Best way to get a Mortgage for a Home Over $2,000,000

Current Mortgage Rates on Investment Properties
September 30, 2022
Best way to get a Mortgage for Investment Properties over $10,000,000
October 4, 2022

Many consider a two-million dollar property to be expensive, and it is. Obviously, the housing market is robust right now and will most likely remain so for some time. In light of this, purchasing a home for $2,000,000 or more is sensible if you have the means. And besides, price and rent increases are certain to continue due to inflation. Generally, you shouldn’t spend more than three times your annual gross income on a property. Helping people make responsible purchases is a component of the 30/30/3 rule for acquiring a property.

Consequently, you must earn a minimum of $667,000 annually to purchase a $2 million home. You should also have sufficient money for a 20% down payment, or $400,000, and an additional $100,000 in cash reserves just in case of any unforeseen event. With the current cheap mortgage rates, you can purchase a home for up to five times your yearly gross income. You can purchase a $2 million property with just $400,000 in income.

Requirements for a $2 Million House

In the current real estate market, it is advisable not to go off the rails. You shouldn’t purchase a $2 million home if your income is less than $400,000 and you can’t afford 20% down plus an additional 5% as a cash reserve.

Given the continued high level of inflation, interest rates may rise. Reduce your income to 4X if you have to buy a home for at least $2 million. Divide the difference in income multiples between the required 3X and the optimum 5X, or avoid purchasing a $2 million home until your household continuously earns at least $500,000.

Your lender will likely require at least the following to grant you a $3 million home:

  • A yearly household income of $450,768 is required to cover expenses such as taxes, upkeep, insurance, monthly mortgage payments, and homeowners association dues.
  • $448,446 in cash to cover up-front fees, such as a down payment and closing costs.
  • $63,096 in cash reserves to demonstrate to your lender that you won’t fail to repay your loan if an unforeseen incident happens.

Annual Salary Requirements for a $2 Million

Two-million-dollar monthly mortgage payments usually require a household income of at least $450,468 per year. Nonetheless, particular income requirements vary depending on your lending rates and the sum of your down payment. A high down payment might lower your required earnings to $414,042, whilst a smaller one could necessitate you earn close to $600,000 a year to finance your housing bills without straining your finances. The table below will give a better representation of what your yearly income should be.

Down Payment Level2 million Dollar Home
0%$1,148,160
5%$1,104,264
10%$1,060,440
20%$858,480
30%$785,088

This calculation considers a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 3.12% interest rate, annual homeowners insurance equal to 0.5% of the home’s value, annual property taxes equal to 1.1% of the home’s value, and $500 in monthly homeowners association (HOA) dues. Annual PMI payments of 1% are included in down payments under 20%.

Down Payment on a $1 Million Home

You will need a 20–30% down payment for jumbo loans. That is $400,000–$600,000 for a property costing $2 million.  Keep in mind that lending requirements changes. Based on your general financial status, you could be able to obtain approval for a jumbo loan with a lower down payment. There is an exchange in this scenario; if you pay the high down payment, your monthly payment will reduce, and you’ll end up paying less in interest in the long run.

In addition, your lender will probably insist that you buy private mortgage insurance (PMI) if your down payment is less than 20%, which safeguards them in the case that you default on your loan. Jumbo loans with exceptionally low required down payments, and no requirement for PMI are promoted by some lenders. You should be careful as there may be other costs involved that are hidden. Avoid these lenders or pay close attention to outrageous interest rates and excessive closing expenses.

Down payment level$2 Million Home
0%$574,080
5%$552,132
10%$530,220
20%$429,240
30%$392,544

Closing Costs

Besides the down payment, remember that there will also be closing charges. This covers costs associated with the sale’s closure, such as loan origination fees, title fees, credit check fees, taxes, appraisal fees, and so on. These fees can often total anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000, or 2-5% of the overall loan amount.

You will also need to account for any legal expenses or broker commissions. You must have sufficient reserve cash to cover all the associated costs if you intend to buy a $2 million home. The more cash you have on hand, the more likely you will be granted a loan and can carry out the transaction with no unforeseen difficulties.

Estimated Closing Costs for a $2 Million Home Purchase

Closing costsFees
Loan origination fee$16,000
Title insurance$10,000
Prepaid home insurance premium$10,000
Prepaid property tax$3,666
Prepaid interest$2,080
Settlement/closing fee$2,000
Home inspection(s)$2,000
Appraisal$700
Title Search$1000
Application fees$1000
Total$48,446

Keep in mind that this is merely an illustration and that exact fees will be determined by the terms of your loan and your discussions with the seller.

