Surprised Cash-Out Refinance is so expensive

Surprised Cash-Out Refinance is so expensive

Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes

I purchased a positive cash flowing property last summer, for cash and am now (finally) looking to do a cash-out refi to pull the cash to use on another property. My other properties were all purchased with traditional bank mortgages so I get that side of the equation. On this one, I bought at let's say $51000 and its now worth approx. $62000. Not a huge appreciation, but it's something and considering this is Midwest, it fits. The refi rates I've gotten estimates for so far are 5.25% (traditional bank) or 5.62% (investor focused broker) plus around $3200-3700 in closing costs. Seems excessive to me. I know this wasn't a true BRRRR since I purchased with a renter in place and the place has only had a few "rehab" fixes completed (exterior trim work and painting, bathroom leak floor replacement).

I'm looking to start scaling up and acquiring faster (better!) but in this case the cost to pull $42k out seems a little higher than I expected. What am I looking at wrong or missing here?

0Reply
66 views

Most Popular Reply

Chris MasonPro Member
Moderator
Lender · CA · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 10k+ votes
7y
  • Keep in mind you typically defer 1-2 payments when you refinance. You can pay the balance right back down using that temporary increased monthly cashflow, if you elected to roll closing costs into the new loan.
  • If you had and are going to continue to have an impound account for taxes and insurance, your old impound account balance will be refunded to you, after most folks roll the cost of the new escrow account into their loan balance. Apply that towards paying the balance down too.

Do both of those things, and >90% of refinances will not leave you unnecessarily more in debt (in this case it's a cash out refinance, so it can't be avoided).

Do most Americans do those above two suggested things, or do most Americans take that money and go buy shiny new objects with it? That's a different question entirely....

See this reply in the discussion

35 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2019 · 290 posts · 253 votes
    7y

    @Doug Schorr Have you tried smaller credit unions or different banks? The closing costs seem a little high to me, but the rates don't seem all that high for a cash out refi on an investment property. But then again, I am not an expert, I've only financed a couple deals. 

  • Chris MasonPro Member
    Moderator
    Lender · CA · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    7y
    • Keep in mind you typically defer 1-2 payments when you refinance. You can pay the balance right back down using that temporary increased monthly cashflow, if you elected to roll closing costs into the new loan.
    • If you had and are going to continue to have an impound account for taxes and insurance, your old impound account balance will be refunded to you, after most folks roll the cost of the new escrow account into their loan balance. Apply that towards paying the balance down too.

    Do both of those things, and >90% of refinances will not leave you unnecessarily more in debt (in this case it's a cash out refinance, so it can't be avoided).

    Do most Americans do those above two suggested things, or do most Americans take that money and go buy shiny new objects with it? That's a different question entirely....

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Danielle Wolter:

    @Doug Schorr Have you tried smaller credit unions or different banks? The closing costs seem a little high to me, but the rates don't seem all that high for a cash out refi on an investment property. But then again, I am not an expert, I've only financed a couple deals. 

    Thanks! I'll check around and see what other options I can find. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Chris Mason:
    • Keep in mind you typically defer 1-2 payments when you refinance. You can pay the balance right back down using that temporary increased monthly cashflow, if you elected to roll closing costs into the new loan.
    • If you had and are going to continue to have an impound account for taxes and insurance, your old impound account balance will be refunded to you, after most folks roll the cost of the new escrow account into their loan balance. Apply that towards paying the balance down too.

    Do both of those things, and >90% of refinances will not leave you unnecessarily more in debt (in this case it's a cash out refinance, so it can't be avoided).

    Do most Americans do those above two suggested things, or do most Americans take that money and go buy shiny new objects with it? That's a different question entirely....

    Got it.. The shiny new object I want to buy with this cash-out refi is a dusty old house in the Midwest - cash flow rental. For now, I have no escrow account on this house since I own it outright, but may look to add taxes and interest into the mortgage for ease of use if I refi it.. We'll see...

  • Guy with Great Hair · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    this is about right.  6% (of appraised value) in closing costs.

    loans under 60k have higher than normal costs because the bank needs to make something and the floor here is too low, so based on the cash out amount this is a touch high but that's the cost of going cheap ;) 

  • Investor · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2013 · 658 posts · 315 votes
    7y

    It's just as much work for the bank to originate a 42k mortgage as a 84k mortgage.  A lot of them won't even bother doing one for less than 50k.  

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Alexander Felice:

    this is about right.  6% (of appraised value) in closing costs.

    loans under 60k have higher than normal costs because the bank needs to make something and the floor here is too low, so based on the cash out amount this is a touch high but that's the cost of going cheap ;) 

    Thanks @Alexander Felice  I've definitely noticed that closing costs on a "cheap" mortgage under $75k is most definitely not cheap..

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Brant Richardson:

    It's just as much work for the bank to originate a 42k mortgage as a 84k mortgage.  A lot of them won't even bother doing one for less than 50k.  

