Investment strategy advice

[Tareq Shaheen]

Hi,

I'm really glad I have found such an informative website such as BiggerPockets.  It really does accelerate your exposure to excellent information.  I am currently based in the UAE and relatively new to the us real estate game.  I would really appreciate any advice on if I could better improve my investment strategy.

I am a British citizen and would like to invest in the US.  My wife however is a US citizen from Ohio. I'm open to all states however I have been considering Florida as a starting point.  My objective is to grow a real estate portfolio to generate a monthly income or at least break even as the asset gets paid off or till I move into a unit should that time come.

I live abroad and am able to access a personal loan of upto 130,000us dollars which I would need to pay back in 4 years. 

On a 130,000 usd my monthly installments are around 3,500 usd a month

On a 100,000 usd loan my monthly installments would be around 2,500 usd a month. 

Rates are 3.8%

I have found a 100,000 usd home in Florida mid way way between Orlando and Tampa that I would like to start with. It seems in excellent condition and it would rent out for around 1,200 usd a month.

I am considering the following options:

1- take out a loan for 20% of the value and use it for a seller financing option of upto 20 years. If this is possible what would be the key points to consider? Could I take a loan out for a 100 k and do this with several properties?

2-take a loan out for the 100,000 usd  buy the property in cash and refinance it shorty after to free up 80% liquidity which I could reinvest in another property or partially pay off the loan also drastically reducing the monthly payments allowing me to greatly increase the income.  I read about an exception with Fannie Mae on this topic.  Does anyone know of any other refinancing options out there?

3- a lease to own model with a sublet to pay off the installments.

4- would I have to pay income tax for any of the above options?

I would be most grateful to hear your thoughts and or any guidance you may offer.

Kindest regards,

Tareq