How one retired investor bought a $1M home

When our client first reached out, he didn’t think he needed a mortgage. He was a retired investor with a strong portfolio, multiple properties across the U.S., traditional investments, and significant Bitcoin holdings. He had enough assets to purchase a home ten times over. But he didn’t want to liquidate. His goal was simple: buy a condo for his daughter without selling off any of his BTC.

At first, he thought a crypto loan might be the answer. He came to us looking to borrow against his Bitcoin to make a cash offer. That approach works in some cases, especially for real estate investors who need quick capital. But when we looked deeper, it was clear there was a better path forward.

He mentioned owning several properties, including a single-family home in New Jersey worth around $1 million. Instead of pledging 2x his purchase amount in crypto for a short-term loan, we suggested a 30-year cash-out refinance on his existing property. That would give him long-term financing at a lower cost, and he’d still keep full ownership of his Bitcoin.

What made this work was our approach to qualification. Because he was retired, he didn’t meet traditional lenders’ DTI (Debt-to-Income) requirements. Even though he was financially well off, his lack of income on paper disqualified him with most banks. At Milo, we don’t rely on DTI to qualify borrowers. Instead, we focus on the asset and the property.

We structured a 60% LTV (Loan-to-Value) mortgage based on the home’s appraised value and comparable rental income in the area. This gave him access to the cash he needed, without any forced crypto liquidation. Even better, he was able to maintain self-custody of his Bitcoin, since the loan terms didn’t require him to move it to a custodian.

What began as a crypto loan request turned into a more strategic financing solution: a 30-year mortgage with interest-only payments for the first 10 years, and a clear path for long-term ownership. His daughter now lives in the condo he purchased, and he knows he can move into the refinanced property himself when the time is right.

For him, it wasn’t just about getting a loan. It was about preserving his assets and using them on his terms. And for us, it was about understanding the full picture and guiding him to the best solution.

The opinions expressed in the Blog are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security or investment product.