All cash vs using leverage for real estate

[Zach Morrow]

Hi Everyone, Making my first post in the BP community and looking for some feedback and opinions. I’ve recently set up my LLC and just waiting on my 80% LTV loan to close for my 1st rental property. Exciting! My wife and I have a pretty nice income which equates to an extra $5k a month disposable which we’ve been using towards our debt pay off (my truck) which will be paid off soon. We are starting with SFR but plan to move multifamily within 5years. I’d like to have 10 SFR’s before making the transition. My wife thinks we should only use our cash flow and buy (or build) a new rental about every 10 months all cash. Construction Management is my career. We’re in Mississippi, so $50k can buy rentals in the right location. Everything I’ve read talks about using leverage and Other people’s money... which way would you attack the situation if you were in our position financially? I appreciate any insight. Thanks, Zach M

[Anthony Dooley]

@Zach Morrow buying with all cash every 10 months is a sure fired money making scheme. This will reduce your risk to almost zero and you will be able to weather any housing market crash, interest rate hike, recession, etc. Your properties will produce maximum cash flow which at some point will allow you to buy a property per month instead of 10 months. Focusing on dollars instead of percentages will make you rich. Owning 10 SFRs free and clear will give you the net worth, equity and cash flow needed to move into multi-family very easily. This is when using a lender will be most needed, but there is no need to borrow on a $50K house that you can buy with cash.