Great borrower with 3 year work gap - getting a mortgage?

[Alan Iverson]

I'm seeking a $150k mortgage having a 3 year work gap (ending this week when i start my new job).

840 credit score with cash to buy the house many times over.

Engineer for 25 years, took the last 3 years off (intentionally to travel).  Annual AGI during those 3 years was about $15k year from capital gains and dividends.

Looks like all mortgages want 2 year work history.  I have called about 5 banks, credit unions, and 'broker?' places like quicken loans.  All say the same thing - regardless of how secuire my financial situation is.

Googling yields lots anecdotal posts indicating that this may be possible, but no one has any concrete examples or banks or lenders that would support it, and no one I call will even entertain the discussion.

So does anyone know of a specific bank or type of loan that may allow me to get a mortgage with a 3 year work gap?  Or what I might need to say or who to talk to to discuss it? 

[Amy Beth]

If you have enough cash to buy it many times over why not just buy it with cash? Otherwise you will need to wait to build up your work history. Owning it outright will also give you the flexibility to travel again without having to worry about another mortgage payment if you decide to take a work sabbatical in the future.