Should we get a HELOC or refinance our rental property?

Should we get a HELOC or refinance our rental property?

Rental Property Investor · Little Elm, TX · Member since 2019 · 17 posts · 0 votes

Morning folks.  I am new to Bigger Pockets but have loved every bit I have seem and learned so far.  Figured it was time to tap into the great wealth of knowledge here to get everyone's thoughts on an area that we are considering currently.

We have a rental property that we are wanting to use the equity on to fund additional deals. We have a 15 year note on it which we have about 12 years left on (to do all over again we would have done 30). Property value is $200K-225K and interest rate is 3.25%. Balance is about $109K. For a "non-owner occupied line of credit" we could borrow up to 80% LTV no problem. Main advantage there is we would preserve the low interest rate and remaining mortgage length and would have the LOC for when we need it and not have to pay if we don't need it but would cost more in terms of monthly expenditure when we use it because we would have that payment plus the mortgage.

By comparison, if we refinanced it for 30 years that would bring that rate up to ~5.5% and the payment with about the same cash out would be able the same as it is now with the 15 year note. Benefit is cash would be in hand and we should be able to refinance it into the LLC we have for the property/company instead of just in our name currently. Using that cash would cost no more than the current payment which is covered by the rent. Down side is the interest rate is higher and we would have a longer term.

I am not sure which direction is better. We are planning on using the BRRRR method on our deals going forward leaving little to nothing in the deal of our own cash. Would love to get everyone's thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

Wayne

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  • Rental Property Investor · MN · Member since 2017 · 864 posts · 555 votes
    7y

    Hey Wayne! if you are planning on doing the BRRRR method, I'd go for the Line of credit route :)

  • Rental Property Investor · Little Elm, TX · Member since 2019 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    Thanks Jake!

  • Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2019 · 35 posts · 15 votes
    7y

    Wayne, I am in the same situation. How much longer do you plan to hold the rental property?

    HELOC probably makes the most sense here. Only pay interest on what you use, and only when you use it. Yes you will have an additional monthly payment (HELOC interest) but the goal of a BRRRR is to get that money back out ASAP.

    Perhaps a CORefi makes sense if you plan to hold the initial property long term and you want to keep the equity recycling in the BRRRRs. Eventually the draw period on the HELOC will end so this strategy gives you indefinite cash. Trading 3.25% for 5.5% is tough, but if the numbers work, go for it.

    My plan is to sell my rental property in about a year, which makes a HELOC the easy choice.

    Where are you getting an 80% LTV non owner occupy HELOC?

  • Rental Property Investor · Little Elm, TX · Member since 2019 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    Hi Nathan, what's a CORefi?  We are going to keep it at least 10-15 years. It's the seed of our retirement plan :)

    Look at PenFed Credit Union for the HELOC. I have seen it come up in multiple posts here on BP.

    https://www.penfed.org/home-equity-center/home-equity-line-of-credit

  • Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2019 · 35 posts · 15 votes
    7y

    Wayne, Cash Out Refi is what I was abbreviating. 

    Does your current investment property make sense if you Cash Out refi at 5.5%? I understand that you see it as your seed, but sometimes the equity would be a better seed than a possible under-performing sapling. Another way to look at it, is if you did not own the property but instead had $100k cash (your equity) would you choose to buy it now as an investment property? Just food for thought.

    I figured you were looking at PenFed but thought I would ask in case you found a different lender to offer HELOCs on non owner occupy, especially at 80% LTV.

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