Buying a home for someone in your family.
Certain conventional mortgage guidelines may let you finance a home a family member lives in using primary-residence terms, even when you live elsewhere. Stonehaven can help you find the route that fits.
Request a TextStart with a conversation. This form does not authorize a credit check.
Let's talk through the options
Tell us where you are looking and how to reach you.
- A family member lives in the home.
- You apply for the financing.
- You may be able to keep your current home.
Which situation fits your family
One set of rules, more than one family situation
Family-occupancy guidelines exist because households do not all live under one roof. The same conventional approach can apply whether the person living in the home is a parent or an adult child, and the details differ by situation.
How this financing works
Start with the family housing plan
Tell Stonehaven who the home is for, where you are looking, and when you hope to buy.
Review the mortgage options
We discuss the occupancy rules, your borrowing profile, and which lender options may fit.
Decide on the next step
If it makes sense to proceed, we explain the application, documentation, and lender review process.
Why the occupancy rules matter
Family Opportunity Mortgage is a common name for a conventional financing approach. In qualifying situations, a home occupied by a family member can receive primary-residence treatment even when the person borrowing the money lives elsewhere. It is not a grant or a separate government benefit.
Read the occupancy guidance (opens the Fannie Mae Selling Guide)What we will work through together
- Who will live in the home and how it will be occupied
- The applicable family-occupancy requirements
- The buyer's income, credit, assets, and existing obligations
- The down payment, closing costs, and complete housing payment
The provision that applies depends on the family situation and on the lender. Stonehaven will review the route that fits the scenario.
Questions families ask
Do I have to live in the home?
An eligible family-occupancy arrangement can allow you to live elsewhere while your family member occupies the home as their primary residence.
Can I already own a home?
Yes, that can be possible. Existing housing costs and other obligations still matter when the lender reviews the new loan.
Does my family member borrow with me?
The family-occupancy approach may allow you to borrow without your family member being a co-borrower. Stonehaven will review the appropriate loan and ownership structure.
How much would I need upfront?
Your required down payment, closing costs, and any reserves depend on the loan and lender. We will help you understand the amounts for your situation.
Is this for a vacation home or rental?
This page addresses a home occupied by a family member as their primary residence. Other uses need a different review.
Am I applying for a mortgage here?
No. You are asking Stonehaven to contact you. A mortgage application and any credit authorization are separate steps.
A real person on the other end
Chris De Leeuw
Co-Founder, Stonehaven Lending
Questions about the family-occupancy approach go to a co-founder, not a call center. Request a text and receive personal follow-up from Stonehaven.
Let's talk through the family housing plan
Tell us who the home is for and how to reach you. A Stonehaven team member will follow up to discuss the options and next steps.
Request a TextA mortgage application and any credit authorization are separate steps that come later, only if you choose to proceed.