The Hobby Farm Home Loan Program is perfect for buyers who want to finance a purchase of a home on land with farm production capacity, while still relying on off-farm means for the majority of their income. Can use property income for qualifying.

Property qualifications are as follows:

• Single family, detached residence
• Owner occupied, primary residence, or investment with or without home
• Must be “Hobby Farm” – defined as property with at least five acres of land with agriculture production capability OR used to produce gross annual income of at least $5,000.

The Hobby Farm Home Loan Program is eligible for financing investment properties, second homes, lot purchases, or townhouses.

Borrowers qualify with a credit score of 700 and a history clean of major negative credit events (bankruptcies, foreclosures, short sales).

General loan qualifications are as follows:

• Minimum credit score of 680

Down payment requirements vary based on the loan amount:

• 30%: $5 million
  
• 40%: $50 million

To complete the loan, the property must meet several additional requirements, including zoning, environmental, dwelling, and crop-type qualifications.

The Hobby Farm Home Loan Program also offers these nifty options for borrowers:

• Purchase / Refinance Combo: Borrower can pay off existing liens while accessing funds to purchase additional land.
• Cash-Out Refinance: Proceeds must be used for property improvement or refinance of primary home.

Central Coast Lending’s Farm and Ranch Program gives buyers financing capacity of up to $50 million to purchase parcels of land to use for agricultural production. Under the program, financing is also available for buildings, fixtures, equipment, and facilities (dairies, feedlots, storage units or processors) that are attached to the land.

Property qualifications are as follows:

• Agriculture-zoned land (capable of producing agricultural commodities or products)
• Minimum of five acres, no maximum acreage BUT if property is less than five acres, must produce over $5,000 in annual gross sales of agricultural products.

Eligible borrowers must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a minimum credit score of 680. Private corporations or partnerships are also eligible, providing members, stockholders, or partners with majority stakes are citizens or lawful permanent residence.

The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio describes the maximum eligible loan relative to the total value of the property. Maximum LTV options for the Farm and Ranch Program include:

• 70%: Land loans up to $5.0 million:
• 60%: Land loans exceeding $5.0 million:
• 65%: Facilities loans (dairies, feedlots, storage units or processors):

The mortgage rate can be structured as either fixed (for a term 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years) or adjustable (5-year Adjustable Rate Mortgage, 7/1, 10/1). ARMs offer a fixed mortgage rate for a preset amount of years, before resetting to a sliding rate that adjusts based on a market index.