    True.. same work, smaller less expensive houses, less profit. All part of the game I suppose..

  • Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    7y

    I have a rental that I paid cash for. This past April I did a cash out refi commercial loan to buy another property. 5.25%, 20 years, first 5 years fixed rate. The total fees for this loan was $885 on $60k. I walked out of the bank with $59,115. Small investor friendly bank.

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    @Matt M.now that's the deal I need. Similar rate that I'm looking at for 30 years (I'd never have it that long without doing something on the rate side) but without the high closing fees. Did you have a relationship with this bank to start with? Is it local to where you live or near your properties (if they are remote)? I'm not holding in LLC so unsure if that would work here.

  • Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    7y

    @Doug Schorr

    It is a small local bank, only 3 branches. I did not have a relationship prior to that loan, but apparently I do now as I’m buying yet another property and got a loan from them again, closing next week, they needed no other docs, all they did was run credit again and he could have closed in 2 weeks had the title company been ready.

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    @Matt M. Awesome! I’m going to start looking for small local options. So far, I haven’t found anyone small enough but I do like is Los Angeles and know I won’t find them here.

  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @Doug Schorr

    Nothing out of line here. I average $5-$6K in closing costs on my ($50K-$70K) portfolio loans.

    One thing I want to mention is that while the numbers are critical in any deal, when it comes to lenders, there are other things to take into account such as:

    1. Are they a good long-term lending partner for you?

    2. Do they push to close quickly?

    3. Do they provide extra details on the property to help aid in underwriting and appraisals?

    4. Do they offer a fixed vs. an ARM loan?

    I can go on and on. Again, regardless of lender, the numbers have to work at the end of the day! Just don't look as a lender as only being someone who offers x% APR at $x in closing costs. There's more to it. Lastly, I agree with the other posters, small local community banks and credit unions are usually the best option.

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    @CJ M. Thanks for the update and insight..

  • Rental Property Investor · Gulfport, MS · Member since 2018 · 113 posts · 133 votes
    7y

    @Doug Schorr I’m in the midst of a refi now. 4.75% fixed, closing cost is $3K + $2K escrow prepays for taxes and insurance. $70K loan with a total closing cost of 5K. I think your fees are pretty standard.

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    @Cole Raiford thanks for the update. I appreciate the validation and I muddle through the learning..

  • Member since 2019 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    @Doug Schorr discover bank will give you cash out refinance @ 5.3%, $0 closing costs.

  • Investor · Roebling, NJ · Member since 2016 · 55 posts · 39 votes
    7y

    I have 2 cash out mortgages with a small (under 10 branches) bank here in NJ. both homes appraised for about 105k. mortgages were for 65k. about $500 in fees total. 5.5 fixed interest.

    I have heard that fees can be much more on lower value assets but theres no way I would be investing if I had to pay fees like I see in some of the replies.

  • Member since 2019 · 1 post · 0 votes
    7y

    @Doug Schorr how do you find a positive cash flow rentals as a newbie investor. My market is Delaware.

  • Investor · Lafayette Hill, PA · Member since 2015 · 27 posts · 27 votes
    7y

    @Doug Schorr

    It most likely what @Alexander Felice mentioned that with the lower loans, your lenders are most likely doing extra work to recoup their fee. I guess my one open question would be what LTV you are getting?

    I've use american federal mortgage here in the Northeast and gotten really competitive rates, but most of my refinances are at higher amounts. Normally for my cash-out refinances the quoted investment rates are around 0.5 to 0.625 higher vs a standard residential 30 year fixed. So it appears for the lower mortgage amounts, your bank trying to make money from you both ways, with a slightly higher investment rate and also additional fees compared to the value of the house. 

    Based on my loan estimate worksheet In my current refinance where I locked in the rate on 07/30, my cashout loan for $187,500 is at 4.375. My closing costs are roughly 3.5K (2,000 title, 450 documentation, 600 appraisal, and 400 prepaid interest) Since my LTV is at 75%, I always waive escrow, that way I can pay all my insurance with a business credit card to get points and the free APR for a year. Now if I can figure out an efficient way to pay property tax with a rewards card and not pay a processing fee then I would be golden.

    As you mentioned once you start to scale the fees will all add up, but if you find similar rates back it maybe due to original value of your loan. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    @Metin Saliu thanks for the lead, I’ll check them out..

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    @Jim Vanhorn thanks Jim. This is the first time I’m trying a cash out refi so it’s a learning curve for sure.

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    7y

    @Lu Kang thanks. Looks like I’m in the right ballpark then. I will also be waiving escrow - it’s all about using credit cards that earn me points.

  • Real Estate Coach · Member since 2018 · 245 posts · 216 votes
    7y

    @Doug Schorr

    That seems about right. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Savage, MN · Member since 2016 · 202 posts · 61 votes
    7y

    Thanks for sharing @Doug Schorr, I was not aware of the costs of a Cash out refi as I have yet to do one myself yet either

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.