What would BP do? - What to do with Primary Residence

What would BP do? - What to do with Primary Residence

San Jose, CA · Member since 2016 · 58 posts · 19 votes

Our current residence, a condo, turns out would not make for a good rental property. I simply could not get rental income to cover the current mortgage, HOA, taxes, and anything else to make it cash flow positive. So the idea of buying a new primary residence, and renting the condo, I don't think is going to work.

I desperately want to move away from an HOA situation, and towards a single family home for our next move.

We could comfortably live in the condo for another 5 years, if we had too, but we'll likely out grow it by the end of that term.  So what strategy would you consider?

1) Stay put and invest in a rental that does cash flow?

2) Try to work out a 203k loan deal for the next primary residence? - perhaps add square footage for a rental piece.  

3) Rent the condo anyway, and count on the equity?

4) Sell it and move in with mom? (not going to happen, but I still love you mom!)

5) Your more creative idea?

Let's presume there is $100K equity in the condo, and some monies in a Roth IRA and 401K we could leverage if needed.

Finally, I've considered the idea of moving into a duplex or triplex, but my wife and I aren't convinced this living situation is for us...yet.

Thanks everyone for reading and participating!   

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Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2012 · 190 posts · 85 votes
10y

#3 is out. Never count on the equity. 

#4 as you said, is out.

My answer to 1, 2, and 5: dump the condo. Use the HOA savings to either increase the size/value of your new SFR/MFR primary residence (since your mortgage payments can be higher by that HOA amount), or use the money you save by not paying an HOA to buy/invest in real estate.

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  • Professional · Carlsbad, CA · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    @Ricardo Meza

    @Ricardo Meza

    You can look into borrowing from the 401(k) through a participant loan. The following IRS link covers the 401(k) loan regulations.

    https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Retirement-Plans-FAQs-regarding-Loans

  • Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2012 · 190 posts · 85 votes
    10y

    #3 is out. Never count on the equity. 

    #4 as you said, is out.

    My answer to 1, 2, and 5: dump the condo. Use the HOA savings to either increase the size/value of your new SFR/MFR primary residence (since your mortgage payments can be higher by that HOA amount), or use the money you save by not paying an HOA to buy/invest in real estate.

  • Justin WindhamPro Member
    Banker · Nationwide · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    @Ricardo Meza

    It seems like some of your focus or intent has changed since you purchased the condo (or the amount of rent you can get changed or was miscalculated.) That may be a good reason to consider selling the condo. For me, whether I stay in the home or attempt to sell it might depend on how much "negative cashflow" you'd be looking at if you had to rent it. I'd be somewhat more willing to stay in it if the negative cashflow was minimal, but I'd probably lean toward selling it especially with $100k in equity. That equity can help a lot in getting something that DOES cashflow as you seem to be more in an investment mindset now. Even if your plan is not to immediately rent whatever you purchase, your options and flexibility are much better if your primary residence would cashflow.

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