Cash out Refi or Not? (I know, not the first forum on this topic)

Cash out Refi or Not? (I know, not the first forum on this topic)

Rental Property Investor · Kaysville, UT · Member since 2017 · 141 posts · 120 votes

I own a home in Kaysville, UT. I bought it about two years ago for $215k. Since then, I have put about $40k into remodeling and adding a MIA(doing all the work myself). As a result, we have been able to rent out the MIA to offset our current mortgage costs by nearly 80%. I had to finance about $20k of this using a home equity line. With the market appreciation and forced appreciation in my property, my home is now worth ~$310k. I still owe about $195k on the original mortgage and about $18k on my HELOC. My question is this, should I do a cash-out refinance? Doing so would allow me to pay off my HELOC, pull out $30k-$40k, and still leave ~20% equity in the property.

I have been bombarded with all kinds of opinions on what I should do. I recognize that restarting the amortization schedule on my loan may cost me a lot of money (in interest) in the future. I also recognize that my mortgage payments will likely increase $300-$400 per month. On the flip side, I would have $30k-$40k liquid cash I could use to acquire my next investment property(s). If I'm honest with myself and everything I've learned here on BP, I should refi and BRRRR/House-hack the heck out of the deal, but all my financial advisers (parents, in-laws, etc.) are telling me to just focus on getting out of debt ASAP.

Thanks to all the local input! Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Logan, Utah

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Rental Property Investor · Syracuse, UT · Member since 2015 · 19 posts · 13 votes
7y

Jaiden, get your friends/family a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. :) I say stick with the HELOC and don't touch your mortgage with a lower interest rate (I'm assuming).

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  • Real Estate Investor · West Linn, OR · Member since 2017 · 134 posts · 62 votes
    8y

    Hey Jaiden, 

    Honestly I dont think you would even be able to get another cash flowing property with $40K. Maybe in the single family space. I would say at the very least have a clear plan of what you would do with the money before you decide to refinance. I.E. get some idea of what kind of a loan it would allow you to acquire, what kinds of properties that would put you into, how the cash flow picture would look assuming you buy slightly below market etc. Just my two cents, hope all is well!

    Scott

  • Murray, UT · Member since 2016 · 162 posts · 166 votes
    8y

    @Jaiden Olsen - i found myself in a very similar situation a few years ago.  I started doing the 'get your debt paid off' scenario for about 5-6 months, but after really looking at the numbers i stopped and went the other direction.  I ended up doing a cash out refi, and pulled 75k out to invest in a few deals.  The cash out refi is good because the rate gets locked in long term, but the heloc is good because you can keep using it and using it without refinance costs.  I probably should have done a heloc..... but hind sight.... anyway I am really glad i took the leap.  I would say it will change my financial life forever.

    The main thing you need to look at is the arbitrage number, or the difference between the interest rate of the Debt, and the ROI of the investment (I use cash on cash for my calculations, as I don't want to depend on appreciation for returns). I think i borrowed at 4.5% and have got most of my money in small deals that kick off about 10%, so i can make the spread after extra amount of mortgage, or heloc is paid.

    The problem you may face now is finding a deal that will get a return that is attractive enough.  I think alot of people are getting sucked into some deals hoping for appreciation and calculating that into their return.  Too risky for me.  If i am borrowing to make an investment it needs to be pretty low risk and mostly passive.

    DO you know what direction you want to go with investing?  Are you looking for out of state rentals? passive or flipping? 

    That is another upside of the HELOC is you don't pay any interest unless the money is used so you have time to shop around. when i got the cash from the REFI it was cool to look at the account statement, but it took almost 12 months to get it all safely deployed.

    Good Luck!

  • Investor · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2016 · 287 posts · 270 votes
    8y

    @Jaiden Olsen what interest rate do you have now? I’m willing to bet it’s sub 4 and that right there is probably reason enough to not refi. 

  • Harjeet BhattiPro Member
    Lender · Glenview IL- CDLP NMLS#230554 · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 747 votes
    8y

    @Jaiden Olsen If its 1 unit the max cash out will be up to 75%ltv under conventional loan. I don't see you are getting out $30-$40k.  You are adding liability of $300-$400 in current property. The best option will be ask your lender if they can increase line of credit so you can use that money for down payment.

  • Rental Property Investor · Syracuse, UT · Member since 2015 · 19 posts · 13 votes
    7y

    Jaiden, get your friends/family a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. :) I say stick with the HELOC and don't touch your mortgage with a lower interest rate (I'm assuming).

  • Rental Property Investor · Kaysville, UT · Member since 2017 · 141 posts · 120 votes
    7y

    Thanks for all the great input! You guys rock!

  • Rental Property Investor · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    I went the HELOC route as well that way the money will be available when I'm able to find an investment and there's no payments until I use it. Also, to counter the rising interest rates my credit union (America First) was able to give me a 5 year fixed rate.

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