Retired investor buys $3.5M home without selling Bitcoin

He had spent a lifetime building wealth through a high-earning career, smart investments, and years of disciplined saving. By the time he retired, he held a strong portfolio across private equity, stocks, and a significant amount of Bitcoin. But when it came time to purchase a $3.5 million home in California, none of that seemed to matter.

Despite everything he had accumulated, traditional lenders turned him down. The issue? He no longer had income coming in. No paycheck meant no loan. In mortgage terms, he didn’t qualify.

Most banks rely heavily on a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio (DTI) to determine eligibility. That calculation compares how much someone earns each month to how much they owe. If you don’t have consistent W-2 income, you’re already at a disadvantage. In his case, being retired with substantial assets didn’t help. Traditional underwriting doesn’t treat Bitcoin or private equity as liquid, nor does it reward decades of saving if there’s no salary behind it.

He had already set aside 40 percent in cash for the down payment and was searching for lenders who would accept crypto. He wasn’t against selling his Bitcoin, but he knew that wasn’t ideal. After exhausting the traditional path, he came across Milo and reached out to see if we could take a different approach.

We could. And did.

Our program doesn’t qualify based on income or DTI. Instead, we focus on two core things: a borrower’s liquid reserves and the income-generating potential of the property they’re buying. In this case, his crypto holdings, especially his Bitcoin, were key. Without them, he wouldn’t have met the reserve requirement for the loan. But with our program, we were able to count those assets without requiring him to send them in as collateral.

That flexibility mattered. He was able to qualify for a 60 percent loan-to-value mortgage while keeping full control of his Bitcoin. For clients who value self-custody and don’t want to lock up their crypto, this is a powerful option. It lets them preserve their strategy while still using those assets to support a purchase.

The property is currently a rental, but it’s one he plans to move into down the line. A home that reflects the financial foundation he built over decades. And one he was able to secure without giving up what got him there in the first place.

What made this story stand out wasn’t just the asset mix or property value. It was the disconnect between how much he had and how little that meant to traditional lenders. We were able to look at his financial profile differently, and because of that, he got the outcome he deserved.

Thinking about using your crypto to buy a property without selling it? Talk to our team to see how we can help you qualify based on your assets, not your income. Book a call with our loan consultant or visit milo.io to get started.

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.