Investor · Stuart, FL · Member since 2017 · 44 posts · 6 votes
Hello BP, new investor here about to put my first investment property under contract! I am owner occupying a duplex and my lender just informed me that I can use a USDA loan because of the county I will be purchasing in. I have the funds to go 5% conventional, FHA, or USDA so I have my choice here. I only plan on living at the property for a year or two. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated, I am a newbie!
Rental Property Investor · Spartanburg, SC · Member since 2015 · 14 posts · 3 votes
9y
Nice house hacking! I think this will depend on your goals and how much cash you have as well. If you don't have a lot of cash, then FHA/USDA would be the way to go for now since the low or no downpayment. Conventional is good if you have the 20% down to avoid PMI and you don't have to live there for a year or so before you can move out and rent out that unit. You can always do FHA/USDA initially and refinance out of that later via conventional once you have some equity built up. Then possibly just do FHA/USDA again on another 4 unit or less property with low or no money down. Just don't over leverage yourself and do your due diligence with the numbers along with having insurance. Overall, congrats!
Rental Property Investor · Spartanburg, SC · Member since 2015 · 14 posts · 3 votes
9y
Nice house hacking! I think this will depend on your goals and how much cash you have as well. If you don't have a lot of cash, then FHA/USDA would be the way to go for now since the low or no downpayment. Conventional is good if you have the 20% down to avoid PMI and you don't have to live there for a year or so before you can move out and rent out that unit. You can always do FHA/USDA initially and refinance out of that later via conventional once you have some equity built up. Then possibly just do FHA/USDA again on another 4 unit or less property with low or no money down. Just don't over leverage yourself and do your due diligence with the numbers along with having insurance. Overall, congrats!
San Diego , CA · Member since 2017 · 42 posts · 18 votes
9y
If you do plan on living there over a year why not fha? As James said you can refi out of it once you have more equity built plus is less of your own cash deployed and you can let the rehab/tenants build that equity for you.
Investor · Stuart, FL · Member since 2017 · 44 posts · 6 votes
9y
My real estate agent told me that there was a minimum of 5 years before the PMI can drop off of the FHA loan vs the 5% conventional where as it drops off automatically after the 20% equity, is this true? And if I chose to go USDA what would happen after that year or so when I decide to leave, I'm assuming I would definitely have to refinance because a USDA loan can only be used if the person is living at the residence, correct?