Mortgage Insights Blog

To speed the recovery of the housing market, Fannie Mae announced a new policy on February 6, 2009, to allow investors and second home buyers to own up to 10 financed properties. One of the things that can lead the economy out of a housing crisis is when prices get cheap enough that investors start moving in and buying things.

The new policy takes effect on March 1, 2009, and replaces the current 4-property limit. The restriction applies to the total number of financed properties, not just to the number sold to Fannie Mae.

Investor and second home borrowers that seek to own between 5 and 10 financed properties must meet additional eligibility requirements. Borrowers must have a credit score of at least 720. The maximum loan-to-value ratio is 70% or 75%, depending on specified criteria. Borrowers may not have any history of bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past 7 years, or any mortgage delinquencies of 30 days or greater within the past 12 months. Reserve and other requirements also apply.