Plenty of New Brunswick homeowners have far more in their accounts than their monthly income would suggest. Asset depletion, sometimes called asset utilization, looks at those balances and builds a qualifying income from them, so a retiree or someone living on investments can apply without a salary. Here is which accounts usually count, how that figure is built and what to raise with a New Jersey loan officer before you shop.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about asset depletion mortgages in New Brunswick. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Savings, investments and retirement income in New Brunswick
Investment income reaches 10.7% of households in New Brunswick; retirement income reaches 11.2%. Owners 65 and older head 28% of owner-occupied homes here. Buyers whose wealth sits in accounts rather than a paycheck are the ones asset depletion programs are designed around.
Which of your accounts a lender may count
Begin by sorting what you own into two piles: money you could reach without selling a house or a business, and everything else. Lenders building an asset-based file look mostly at the first pile. Checking, savings and money market balances tend to carry the most weight because their value does not swing.
Brokerage holdings such as stocks, bonds and funds are often included at a discount, since a market drop could shrink them. Retirement accounts may be included if you can draw on them, sometimes after an allowance for taxes. Equity in real estate, a stake in a private company, vehicles and collectibles usually sit outside the calculation. An account shared with someone who is not on the loan may need that person's written consent before it counts.
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
- Takes a few minutes
- Reviewed by a licensed loan officer
- No obligation to proceed
Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 508-8976. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
How a qualifying income is built from savings
The arithmetic follows a set order. The lender first confirms your eligible balances and applies any discounts the program requires. It then sets aside the money you will use for the down payment, closing costs and the reserves the program expects you to keep. Whatever remains is divided by a number of months the program chooses, and the result is treated as monthly income.
That figure is then weighed against your housing costs and other debts, just as a salary would be. Nothing in the calculation requires you to withdraw money on a schedule; it is a way to show capacity. If you also receive Social Security, a pension or annuity payments, many programs let you add those on, which can reduce how much the accounts need to carry.
Who this tends to fit
- You are retired and live on savings, investments or retirement accounts instead of a salary
- Your Social Security or pension falls short without help from your assets
- You retired early and your income on paper is small next to your balances
- You sold a business or a property and the proceeds sit in liquid accounts
- You inherited money that is held in cash or investment accounts
Local offices and New Jersey rules to know
Mortgage lenders, brokers and loan originators serving New Jersey are licensed by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Non-QM loans are made by the same licensed lenders and brokers, so you can confirm any company's or loan officer's license on NMLS Consumer Access before you apply.
Downsizing or adding a second home in New Brunswick
The timing of a move changes how an asset-based file comes together. Selling your current home first turns equity into cash, which can be counted once it is deposited and documented. Buying first means carrying two housing payments for a while, and the lender will measure your qualifying income against both.
A second home in the area brings its own checks. Lenders want to know how often you will be there, whether it will sit empty between visits and whether you plan to rent it. A property bought mainly to rent usually belongs to a separate class of loan. Before you make an offer, ask whether the program accepts the property type you have in mind, since condos, rural homes and properties with acreage can each be handled differently.
Before you call
- Details of any margin loan or credit line secured by your investments
- Complete statements for every checking, savings, brokerage and retirement account you want counted
- Award letters for Social Security, a pension or annuity income
- A decision on how much cash you will put down and how much you will keep in reserve
- A note of who owns each account and whether anyone else must sign off
Questions New Brunswick borrowers ask about asset depletion mortgages
Can I use asset depletion for a second home?
It can work. Many programs allow asset-based qualifying for a second home, though some limit it to a primary residence. Expect questions about how you will use the property and how far it sits from your main home. If you intend to rent it out most of the time, a loan based on the property's rent is a separate category and may suit that plan more closely.
Can a couple combine their accounts?
Usually, when both people are on the loan and the accounts are in either or both names. If an account belongs to someone who is not applying, such as an adult child or a trust, the lender may require documented access or leave it out. Spouses with separate accounts should list them all, since the total pool affects the qualifying income a program can build.
How much do I need in savings to qualify?
There is no single answer, because it depends on the home price, your other debts, any other income and the number of months the program uses in its calculation. A loan officer can work backward from the home you want and show roughly what your accounts would need to support it. Running that exercise before you shop keeps you from falling for a home the figures cannot carry.
Does an asset-based loan cost more than a standard one?
Non-QM asset depletion loans often price higher than agency loans, because the investor accepts more risk when income comes from balances instead of earnings. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have narrower asset-based options that may cost less if you fit them. Ask a loan officer to price both paths where possible and compare full Loan Estimates, not a single advertised figure.
Get answers about asset depletion mortgages for a home in or around New Brunswick. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for New Brunswick borrowers
Bank statement loans in New BrunswickNon-QM lenders in New BrunswickSelf-employed in New Brunswick1099 loans in New BrunswickP&L loans in New BrunswickNo-doc / stated income in New BrunswickNew self-employed in New BrunswickITIN loans in New BrunswickForeign national in New BrunswickNon-warrantable condo in New BrunswickBank statement HELOC in New BrunswickInterest-only in New BrunswickAfter bankruptcy in New BrunswickBad credit in New BrunswickSelf-employed refinance in New BrunswickNon-QM jumbo in New Brunswick
Asset Depletion Mortgages near New Brunswick
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in Highland Park, NJ (1 mi)
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in East Franklin, NJ (1 mi)
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in Milltown, NJ (3 mi)
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in Somerset, NJ (3 mi)
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in South River, NJ (5 mi)
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in Metuchen, NJ (6 mi)
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in Franklin Center, NJ (6 mi)
- Asset Depletion Mortgages in Franklin Park, NJ (6 mi)
Related guides
- Asset Depletion Loans Explained: Qualifying With Savings and Investments
- What Is a Non-QM Loan?
- How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
Asset Depletion Mortgages across New Jersey · Asset Depletion Mortgages guide · New Jersey overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B19054, B19059 and B25007