Credit Score Requirements

Generally speaking, a minimum credit score of 700 is required to be eligible for a jumbo loan, though it’s not uncommon to encounter even stricter criteria. Lenders look at your credit score to assess whether they can rely on you to complete your mortgage payments as scheduled. Since jumbo loans provide a greater risk to the lender than conventional mortgages, the minimum credit score is frequently higher.

Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) Requirements

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the percentage of your gross monthly income used to pay off debts like credit card balances, mortgage payments, and other financial commitments. Your main goal should be to raise your eligibility criteria when applying for a jumbo loan so lenders can see that you are a deserving borrower.

Additionally, a greater down payment, lower DTI, and better credit score will all result in lower interest rates for your jumbo loan. Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio measures how much you make concerning all of your debts.

Maintaining a low DTI ratio when requesting a jumbo loan shows lenders that you will have enough income to pay your mortgage. If you have a larger down payment or better credit, you can be qualified for a jumbo loan with a lower DTI ratio. A $2 million investment property jumbo loan usually requires a DTI of 36% or less.

This table explains a 20% down payment, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 3.12% interest rate, annual homeowners insurance equal to 0.5% of the home’s value, annual property taxes equal to 1.1% of the home’s value, and $500 in monthly homeowners association (HOA) dues.

Monthly Debt PaymentsQualify for a Mortgage on a $2 Million Home (43% DTI)Afford a Mortgage on a $2 Million Home (28/36 Rule)
$0$293,472$450,652
$1,000$245,286$450,692
$2,000$303,102$482,866
$3,000$360,516$550,334

Cash Reserves

The equivalent of six to twelve months’ worth of mortgage payments, or about $63,096 to $126,192 for a home worth $2 million, is what many lenders need from jumbo borrowers. Even if you become unemployed or have other unforeseen financial troubles, this cash reserve will guarantee that you have sufficient money in your account to continue making your mortgage payment.

Do not forget that you will also need money for closing costs and a down payment. To get approved for a mortgage on a $1 million property, you will need to save a minimum of $511,542.

Cash ReserveCriteria
Six months of mortgage payments$63,096
12 months of mortgage payments$126,192

The Monthly Mortgage Payment on a $2 Million Home

On a $2 million home, a borrower might predict making monthly mortgage payments of about $10,516 if they put 20% down and have a good credit score. The down payment, length of the loan, interest rate, location, size, and quality of the home, as well as whether you’re required to join an HOA, will significantly impact your monthly mortgage payments.

The table below takes into account a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 3.12% interest rate, annual homeowners insurance equal to 0.5% of the home’s value, annual property taxes equal to 1.1% of the home’s value, and $500 in monthly homeowners association (HOA) dues. HOA dues are usually not included in the mortgage payment you send to your lender, but since they are part of your overall housing costs, it is included here.

Down payment20%10%
Principal and interest$6,848$7,706
Homeowners Insurance$834$834
Property taxes$1834$1834
Homeowners Association (HOA) fees$500$500
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)$0$1500
Total$10,016$12,372

Principal and Interest Requirements

Principal and interest make up the bulk of your mortgage payment each month. The amount owed on your mortgage is called the principal, while the fee you pay the lender in exchange for a loan of funds to purchase a home is called interest. The best strategy for reducing your monthly mortgage payment is to select loan alternatives that will minimize the principal and interest you must pay each month.

However, reducing your monthly payment can increase your mortgage’s overall cost. You can reduce your monthly mortgage by making larger down payments to avoid PMI, making additional principal payments, choosing a longer mortgage, and shopping around for a lower interest rate.

The following table shows the cost of a $2 million home, the buying price, and the overall mortgage interest. This table explains a mortgage with a 30-year fixed rate of 3.12% with only principal and interest. It excludes all expenditures associated with housing, including private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Down PaymentTotal Interest PaidCost of $2 Million Home
0%$1,082,344.84$3,082,344.84
5%$1,028,227.60$3,028,227.60
10%$974,110.36$2,974,110.36
20%$865,875.88$2,865,875.88
30%$757,631.40$2,757,641.40

Homeowner’s Insurance Requirements

Depending on your property’s size, history, and status, annual homeowners insurance premiums for a $2 million home might cost between $7,000 and $10,000. However, prices will vary greatly. You should also consider whether you reside in an area that frequently experiences particular natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes or floods.

If this is the case, you might need to buy extra insurance to cover these risks, which will raise the cost of your insurance policy as a whole. The cost of private mortgage insurance, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance is often included in your monthly mortgage payment. The lender will keep your money and pay the bills on your behalf when necessary.

