Buying Investment Property With 10 Percent Down May 2026

You get a standard 75% LTV loan from a bank and convince the seller to "carry" a second lien for 15%, leaving you to only bring 10% to the table .

While 10% is lower than the standard requirement, several specialized paths make it possible for seasoned or strategic investors: 1. House Hacking (Owner-Occupied) buying investment property with 10 percent down

You can buy a 2–4 unit property with 3.5% down (or 10% if your credit score is between 500–579). You must live in one unit and can use up to 75% of the other units' projected rent to help qualify for the loan. You get a standard 75% LTV loan from

Some lenders offer proprietary products designed specifically for investors that bypass standard Fannie Mae/ Freddie Mac guidelines. You must live in one unit and can

Fannie Mae's HomeReady or Freddie Mac's Home Possible may allow as little as 3% to 5% down for multi-unit properties if you occupy one of them. 2. Specialized Investor & Portfolio Loans

You negotiate directly with the seller to act as the lender. They might accept 10% down, and you skip the strict bank underwriting and private mortgage insurance (PMI).

If traditional lenders won't budge on the 20% rule, investors use "stacking" to reach the 10% out-of-pocket goal.