DTI Mess: How do I get financing/start investing? (Student Loans)

DTI Mess: How do I get financing/start investing? (Student Loans)

Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 1 vote

Hi! Newbie here. I've been reading about real estate investing and want to jump in, but I'm afraid my husband and I won't qualify for financing. Hoping you all can help me work out what's realistic. 

I've got ~$250k in student loans, and my husband also has ~$250k in student loans (we met in law school). My husband's salary is ~$60k, and I'm a stay-at-home mom with no income. How on earth are we paying our loans? My husband qualifies for our law school's low-income protection program (they pay 100% of his loans) while I'm in the federal Income-Based Repayment Program (and pay $0 a month). We have ~$110K in cash savings.

Is there any hope for us getting financing? I've tried using DTI calculators, but our monthly student loan payment doesn't accurately reflect the amount of student loans we have. Is there a way to get FHA financing with our numbers?

Paying with cash is an option, but we're in NYC--finding a local opportunity we can afford is like finding a sesame seed in a haystack. I'm reading up on long-distance investing but would feel more comfortable having my first investment be nearby. 

Thoughts on whether (a) we can get financing (hopefully FHA/traditional) or (b) we should go for a cash-down investment? Any other advice for someone in my position is also welcome.

Thanks in advance!

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  • New to Real Estate · Ogden, UT · Member since 2020 · 34 posts · 12 votes
    6y

    Hi Anna, on the BP Money Podcast they had episode 128 on how to pay off debt fast. I'll be honest I haven't listed to it myself, but might have some good tips from a BP source.

  • Investor · Malakoff, TX · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    $500k in student loans lead to one salary for $60k in NYC? Young people are seriously being led astray in their educational planning.

  • Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    6y

    @Eric James Well... we both went into corporate law straight out of law school, where we both had much higher salaries (both started at $180k w/o bonus). Husband burned out after 4 months. I stayed in it for 1.5 years. Once I had a kid, I couldn't see myself working until 3am and being constantly on call anymore. 

    Not to say we couldn't have planned better. We're definitely kicking ourselves for taking on so much debt. But $500k in debt did initially lead to $360k combined salary--we just didn't realize how miserable we would be in those corporate jobs. My husband went for the $60k job because it offered a better lifestyle than the $120k job he was offered, was more fulfilling, and left us with the same amount in-pocket (b/c at $120k, we'd have to pay his portion of the student loans in full whereas at $60k, the school pays 100%).

    Anyway. I'm overexplaining because I know we're not in a great spot and am embarrassed that we got ourselves here--but I'm looking for a path forward. Comments that can help us find that path are very welcome!

  • Basit SiddiqiBusiness Member
    Accountant · New York, NY · Member since 2015 · 8k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    @Anna Cooper

    Having so much debt can be a stressful experience.

    I once had a lot of debt(bad decisions), not as much as you, but still.

    When I had money, I made the decision to invest in real estate instead of paying off the debt.
    I didn't have a DTI issue since I made good amount of money from my W-2 job.

    The appreciation in the properties helped me pay off the debt.

    It looks like DTI will affect you for a while especially if the student loans are showing a payment due on a monthly basis.

    It looks like you have time(yes yes I know being a mom is work...but...), have you made connections within the legal/corporate world on those who want to invest?
    The downside is that you don't have the experience so it may be hard to convince them to invest with you.

    There are certainly areas within a 3 hour drive of NYC that are more affordable than NYC.

    Good luck with everything!

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