Projected Monthly Insurance CostAmount
Low estimate$824
High estimate$584

Property Taxes Requirements

Effective property tax rates, which are calculated by dividing your annual tax bill by the estimated value of your home, can be as high as 2.47%, that is $49,400 on a $2 million home, or as low as 0.27%, which is $5,400 depending on the state.

Local governments normally handle the levying and collection of property taxes, as well as sometimes both, in your city or county. In some areas, rates might fluctuate regularly as every year or two. Keep in mind that you may not be paying taxes based on what you bought for your property or what you believe it is worth, but rather on the local government’s annual assessment of its value.

Expected Monthly Property Tax CostsAmount
High estimate$4,116
Low estimate$450

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Your lender will probably need you to acquire private mortgage insurance (PMI), which can cost 0.3-1.15% of the loan amount yearly if you put less than 20% down on your house. Rates may increase if your credit score classifies you as a poor borrower; hence, PMI safeguards your lender in the event that you fail on your loan. You can talk to your lender to remove your PMI coverage whenever your mortgage loan-to-value (LTV) ratio falls below 80%, which is the same as making a 20% down payment.

After your LTV hits 78%, the Homeowners Protection Act mandates that lenders automatically revoke PMI. This table explains a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 3.12% interest rate, annual homeowners insurance equal to 0.5% of the home’s value, annual property taxes equal to 1.1% of the home’s value, and $500 in monthly homeowners association (HOA) dues. Down payment levels below 20% include 1% in PMI premiums per year.

Down Payment PercentageMonthly PMITotal Monthly Mortgage Payment
0%*$1666$13,895
5%*$1584$13,384
10%*$1500$12,872
20%$0$10,516
30%$0$9,660

Hidden Costs of Owning a 2 Million Dollar House

One reason it’s reckless to buy the most costly house you can feasibly afford is because homeownership is fraught with costs that don’t appear in your mortgage payment. These unaccounted-for expenses might total more than $11,100 per month for a $2 million house.

ExpenseExpected Monthly Cost
Maintenance$1,666-6,666
Utilities$2,240
HOA fees$0-2,000+
Total$3,906-11,040+

Maintenance Cost

On a typical $2 million home, maintenance costs could range from $1666 to 6,666 per month, though costs would vary and rise gradually as the home gets older. Most personal financial gurus advise saving away 1% to 4% of your property’s value for yearly maintenance and repair expenses. If you do not factor in the cost of any extra renovations you intend to do, it comes to as much as $40,000. Maintenance is one of the hidden costs homeowners cannot avoid. It is routinely ranked as buyers’ worst regret.

Expected Monthly Maintenance CostAmount
High estimate$6,666
Low estimate$1,666

Utilities

According to research, U.S. households’ average annual utility bill is $1.68 per square foot of living space. Consequently, expect to pay the utility company a monthly bill of roughly $2,240 if you buy a 16,000-square-foot mansion.

Homeowners Association (HOA) fees

Another unforeseen expense you might need to account for in your budget is homeowners association fees, which help cover the cost of shared services like community pools and security guards. A home in a posh area can need residents to pay $2,000 or more monthly fees, while an exquisite country estate might not be required to pay any HOA fees.

Conclusion

The decision to buy a $2,000,000 home depends on your lifestyle and financial objectives, provided that you can afford one. However, if you cannot afford a 20% down payment, buying a $2 million home might not be the best financial move. Hence, the best way to get a mortgage for an investment property over 2 million dollars is to consider the cost as stated above carefully.

On average, the extra interest and PMI will cost you $200,000 or more during the loan, and the higher monthly payments will make investing your money in other income-generating ventures more challenging. Before making a purchasing decision, work with a financial counselor to discover what mortgage payment amount you can afford, look into lending possibilities and obtain a mortgage preapproval, locate a real estate agent who can guide you through the local market, and select the most suitable house within your budget.

However, if you are looking for a lender with favorable loan terms and a fair interest rate, you should consider Aurum and Sharpe. Aurum and Sharpe is a lending company that offers jumbo loans tailored to your needs. To get started with your loan application, contact us at 9177404325 to book an appointment today, or use the online form to get in touch.

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Bryan Hanley
Bryan Hanley
Bryan has been working in the mortgage industry since 2005. He has worked at banks such as JP Morgan Chase, The Federal Savings Bank, and Santander Bank. He published a book about mortgages for entrepreneurs called "The House Hustle" in 2014 (https://www.amazon.com/Insider-Secrets-Buying-Black-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980478368), and co-owns Aurum and Sharpe