Cherry Hills Village’s median home price crossed $3 million in late 2025. On Race Street in the Denver Country Club corridor, a six-bedroom estate sold in nine days for $8.595 million — to a cash buyer. These are not outliers in Denver’s upper-tier market. They are the data points that define it. The buyers transacting at this level — executives, founders, physicians in senior leadership, and high-net-worth buyers relocating from coastal markets — require financing that doesn’t exist on a bank’s standard product menu. Super-Jumbo mortgage loans in Denver mean portfolio lending, relationship-driven underwriting, and a lender who understands that a $5 million transaction is not simply a large version of a $500,000 transaction.
The complexity compounds quickly at this tier. Arrow Electronics — a Fortune 500 company headquartered in the Denver area — employs thousands of executives whose compensation includes significant equity, deferred comp, and bonus structures. Ball Corporation, also Fortune 500 and Denver-based, generates similar profiles. Salesforce employs more than 10,000 people in Colorado, and senior-level tech executives at Google and Amazon operating out of Denver routinely carry total compensation above $400,000 annually — with income documentation that requires careful lender matching to qualify correctly. Senior physicians at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (700+ beds, ranked #1 in Colorado for 14 consecutive years) and department-level leaders at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health present physician-executive profiles with a combination of employed income, practice equity, and research or consulting revenue. Ryan Lehrman, NMLS #235295, navigates these profiles specifically.
When the transaction requires it, the expertise is here.
Super-Jumbo mortgage loans are generally defined as loans above $3 million, though some lenders set the threshold at $2.5 million. These transactions fall outside the guidelines of standard jumbo programs and are originated through portfolio lenders — institutions that hold the loan on their own books rather than selling it to the secondary market — or through private banking relationships and non-QM programs designed for complex income and asset profiles.
In Denver, Super-Jumbo lending is the appropriate financing vehicle for purchases in Cherry Hills Village, the Country Club neighborhood, upper Hilltop, and any property in Cherry Creek or Polo Club where the acquisition price exceeds $3 million. It is also the relevant program for buyers using asset depletion income — those whose wealth is held in investment portfolios, retirement accounts, or business equity rather than traditional W-2 earnings — and for executives whose compensation includes deferred compensation, carried interest, or restricted stock that doesn’t qualify under conventional documentation standards.
Cherry Hills Village and Country Club properties — estates on half-acre to multi-acre lots, many with guest houses, pools, and significant outdoor improvements — qualify for portfolio programs offering up to 70–75% LTV on primary residences. These programs are designed for properties that don’t fit standard appraisal comparables and require lenders comfortable underwriting unique, high-value real estate. Loan amounts from $3 million to $10 million are available through relationship-driven portfolio lenders who evaluate the full financial picture of the borrower, not just a standardized checklist.
Many buyers at Denver’s top price tier have accumulated significant wealth in investment portfolios, retirement accounts, business equity, or real estate holdings — but their current earned income, measured in traditional mortgage terms, would understate their true financial capacity. Asset depletion programs allow qualified borrowers to convert documented liquid and near-liquid assets into a calculated monthly income figure for qualifying purposes. A buyer with $10 million in a managed investment portfolio, for example, may qualify for a substantial Super-Jumbo loan based on a lender-approved formula applied to those assets rather than on W-2 or 1099 income alone.
For executives whose compensation includes deferred compensation plans, carried interest, executive bonus agreements, or RSU packages with values exceeding standard jumbo income calculation limits, portfolio lenders offer custom underwriting pathways. These programs typically require more relationship-level engagement — documented net worth statements, CPA letters, employment verification from company counsel — but they allow borrowers to qualify on their true financial picture rather than on the subset of income that fits a standard underwriting template. Denver’s Fortune 500 executive community at Arrow Electronics, Ball Corporation, and DaVita, combined with the tech sector’s senior leadership population, generates consistent demand for this program category.
Custom construction in Hilltop, Cherry Creek, and Cherry Hills Village at price points above $3 million requires a Super-Jumbo construction-to-permanent program — a single loan that covers the land acquisition, the construction draw period, and converts to a permanent mortgage upon completion. These programs are more complex than standard One-Time Close loans and require lenders who understand custom construction timelines, construction cost overruns, and Colorado’s Bentonite soil engineering requirements that add cost to any custom build on the Front Range.
Cherry Hills Village
Cherry Hills Village — incorporated as its own municipality south of Denver — is definitively Denver's most expensive residential market. The Zillow Home Value Index confirmed median values above $3 million as of December 2025. Active listings range from $3 million for entry-level estates on smaller lots to over $25 million for the largest properties. The average individual income of Cherry Hills Village residents, per American Community Survey data, is $176,847 — reflecting the community's consistent attraction of Denver's wealthiest families, corporate executives, and nationally prominent physicians. Nearly every transaction above the entry tier requires Super-Jumbo financing or cash.
Country Club
The Country Club neighborhood — directly adjacent to the Denver Country Club golf course, the oldest country club west of the Mississippi (est. 1887) — concentrates stately early-to-mid 20th-century architecture on streets close to Cherry Creek North's retail and dining core. Estate pricing runs $3 million to $7 million for most properties, with exceptional offerings reaching higher. The neighborhood's tight inventory, historical significance, and proximity to both Cherry Creek and downtown Denver sustain pricing through market cycles. Cash sales are common, but sophisticated financed buyers with portfolio-lender relationships compete successfully.
