Do homeowners have an easier time breaking into RE investing

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Do homeowners have an easier time breaking into RE investing

Nicole Walley
Sarasota, FL 路 Member since 2018 路 15 posts 路 2 votes
Through a bit of reading and research, I am gathering that it is much easier to break into RE investment if you already own a home. I would like to know what your thoughts are on this, and also how some of you were able to get started! Thanks 馃槉
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Jordan MoorheadBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent 路 Austin, TX 路 Member since 2015 路 5k+ posts 路 3k+ votes
7y
@Nicole Walley I鈥檇 start with househacking
[email protected]512-888-9122
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  • Jason D.
    Rental Property Investor 路 St. Petersburg, FL 路 Member since 2017 路 3k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    7y
    @Nicole Walley it can be true.... a lot of people get started by tapping into their home's equity, so in that instance, yes, it would be easier. But I cant think of any other real advantage you would have by owning a home. In some cases, it may be the opposite, if your mortgage is more than something that you could rent, it could be keeping you from saving more.
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  • Nicole Walley
    OP
    Sarasota, FL 路 Member since 2018 路 15 posts 路 2 votes
    7y
    @Jason DiClemente how did you get started?
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  • Jason D.
    Rental Property Investor 路 St. Petersburg, FL 路 Member since 2017 路 3k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    7y
    @Nicole Walley my first rental was my first primary residence. My wife and I bought a house and a couple years later we ended up moving out of state. The numbers worked for a rental so, instead of selling it, we hired a property manager and rented it. After renting it for 5 years, we sold the property last year.
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  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cody, WY 路 Member since 2010 路 28k+ posts 路 41k+ votes
    7y

    I think it may be easier because they've already been through the process. Otherwise, I see no particular advantage to being a home owner. 

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  • Tyler Mullen
    Investor 路 Kirkland, WA 路 Member since 2017 路 310 posts 路 271 votes
    7y

    @Nicole Walley

    Well there might be some selection bias in the sample choice when asking on BP, kinda like asking a Ford dealer who builds the best trucks. Familiarity with the process, vendors and their functions, documents, local laws and REI terms by going through the process would be beneficial. If you learn a little Italian before vacationing there it will change your experience. Or are you referring to generating capital to use in REI beyond your primary residence?

    In my opinion when you own it's easier to do than when renting and saving/invest elsewhere. Of course there are people with other resources, high income earners that save a large % of income, someone selling a business or receiving inheritance. Seems to me in general people are working and have a family, sleeping, eating, cleaning, maintaining a pet and a car is all a major % of their time, they don't or can't or won't spend the time needed to be expert/comfortable enough to participate in and be good at stock investing for example. They want to save for a goal, REI in your case, they need to live somewhere while doing this anyway so if they can buy or rent, buying can seem the easier way to go.

    Whether you buy or you rent, a mortgage is being paid, correct?  Who's name would you rather it be under?  Only you know your situation so you have to assess carefully.  Nothing is guaranteed, there are risks.  Remember all aspects of a fair comparison.  For example I see "rent to mortgage comparisons" that don't include pointing out that a 30 yr fixed payment could be higher than comp rent today but what about after 5 years or more of rental inflation?  Imagine locking in a 30 yr rate now, what will that comp rent amount be in 2030, double, triple?

    Here's a typical strategy, buy a home you know you won't live in forever.  Nice area, within 45 minutes commute to a city center.  Fix it up.  Work hard to get promoted at your job, save/invest more of your income, about enough so that it pinches you.  Then sell, buy a duplex and combine any excess proceeds with your other savings to buy a second rental.  Rinse and repeat larger in price and/or number of properties/doors each time.

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  • Jeremy Roberts
    Rental Property Investor 路 Chesapeake, VA 路 Member since 2017 路 79 posts 路 58 votes
    7y

    @ Nicole Walley - I agree with @Nathan G. Homeowners see firsthand the benefit of building equity and paying less to live. I bought my first house in 2001 for $86,900. I planned on living in it for five years. By the end of 2005, it was worth $184k. Now, it was a housing bubble and you have to be smart about using the equity to invest, but I moved in 2006 renting out the first house and still own it today. That house was valued around $150k at the low end of market, but is now worth more than $200k. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Buy the first one smart and don't follow the herd. There is a lot of great people on BP sharing and helping show the way. Best of luck!

    1Reply
  • Matt Vezina
    Rental Property Investor 路 Bennington, VT 路 Member since 2017 路 79 posts 路 60 votes
    7y

    I bought my first investment with 5% down on an owner occupied three unit, that amount+ closing costs pinched me for a little while to save while still paying rent but it wasn't too bad. So for me lack of prior ownership didn't really make a difference, although I would love to have the flexibility that sitting on an SFH with a lot of equity gives. Would be able to put together BRRRR stuff easier if I could fund with a HELOC.

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  • Joseph M.
    Flipper/Rehabber 路 Los Angeles, CA 路 Member since 2009 路 1k+ posts 路 732 votes
    7y
    @Nicole Walley Owner occupied loans are more favorable than investor loans . You can get an FHA loan for 3.5% down for a 1-4 unit property for example while with an investment property you usually need 20% down for a bank loan . I do think house hacking is a good strategy to get started . If you have equity you can pull part of that to invest in other properties so being a homeowner can make investing easier that way . Has to still be in the right area though, in L.A for example it鈥檚 super tough to find a house hacking deal that makes sense even if you go in rough areas , plus there is rent control . I don鈥檛 know much about the market in Sarasota , but have bought properties in other parts of FL, prices in decent areas are a lot more reasonable than CA
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  • Jordan MoorheadBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent 路 Austin, TX 路 Member since 2015 路 5k+ posts 路 3k+ votes
    7y
    @Nicole Walley I鈥檇 start with househacking
    [email protected]512-888-9122
    The Moorhead Team5140 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • Chris Jensen
    Rental Property Investor 路 Bettendorf, IA 路 Member since 2017 路 187 posts 路 256 votes
    7y

    @Nicole Walley, I started down my own REI path several years ago by purchasing a couple single family rental homes. I definitely feel that having purchased and sold 2-3 primary residence homes prior to this was very helpful for me. Gave me practical experience finding deals (and the tools & techniques involved), working with realtors, lawyers and banks, appraisals, inspections, insurance, property taxes, utilities, closings, HUD statements, etc.

    Owning a home gave me more practical experience in basic to moderate home repair, dealing with contractors for more complicated issues, capital improvements, insurance claims, "neighbor relations", and many more important aspects involved with owning property.

    But in addition to buying and owning my own home, I'll say what was equally important to giving me confidence to get started was having a few friends who were already doing what I wanted to do.  That was HUGE.  Gave me the opportunity to see what success looked like, to learn from their successes and failures, to have in-person resources I could go to when questions or issues came up.

    So for me, having experience buying/owning a home combined with having local friends who can help are the two invaluable tools for what success I've experienced thus far.

    Hope that helps.  Best of luck to you!

    Chris

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  • James Willig
    Real Estate Investor 路 Sarasota, FL 路 Member since 2014 路 12 posts 路 4 votes
    7y

    Yes and no.

    There is a new investor loan that is available for 30% down, 620 credit score and you must own a primary residence.

    When you use private or hard money, there are no such requirements.

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