Opening HELOC, should keep unsecured line open as well?
Hello, first post on bigger pockets. I am just getting into real estate investing. I do not have much money to get started with because I was focusing on paying off some higher interest student loans first. I am looking at opening a HELOC to help acquire and potentially Rehab properties. The BRRRR strategy sounds great to me if I can find the right deals and secure enough money to get going. Now to my question.
I am opening a home equity line of credit for $30,000 which is the most I can get with my currently equity. I currently have an unsecured line of credit at the same bank for $23,000. Should I close my unsecured line which has a worse interest rate? The factors I have considered so far are that keeping it open will allow me access to more money if needed for something like a rehab without using my credit cards. However, I also don't know if having so much credit relative to my income will have an effect on my ability to get approved for a loan to purchase a property or a refinance option. I had read that even unused credit can be used to count as debt when determining debt to income ratio.
Thanks for any help you can provide