Hilltop Upper Tier
While Hilltop's overall median sits around $1.48 million, the neighborhood's newer construction and extensively renovated estates — particularly those on larger lots near Cranmer Park with unobstructed Rocky Mountain views — command $3 million and above. These properties represent the upper end of Hilltop's market and are increasingly common as older ranches on premium lots are replaced by custom contemporary builds. The combination of east Denver location, school access, and proximity to Cherry Creek makes this tier highly sought after by buyers who want estate-scale space without committing to Cherry Hills Village's full price premium.
Portfolio lender and private bank access — relationships with lenders who underwrite Super-Jumbo transactions as individual files, not standardized checklists
Asset depletion expertise — correct calculation and documentation of investment portfolio and retirement account income for qualifying purposes
Executive compensation qualification — deferred comp, carried interest, RSU, and custom bonus structures documented and presented correctly
Construction-to-permanent capability — Super-Jumbo construction programs for Hilltop and Cherry Hills Village custom builds, including Colorado Bentonite soil engineering cost awareness
Absolute discretion — Super-Jumbo transactions are confidential by default; no unsolicited disclosure, no public-facing pipeline references
Early engagement recommended — complex income files benefit from early review; Ryan can often identify lender fit before you are in contract
Ryan Lehrman, NMLS #235295
Loan amount: Generally $3 million and above; some programs begin at $2.5 million
Credit profile: Typically 720+ minimum; 740–760+ preferred at the highest loan amounts
Income documentation: W-2, self-employed, executive comp, asset depletion, and hybrid income profiles all eligible through portfolio lenders; documentation requirements vary significantly by program
Down payment and reserves: Typically 20–30% down at $3M+; 24+ months PITI reserves standard; larger reserves may substitute for marginal income qualification in some portfolio programs
Early confidential consultation — Super-Jumbo transactions benefit from engagement before you are in contract; Ryan reviews the full income and asset profile to identify the correct portfolio lender and structure the most favorable presentation of your file
Documentation assembly — tax returns, business financials, investment account statements, employment agreements, deferred comp schedules, RSU grant letters, and any other relevant income or asset documentation organized into a cohesive package
Lender introduction and pre-approval — portfolio lenders at this tier often require introductory conversations before issuing a pre-approval; Ryan facilitates that process and ensures you're presenting to lenders who are well-matched to your specific profile
Underwriting — Super-Jumbo underwriting is more intensive and often more iterative than standard jumbo; plan for additional documentation requests and a longer underwriting timeline; Ryan manages this process from submission through conditions
Closing — final conditions cleared, closing scheduled; transactions at this tier often involve more complex title and closing coordination, including entity vesting and trust structures
At $4 million, Super-Jumbo programs typically require 20–25% down on a primary residence — meaning $800,000 to $1 million at closing, before closing costs. Some portfolio programs allow 15% down at this tier for borrowers with exceptional credit profiles, large reserve holdings, and clean income documentation, but 20% is the realistic baseline for most buyers. Ryan can match your specific profile to the program offering the lowest required down payment given your credit score, income structure, and reserve position.
Yes — through asset depletion programs, documented liquid and near-liquid assets (investment accounts, retirement accounts, cash, and in some programs business equity) can be converted to a calculated qualifying income figure. The typical formula divides eligible assets by a set number of months (often 60–84 months depending on the lender). A buyer with $8 million in investment accounts might qualify for a monthly income calculation of $95,000–$133,000 per month under this methodology — potentially sufficient to support a $3–$5 million Super-Jumbo loan without relying on earned income at all. Documentation requirements are stringent; Ryan can evaluate whether your asset profile supports a depletion qualification before you begin the process.
Yes, and this is one of the most common qualifying pitfalls for Denver executives. Deferred compensation — a portion of salary or bonus deferred into a company-sponsored plan — is often excluded from qualifying income by conventional lenders because it is not immediately accessible. Portfolio Super-Jumbo lenders evaluate deferred comp differently, particularly when the deferred balance is large, the payout schedule is contractually defined, and the company is a named, creditworthy employer. Arrow Electronics, DaVita, and other large Denver-area corporations sponsor deferred comp plans that are relevant to this qualifying pathway. Ryan knows which portfolio lenders count these structures and how to document them effectively.
Super-jumbo transactions benefit from early engagement. Let’s have a confidential conversation about your property and financial profile.
Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I moved to Phoenix to attend Arizona State University and have proudly called Phoenix home ever since.
My journey into the mortgage industry began with a friend’s encouragement, who saw how my energy and people-first mindset could make a difference. He was right — I found my calling.
I’ve always embraced what makes me different. With ADHD as my secret weapon, I thrive in fast-paced, detail-heavy environments. I’ve built my career on clear communication, creative problem-solving, and putting clients first, always.
Outside of work, my greatest motivation is my wife and three amazing kids. I’d be honored to help guide you through your lending journey with care, clarity, and commitment.
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