Downpayment Funding Options

Downpayment Funding Options

Accountant · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 0 votes

Hi all - first post here so bear with me, I’ll try to keep it concise.

In short, I’m preparing my finances here to put me in a position to purchase an investment property. Due to new COVID-19 developments, it’s my understanding that banks are asking for 25-30% downpayment as opposed to traditional 20%. As a result, I need a little more money to make up this difference. I have a family member who is willing to front the difference of what I need (will probably be between $10-20K depending on price point).

My dilemma is that banks will see this as a gift/loan and will not accept it. My research thus far has given me a few options:

1) season the money for ~60 days.

2) pull from my IRA for the difference and recontribute within the 60 day grace period. Unsure if this is actually a valid move anymore; however, not much a fan of this.

3) form a legal partnership and proceed with partner as the mortgagor. Not too much a fan of this either, just given the inherent complexities this can add. Nor does he have much of an interest in that route.

4) look at properties with a lower price point

Im aware that I can be patient and can build the reserve I need within the next 6 months. I’d simply like to be ready during the summer months here as it is most conducive to my work schedule. I’m wondering if anybody can provide some creative ways to workaround this or provide a little guidance on next steps, as I’m struggling a bit to find answers. Any advice/tips on the above is also appreciated.

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  • Chris MasonPro Member
    Moderator
    Lender · CA · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    6y

    SFR is 15% to 20% down.

    2-4 unit is 25% down.

    That has continued to be broadly available in spite of the pandemic. 

    For #2 - this is still doable. You're the accountant, so I'll defer to you on the tax consequences. 

    For #3 - bad idea. DTI killed the next time either partner applies for a mortgage, purchase or refi.

    You forgot #5 - They loan you the down payment funds, secured by another property you own, as a 2nd (or 3rd, etc) private mortgage. Notarized, recorded, etc. You can 100% use borrowed funds for rental property down payments (people do it all the time with HELOCs), it must simply be secured borrowed funds, not a credit card or credit card equivalent (that's the difference between a HELOC and a credit card, and it remains true if your HELOC bank gives you a card with the Visa logo on it that draws on the HELOC).

  • Chris MasonPro Member
    Moderator
    Lender · CA · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Chris Mason:

    SFR is 15% to 20% down.

    2-4 unit is 25% down.

    That has continued to be broadly available in spite of the pandemic. 

    For #2 - this is still doable. You're the accountant, so I'll defer to you on the tax consequences. 

    For #3 - bad idea. DTI killed the next time either partner applies for a mortgage, purchase or refi.

    You forgot #5 - They loan you the down payment funds, secured by another property you own, as a 2nd (or 3rd, etc) private mortgage. Notarized, recorded, etc. You can 100% use borrowed funds for rental property down payments (people do it all the time with HELOCs), it must simply be secured borrowed funds, not a credit card or credit card equivalent (that's the difference between a HELOC and a credit card, and it remains true if your HELOC bank gives you a card with the Visa logo on it that draws on the HELOC).

     I don't know if folks in PA will be familiar with my #5 trick above. In the Bay Area, where prices are super high and capital abundantly available, we do it once in a while, and people call me b/c they have a hard time finding a loan officer that's done it before. That might be doubly true in a lower cost and less capitalized local real estate market. 

  • Accountant · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    @Chris Mason appreciate the insight here. I wasn’t aware of the secured vs. unsecured loan difference regarding the downpayment. This definitely gives me a different route to explore.

  • Member since 2020 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    6y

    Im curious, is it possible for private money coming from his relative be arranged separately, where they have their own agreement and not disclosed to the bank? Has anybody done that?

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