type of loan if you do have a good amount of cash in the bank. Lenders may require you to show that you have enough cash to finance one whole year of mortgage payments.
Documentation: You may need more documentation than you would need for a conforming loan because you need to prove financial health. You should be prepared with your tax returns, 1099s, and W-2s when applying. You will also need bank statements and information on any investment accounts you have.
Appraisals: Lenders may require a second appraisal on the home you are interested in buying.
