You can have up to 10 conventional home loans at once, including second homes and investment properties. However, having multiple mortgages comes with additional requirements. Learn more about how many mortgages you can have and how to get approved for more than one.
Maximum number of Home Loans you can have
There is no restriction to the number of conventional mortgages you can obtain for your principal house. You are allowed to have only one primary residence at any given time. If you use a first-time homebuyer conventional loan like Fannie Mae Home Ready or Freddie Mac Home Possible, you can only have two mortgages.
For example, you could have a first mortgage and then a home equity loan on your principal dwelling. Alternatively, you might take out a mortgage for your primary property, sell it or pay off your mortgage, and then obtain another mortgage for a new primary residence.
You can only have ten normally funded properties for second homes or investment properties at a time. That is the maximum number of second homes or investment properties that can be financed simultaneously with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
However, you can have numerous mortgages on second homes or investment properties because the limit is only on the number of financed properties, not the number of mortgages on those properties. You also have the option of seeking for nontraditional mortgages.
You can also pay off existing mortgages before applying for new ones, take out a personal loan to do so, or buy real estate interests that do not count toward your conventional mortgage limit, such as commercial real estate, timeshares, vacant lots, and multifamily properties with more than four units.
Second mortgages on funded investment properties do not count toward your maximum, only the amount of properties. You can use a home equity loan to buy a new property while staying within your 10-property limit. However, keep in mind that the home equity loan will appear on your credit record and be factored into asset and liabilities calculations when you apply for a new mortgage.
There is no lifetime restriction to the number of mortgages you can have; however, there is a limit to how many you can have at once.
“If you can afford to take on multiple mortgages, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be approved as long as you have good credit,” says John Ulzheimer, a credit analyst who previously worked for FICO and Equifax.
Getting Approved For Multiple Mortgages
When financing several residences, expect more severe approval criteria than obtaining a mortgage for a primary residence. Lenders will look at your personal and rental income, credit score, cash reserves, and the property’s valuation.
Fannie Mae requires months of liquid financial reserves (cash or assets) to cover the qualifying payment amount. Reserves can include assets from bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, or the cash value of a vested life insurance policy.
For a second home, you’ll need at least two months’ worth of savings, or six months for an investment property. When you have many funded properties, the calculation grows. For up to four financed properties, you’ll require 2% of total loan balances, 4% for five to six properties, and 6% for seven to ten.
Additionally, if you plan to finance seven to ten properties, Fannie Mae demands a minimum FICO credit score of 720. The majority of conventional loans need a credit score of at least 620.
Lenders may have stricter approval criteria than Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, such as a greater down payment and credit score requirement. Having multiple mortgages might result in higher interest rates. Finally, a lender will guarantee that you have enough cash or income to cover the mortgage payments, as well as property taxes and insurance.
If you’re looking for multiple mortgages, anticipate lenders to require strong to excellent credit, several years of tax returns, and a clean mortgage credit history, with no late payments, bankruptcies, or foreclosures on your current homes.
Expect lenders to review your revenue, particularly your tax returns, to see whether you are making or losing money on rental properties. Lenders will also analyze your assets, credit rating, and property documents, such as appraised value and current leases.
Do more home loans affect my interest rates?
Yes, having multiple home loans can affect your interest rates. Lenders see multiple loans as higher risk because it means you have more debt to manage. As a result, they might charge higher interest rates to offset this risk. The more loans you have, the higher the risk, and this can lead to higher rates. It’s important to keep this in mind when considering taking out additional loans. Always check with your lender to see how additional loans might impact your rates and overall financial situation.
