Mountain Home Loans Colorado

Yes, but it depends on the condo complex. Standard (warrantable) condos in ski towns can be financed with conventional or jumbo loans. Non-warrantable condos, which are common in resort areas, require specialty programs. Jamie has lenders who work specifically in non-warrantable condo financing, so the answer is often yes even when a bank says no.

A non-warrantable condo is one that does not meet Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines. This usually happens when a development has more than 35% investor ownership, includes significant commercial space, or has high short-term rental concentration. These are extremely common in Colorado ski towns. Most conventional lenders cannot finance them, but portfolio lenders and specialty programs can. If you are buying in a resort condo complex, Jamie will check warrantability early in the process.

A second home is a property you intend to use personally for part of the year. You can rent it when you are not there, but it should not be managed as a full-time rental business. Second home loans typically require 10% down and carry lower interest rates than investment property loans. An investment property is purchased primarily to generate rental income. It requires at least 15-25% down and has higher rates. Getting this classification right from the start affects your financing and your taxes.

Jumbo loans in Colorado mountain markets typically require 10-20% down depending on the loan amount and property type, a credit score of 700+, and documented income or assets sufficient to support the payment. Some programs allow lower down payments on jumbo amounts. Requirements vary by lender, which is why shopping across multiple programs matters. Jamie works with several wholesale lenders who specialize in mountain and resort property jumbo financing.

Yes, within limits. You can rent a second home when you are not personally using it. The distinction the lender and IRS care about is whether you are using the property yourself for a meaningful portion of the year. If you rent it out 365 days a year and never stay there yourself, it is likely an investment property, not a second home. For part-time personal use with occasional rentals, second home financing typically applies. Jamie will help you understand how to structure this correctly.

Yes. Eagle County (Vail area) and several other high-cost Colorado mountain counties have higher conforming loan limits set by the FHFA. In 2026, Eagle County's limit is $1,149,825 for a single-family home. Pitkin County (Aspen) has similar elevated limits. However, many mountain properties still exceed even these higher limits, requiring true jumbo financing. Jamie will determine which limit applies to your specific county and purchase price.