What’s the best way to tap equity without selling?

What’s the best way to tap equity without selling?

Investor · Edmond, OK · Member since 2016 · 10 posts · 4 votes

Is the best way to tap equity without selling an interest-only line of credit, reverse mortgage, or something else? Here’s an oversimplified version of the situation:

Bob owns 5 Class A single family rental properties worth a total of $1,000,000 in the Oklahoma City metro area. All are paid off. They generate an NOI of $50,000/year. Bob's cost of living is $65,000/year. Bob would like to tap his equity every year to cover the difference between the net cash flow generated by his rental properties and his cost of living, without selling any properties.

What’s the best way to tap that equity so that it lasts as long as possible before the $50,000/year is totally tapped out and Bob has to re-enter the “pay down” phase of his properties?

What financial product best achieves this? I understand it will depend on their varying interest rates, among other things, but generally speaking what avenues should Bob look into?

Maybe it would be best to simply take out as big of a 15-30 year mortgage as $50,000/year can service, invest it all in the stock market, and then annually withdraw $65,000 until the stock market money runs out.

Any and all ideas are welcome!

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Joe VilleneuvePro Member
Plymouth, MI · Member since 2013 · 13k+ posts · 19k+ votes
4y

Why doesn't he want to sell?  He's losing a ton of money by not selling.

Start with the most basic of math problems on this property.

$1M in equity = 20 years of Cash Flow perfection,...

then go on from there to:

$1M in equity = $1M in property value.

                      vs.

$1M in equity = $5M in PV

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  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    4y

    Keep in mind that interest deductibility follows use. In this case, Bob is taking out a personal loan for personal living expenses. That means the interest on the loan is not a business deduction. Bob would be better off using that loan to buy another investment(s) to increase his cash flow. In that case the interest is claimed as an expense against the new investment, not the original property. 

  • Joe VilleneuvePro Member
    Plymouth, MI · Member since 2013 · 13k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    4y

    Why doesn't he want to sell?  He's losing a ton of money by not selling.

    Start with the most basic of math problems on this property.

    $1M in equity = 20 years of Cash Flow perfection,...

    then go on from there to:

    $1M in equity = $1M in property value.

                          vs.

    $1M in equity = $5M in PV

  • Investor · Edmond, OK · Member since 2016 · 10 posts · 4 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Joe Splitrock:

    Keep in mind that interest deductibility follows use. In this case, Bob is taking out a personal loan for personal living expenses. That means the interest on the loan is not a business deduction. Bob would be better off using that loan to buy another investment(s) to increase his cash flow. In that case the interest is claimed as an expense against the new investment, not the original property. 

    Great point, Joe!
  • Investor · Edmond, OK · Member since 2016 · 10 posts · 4 votes
    4y
    @Joe Villeneuve:

    Great point as well! Thanks, Joe.

  • Rental Property Investor · Oklahoma City, OK · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 694 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Joe Splitrock:

    Keep in mind that interest deductibility follows use. In this case, Bob is taking out a personal loan for personal living expenses. That means the interest on the loan is not a business deduction. Bob would be better off using that loan to buy another investment(s) to increase his cash flow. In that case the interest is claimed as an expense against the new investment, not the original property. 

    Oh smart. I hadn't thought of this initially, but spot on.
  • Will KennerPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Seattle · Member since 2018 · 134 posts · 100 votes
    4y

    If Bob owns 5 properties, all paid off, then take a loan on one of them, or a portfolio loan on as many as needed, to generate enough funds to buy another property that would in the end produce the extra $15,000/yr needed, "pay-down" and all. Trying to take money out yearly in some form of loan or LOC against equity is not rational. And as @Joe Splitrock mentioned, deductibility issues come into play if any monies are drawn for personal use. Thus any withdraw of equity is best put towards a deductible purchase and operation of an other property. Otherwise, sell the properties, invest in index funds, and follow the 4% rule. 

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