Better.com Denial Due to Non-Resident, Looking for Alternative

Better.com Denial Due to Non-Resident, Looking for Alternative

New to Real Estate · Bangkok, Bangkok · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 2 votes

Hello,
For the last month and a half I've been working to buy my first investment property. I'm about to close on a loan with better.com, and they are now saying they're having a hard time verifying my US residency, causing a potential denial. I'm unsure why/how this is relevant as I'm a US citizen, with US business/banks/brokerage accounts, but I spent a lot of time overseas (my business is online so I spend a few months a year in the US and a few months a year abroad).

I do have a US residence and a PO box I ship all my mail to. I do pay taxes in the US (they have my 2 latest returns), though I'm likely not considered a resident as I spend a lot of time overseas and with covid, I've spent the last year overseas (not a big incentive to go back right now and safer where I am now). I read this wasn't an issue and even asked ahead of time, but now at the very end they are saying they may deny it, even though I'm probably one of the least risky clients they could take on, and have proven so (with countless uploaded documents).

The property is a single family house in IL for $160,000, with downpayment of 25%, better.com gave 2.75% loan for 30 years of $120,000.

My income is $120-180k+ each year, with assets over $1.2M+. The business did $1.6M revenue last year, and plan to beat it this year. Credit rating 815+, with no debt.

Does anyone know a lender that would work with me? I'm very surprised by better.com, disappointed, but looking for a plan B in the event they deny the loan. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Closing date was originally Feb 4th, and have an appointment with the local US embassy for Feb 9 to sign/notarize the documents.

Thanks.

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  • CPA · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2016 · 413 posts · 258 votes
    5y

    I've lived abroad recently so I know how difficult it can be. If you're looking to close that soon you can try to use hard money to buy the property (many will lend to non-residents) and then spend some time building relationships (by phone) with some of the banks that are within the city that you're purchasing in to refi. Also, you could potentially get a refi from the US banks you already have your bank accounts with. Of course, the prudent thing to do is to have the relationship and pre-approval with the banks beforehand if you're worried the refi won't go through because of non-resident issues.

  • New to Real Estate · Bangkok, Bangkok · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 2 votes
    5y
    Thanks, good advice. So there is no legal requirement to be a resident? This is just better.com?

    Originally posted by @J Zev J.:

    I've lived abroad recently so I know how difficult it can be. If you're looking to close that soon you can try to use hard money to buy the property (many will lend to non-residents) and then spend some time building relationships (by phone) with some of the banks that are within the city that you're purchasing in to refi. Also, you could potentially get a refi from the US banks you already have your bank accounts with. Of course, the prudent thing to do is to have the relationship and pre-approval with the banks beforehand if you're worried the refi won't go through because of non-resident issues.

  • New to Real Estate · Bangkok, Bangkok · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 2 votes
    5y
    Bump. Better.com denied the loan, terrible experience with them. Looking to partner with a lender to work with over the coming years to buy 5-10 properties. Please reach out if you can work with people like me. Thanks.
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