How one retired investor bought a new home without a down payment

When I first connected with this client, he was navigating a complex transition. He and his wife lived in Tennessee, but her job was relocating the family to Indiana. They had found a single-family home listed at $875,000 that checked all the boxes. But qualifying for a second home while still holding on to the first was not going to be straightforward.

The challenge? He was retired, with no traditional income stream. His wealth was in crypto. His wife was just starting her new job in Indiana, so her employment history couldn’t be used for mortgage qualification. They wanted the flexibility to buy the new home in Indiana while still keeping their Tennessee property, giving their children time to finish school before the family moved.

This scenario is where traditional lenders often fall short. Most banks rely on income verification and debt-to-income (DTI) ratios to approve mortgages. If you don't have W-2s, consistent pay stubs, or several years of tax returns, the door typically closes fast.

That’s where Milo came in.

Instead of focusing on income, we offered a crypto mortgage that let him qualify based on his crypto holdings. Our team reviewed the assets he held in Bitcoin and Ethereum, and we were able to structure a loan at 100% Loan-to-Value (LTV). That meant he could finance the full $875,000 purchase price of the new home without needing to sell any of his crypto, liquidate investments, or move money into fiat.

A 100% LTV loan is rarely offered through traditional channels, especially without income documentation. In this case, the client’s long-standing crypto portfolio, combined with the ability to lock collateral with our custodian, was enough to qualify him.

The transaction moved quickly. We verified the crypto assets, arranged for them to be securely custodied, and finalized the loan terms. From application to close, every step was designed to be transparent and efficient. What mattered most to this family wasn’t just buying a house. It was preserving their financial strategy while supporting their personal timeline, giving their kids time to finish the school year before moving.

This wasn’t just a mortgage. It was a solution that respected the client’s financial choices, timing, and family needs. At Milo, we don’t ask clients to change their lives to fit into a lending box. We build the box around their reality.

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.