HELOC on our home to help fund our first deal?

Question

My wife and I have been in the learning and research phase of investing and are wanting to take action. We shouldn’t have any issues with bank lending  but funding our first rehab will be tough. Unless, we pulled from the equity on our home. We refinanced last year so we would probably just be looking for a HELOC. My only concern is if we plan to sell any time soon (might rent it out instead), there would be little to no return if we pull all of our equity out now. Thanks in advance!

Tim Scroggins · Answer

@Jonathan Greene- That is a fair point. We will definitely take that into consideration especially going into our first deal. I know the best way to learn is by doing it but I also understand there is a right way and a wrong way to get started. Thanks for the advise.

Tim Scroggins · Answer

@Ryan Howell- This is similar to how we’ve been thinking about it. We only have about $31k available for a HELOC which would leave about $20k equity in our property. Which is spreading a little thin. But I will run the numbers and see where we stand on a possible return of going that route. Thanks!

Tim Scroggins · Answer

@Will Fraser -Thank you for this info and advise! Currently reading How To Invest in Real Estate. Brrrr and Low (to no) Money down are next. We will evaluate if the HELOC is our best option at this time.

Tim Scroggins · Answer

@Ganessan P. -Correct. We have about $50k in equity and roughly $31k that we are approved for a HELOC. Just want to make sure our money working for us and not sitting idle.

Jessie Marcell Mouton · Answer

@Will Fraser thanks for recommending this book. I’m listening to it on audible now.

Will Fraser · Answer

Hi @Tim Scroggins, welcome to the Biggerpockets forums!  There are several different approaches you could take here, and really the "right one" is going to come down to what aligns you and your wife with your goals, hopes, and aspirations.  The paths I could see as useful at this point would be (but not limited to):

• - Sell your current home and purchase a home that performs excellently as an investment, and then add value to that one (getting your rehab muscle working AND simplifying the funding.
• - Keep your current home and pull capital out of it through a HELOC.  Factor those additional financing costs into the investments you purchase with the equity and find deals that will cashflow healthily even in light of the additional debt.
• - Read B.Turner's book on doing deals with Low and (almost) No Money and implement some of these strategies to invest without tapping into the equity in your home.

Remember what Occam said . . . the simplest solution is usually be best.  Moreover, the simplest solution that aligns with your goals, visions, and aspirations IS the best!

Ganessan P. · Answer

Short Answer is YES. First you need to find the lender who can provide HELOC on investment property ( i assume this is your investment property ). There are only few lenders who does that.. you google it and make the phone calls and find it. I would start with the local bank and local credit unions. It would take almost 20-45 days to get the HELOC.

HELOC is like your cash.. when the lender asks you how you are pay the down payment.. tell them from your HELOC. You may send the proof of your HELOC account and funds the available. Its your cash, you can do anything with that. Nobody cares about you on what you do with the cash from HELOC.

Ganessan P. · Answer

@Steven Gebhardt - HELOC and Home Equity Loan both leverages your Equity. In your example... Yes you would have 0$ towards your original home after the Home Equity loan.

Home Equity Loan - Its an Amortization schedule where you know, you will paying the interests in the beginnings of your schedule. You pay your principal but you can take it out the principal.

HELOC - You pay the interest for the amount you have withdrawn. You can put back the principal at any time and you can withdraw at any as well ( during the draw period typically 10 years ) . I love HELOC if you know there is going to some cash flow and you want the flexibility of taking out and putting it back. I hope it helps.