Purchasing a home while overseas

[Ryan H.]

I live overseas and I’ve never purchased a property in the US or overseas. I’m a US citizen. I would be a first time home buyer.

My wife and I have decided that we would like to start the transition of moving back to the US, specifically Florida. We would be going back and forth between Florida and overseas for a few years until we make a full transition.

I was recently approved for a $200k conventional loan with 5% down as a primary residence in Florida.

I was told by the lender that even though I will not be living in Florida full time, that I can still classify the property as a primary, since I’m a first time home buyer, but I will not be able to claim Homestead on the property. This didn’t sound right.

So, I received a second opinion from another lender and was told that for a property to be a primary residence, I must move into the property within 60 days and live there full time. He suggested that I do not purchase as a primary since I will not be living there full time, and instead make the purchase as a secondary home, but I must physically be occupying the property 6 months out of the year.

So two lenders, with two different answers. It has me a bit confused on my options.

Can someone help clear this up?