Rookie - finishing 1st property and learning financing options

Rookie - finishing 1st property and learning financing options

Roswell, GA · Member since 2019 · 6 posts · 3 votes

Hello - a good friend recommended I join BP to learn and hopefully get some advice on a question that I had called him seeking answers for. 

As my post header states, I'm a rookie. I am rehabbing my first investment property (a 1950s 3bd 1 ba, 1100 sq ft sfh) and have done the majority (75%) of the work using my savings and a loan against a retirement account. I am at a point where I need additional cash (10K) to complete the remaining work which includes replacing some windows, painting inside and out and doing some landscaping work - throwing down some crushed rock on an unfinished driveway. 

I'm an accidental real estate investor because I bought this house to keep my son in a good school district when we were moving from my old school district to the current. I bought the house for $65K (3 yrs ago) and have since aggressively down on that loan. The plan is to follow the BRRRR strategy. So I called my friend today because I found out (to my surprise) that my credit union (and other local lenders) don't do HELOCs on non-primary residences. They do HELOCs only on primary residences. I find out it might be better to go for a business loan and have sent off a number inquiries but thought to post the question here about what best to do given I want to follow a BRRRR

What is the best way to get the cash that I need to finish my rehab - about $10K? My ultimate goal is to pull out the equity from this house and go for house #2.

+ Get a HELOC on my primary residence and use the cash the finish the rental and rent it - just 10K?

+ Use a hard money lender for just the 10K

+ Simply try to refinance the house now (I have $125,000 in equity) so that I have all the cash in hand and am ready for the next house? (don't think that's possible if I'm in the middle of rehab) 

Thanks.

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Real Estate Broker · Bay Area · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y

Hi Will,

If your credit is great. Go apply and get a 0% credit card for 18 months. Use the card on the $10k you need to finish the project.  Do cash out refinance and pay off the card.  Just giving you another option. 

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  • Rental Property Investor · Greenville, MI · Member since 2018 · 36 posts · 9 votes
    7y

    I'm in a similar boat. Don't give up on your first plan with the HELOC! I had to call a couple lenders to find one that would do a HELOC on an investment property, but they are out there. I actually found a few before choosing one. PM me if you'd like me to share the name of the institution that I'm in the process of using.

    All that being said, I don’t see the problem with using your primary residence as collateral. At the end of the day, if all depends on your plan, your situation, and THE NUMBERS. :)

  • Roswell, GA · Member since 2019 · 6 posts · 3 votes
    7y

    Thank you, @Micah Watson. I'll PM you shortly...!

  • Roswell, GA · Member since 2019 · 6 posts · 3 votes
    7y

    For anyone with the same question - HELOC on non-primary residence, check out this post:

    https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/49/topics/655...

  • Rental Property Investor · South shore, MA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    If you plan on tackling the BRRRR method, then why not do a cash out refinance now on the property, rather than going through an entirely different process to get the money? Then take whatever you need to have the windows replaced. Those will cost the most.

    Paint, landscape, and crushed stone can all be done fairly cheap. I don't think newer windows will affect an appraisal too much, unless they are cracked and broken. Dress them up by giving them a good cleaning and some fresh paint. 

    Don't over-due it. Heres how my appraisal went:

    - Appraiser drove by, took photos of the outside of the house, then the bank said they needed to come back to take photos of the interior (because there wasn't any grass yet, and a full dumpster in the driveway).

    - Appraiser came by, walked in the house, took photos of everything that was finished and looked nice, and then avoided everything that wasn't completed.

    - I got the appraisal I needed.

  • Roswell, GA · Member since 2019 · 6 posts · 3 votes
    7y

    @Brian Ellis Thanks for the advice! Because I didn't anticipate that I'd need money, and considering I'm in the middle of renovating and want to finish fast and put it on rent, I'm pursuing both a HELOC on my current home and narrowing down a lender for the refinance. Since posting yesterday - and reading on BP - I've narrowed down to two institutions for the refi: IBMSecu and PenFed. I've called both and they look very promising for the refi. I may end up with a HELOC line on my current home which I'll use very little of, plus the refi on my 2nd property.

  • Rental Property Investor · South shore, MA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @Will M. Ballard that’s an awful lot going on in a short period of time! I wouldn’t be too concerned with fixing windows if you are going to rent it out.

  • Real Estate Broker · Bay Area · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    Hi Will,

    If your credit is great. Go apply and get a 0% credit card for 18 months. Use the card on the $10k you need to finish the project.  Do cash out refinance and pay off the card.  Just giving you another option. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Greenville, MI · Member since 2018 · 36 posts · 9 votes
    7y

    @Frank Wong

    I’m intrigued. I’ve used a couple of 0%/12mo store cards but not sure if that’s what you mean.

  • Roswell, GA · Member since 2019 · 6 posts · 3 votes
    7y

    @Brian Ellis I wish I didn't have to do any of this. Being a 1950s house, the windows/doors were wooden, poorly insulated and single-paned. I've done most of the work in the house - electrical upgrade, drywall, plumbing - just have this little bit to finish. If I didn't have to buy when I did to get my son into the right school district, I'd not have done this as my first property. But I've learned a ton - and still learning.

    @Frank Wong Great Idea, Frank! Yes, my credit is great and I'll certainly explore this or keep this in mind. Why not? :)

    Thanks for all the feedback! Learning so much.

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