Financing Basics for First-Time Rental Property Owners

Have you been thinking about becoming a landlord, but wondering if now is the right time to purchase a rental property? You are certainly not alone. Real estate is one of Americans’ favorite investments. Plus, with current low-interest rates and the trend of millennials choosing to rent instead of own, you may want to consider taking the plunge sooner rather than later.

Having a rental property in your portfolio has plenty of perks (including a steady, passive income). Still, you need to do your research first and understand options to make sure it makes financial sense for your situation. Rental property financing is not as straightforward as purchasing a primary residence. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss some of the financing basics of investing in real estate to consider, which can be especially helpful if you are a first-time rental property owner.

Make a Large Down Payment

Mortgage insurance will not cover your investment property. So, for a traditional loan, you will need to put down at least 20-25% to get favorable financing according to Quicken Loans. A substantial down payment gives the bank more security, and it also demonstrates your commitment. Additionally, the bank will review your credit and debt-to-income ratio when making their decision on how much down payment is necessary, and if you will even qualify for a traditional loan.    

Evaluate Loan Options

Big bank’ traditional loans probably are the type of financing you are most familiar with, but if you can’t qualify, there are other options available to finance your rental property. Smaller, local (or community) banks sometimes have more flexibility in their requirements. They are usually not as conservative as the big banks, and they like to invest locally and value building relationships with their investors. Another idea is investing in a multi-family property that you can live in to take advantage of primary residence financing.   

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Ask the Seller to Consider Financing

If you can’t get a loan for your rental property from a bank, another option is to ask the seller if they would consider financing the loan themselves. The seller will extend credit to cover the purchase price of the property (minus the down payment), and you’ll sign a promissory note agreeing to make your payments. Interest rates will likely be higher than you’d get from a bank, but the down payment should be more flexible. Plus, you can close your deal quickly since you don’t have to go through the hassle of the traditional banking process to get your loan application approved. Remember, if you chose to explore this option, be sure when you approach the owner that you have a game plan in place. The seller must have confidence in your ability to repay the loan.      

Gather a Small Group of Investors Together

Although it would be nice to own your rental property outright all on your own, that is not feasible for most people. As an alternative to going it alone, you can gather a small group of investors to buy the property together. This option keeps you all from having to take out a loan, and it allows you to start generating cash flow sooner. Although you will have to share your profits, it does avoid the risk of a foreclosure on your rental property. It can be a great way to get your feet wet as a landlord without shouldering all the risk. To make things even easier, your group can hire a property management company, so you don’t have to deal with tenant issues.    

Making the right choice when it comes to financing your first rental property can help set you up for success. You don’t want to rush into deciding, and you should always consider your short-term and long-term goals to figure out what kind of financing makes the most sense.

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