Mortgages & Financing with Riley Real Estate
Whether you're buying a primary residence, second home, or investment property, the financing process starts well before you make an offer. We help you evaluate your options, structure the loan, and manage the process from pre-approval through funding.
Financing Real Estate Step-by-Step
1. Initial Consultation
We start with the property you're looking to buy, your financial profile, available assets, income, credit, down payment, and long-term goals. For investors, we can also evaluate rental income and the property's expected performance.
2. Pre-Approval
We review your income, assets, credit, and other documentation to determine your purchasing power and identify appropriate loan programs. A strong pre-approval also gives you and your real estate agent a clearer understanding of how to structure an offer.
3. Choose the Right Loan Strategy
The lowest advertised rate isn't always the best financing. We compare loan programs, rates, points, down payments, monthly payments, reserves, and qualification requirements to determine which structure makes the most sense for you.
4. Make an Offer & Enter Escrow
Once your offer is accepted, we update the financing around the actual property, purchase price, down payment, and terms of the transaction and begin moving the loan toward approval.
5. Submit the Loan
Your loan application and supporting documentation are submitted for processing and underwriting. We work with you to make sure the lender has the information needed to evaluate the file.
6. Appraisal & Underwriting
When required, an appraisal is ordered to establish the property's value for lending purposes. At the same time, underwriting reviews the borrower, property, income, assets, credit, and other elements of the loan.
7. Satisfy Loan Conditions
The underwriter may request additional documentation or clarification before issuing final approval. We coordinate these conditions and work through any issues that arise along the way.
8. Final Loan Approval
Once underwriting requirements have been satisfied, the loan moves toward final approval and closing. Final figures and loan documents are prepared for your review and signature.
9. Sign & Fund
You sign the final loan and closing documents and provide any remaining funds required for the transaction. The lender completes its final review and releases the loan funds.
10. Closing
Once funds are received and the appropriate documents are recorded, the transaction is complete. For purchases, you become the new owner. Our relationship doesn't end there—we can continue monitoring your financing as rates, equity, and your financial goals change.
Loan Programs
There is no single mortgage that's right for every borrower or every property. We work across traditional and alternative lending programs to help homeowners, buyers, investors, self-employed borrowers, and high-net-worth clients find financing that fits their circumstances.
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Conventional mortgages are among the most common financing options for primary residences, second homes, and investment properties. They offer a wide range of down-payment options, fixed and adjustable rates, and competitive terms for qualified borrowers. For many buyers with strong credit and documented income, conventional financing is a natural place to start.
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Buying or refinancing a higher-value property may require financing beyond standard conforming loan limits. Jumbo mortgages are designed for larger loan amounts and can offer a variety of structures for borrowers with strong income, substantial assets, or more complex financial profiles. We help evaluate the combination of rate, down payment, reserves, and documentation that makes the most sense for the transaction.
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FHA loans can provide a path to homeownership with lower down-payment requirements and more flexible credit and qualification guidelines than some conventional programs. FHA financing can be particularly useful for first-time buyers and borrowers who may not fit traditional conventional guidelines.
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Eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and certain surviving spouses may have access to one of the most powerful home-financing programs available. VA loans can offer up to 100% financing, competitive rates, and no monthly private mortgage insurance, subject to eligibility and program requirements.
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Being self-employed shouldn't mean your tax returns tell the entire story of your finances. Bank statement programs can allow eligible self-employed borrowers to qualify using qualifying deposits and cash flow rather than relying exclusively on taxable income reported on traditional tax returns.
These programs can be particularly useful for business owners, independent contractors, entrepreneurs, and other borrowers whose legitimate business deductions reduce the income shown on their tax returns.
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Item descDSCR financing is designed specifically for real estate investors. Rather than qualifying primarily through personal employment income or tax returns, the lender evaluates the investment property's qualifying rental income relative to its housing debt.
This can provide a more streamlined way for experienced and growing investors to finance rental properties, particularly when traditional income calculations don't accurately reflect their financial strength.ription
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Some borrowers have significant wealth but relatively little traditional monthly income. Asset utilization programs may allow eligible liquid and investment assets to be converted into qualifying income under the lender's guidelines.
These loans can be particularly useful for retirees, investors, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth borrowers with substantial assets who may not qualify efficiently using traditional income documentation.
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Profit-and-loss programs provide another potential financing solution for self-employed borrowers. Depending on the program, qualifying income may be established using an eligible profit-and-loss statement rather than relying exclusively on traditional tax returns.
For established business owners with strong current earnings but complicated tax returns, a P&L program may provide a more accurate picture of their ability to repay a mortgage.
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Real estate investors often need financing that goes beyond a traditional owner-occupied mortgage. We work with financing for rental properties, duplexes and multifamily properties, portfolio growth, and other real estate investment strategies.
Depending on the transaction, options may include conventional investment financing, DSCR loans, alternative-documentation programs, and equity-based financing.
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A Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC, allows qualified property owners to access available equity while keeping their existing first mortgage in place. Instead of receiving the entire amount upfront, a HELOC generally provides a revolving line that can be drawn from as needed during the applicable draw period.
HELOCs can be useful for renovations, investment opportunities, major expenses, liquidity, or situations where replacing an attractive first-mortgage rate doesn't make sense.
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A closed-end second mortgage allows qualified property owners to borrow a lump sum against available equity without refinancing their existing first mortgage.
This can be particularly valuable for homeowners and investors who already have a low first-mortgage rate but need access to additional capital. We can compare a second mortgage with a HELOC or cash-out refinance to determine which structure makes the most financial sense.