Calling All REI Veterans-What Happens If Property Goes Underwater

Calling All REI Veterans-What Happens If Property Goes Underwater

Rental Property Investor · West New York, NJ · Member since 2018 · 72 posts · 31 votes

Hi BP,

There is a lot of talk of a crash or at least a correction being imminent in the near future, so my question is mainly for investors who survived through the 2008 crash, since you've been through it before. That being said, if anyone else has insight here please feel free to add to the conversation!

To give a little bit of background on myself, I am still a newbie. I purchased my first property to "house hack" this past summer. I put 5% down and put a bunch of work into it with an FHA 203K loan. I will eventually move out of this property and will hold it as an investment property. I also want to continue investing and am searching for a BRRRR where I leave no money in the deal with 75% LTV on the refi. As I am thinking into the future and trying to plan things out, I have a couple of questions that are coming up, and I can't seem to find a definitive answer for investment properties.

My question is this, if my property goes under water, but payments are still being made, will the bank 1) ask for an additional down payment? or 2) force foreclosure/short sale?

Also, how does having a property that is underwater, that is still paying for itself, affect my ability to finance more properties when prices are dirt cheap? I would assume they definitely take that account, virtually making it impossible to obtain reasonable financing in the near future, but I don't know this for sure.

Your input is greatly appreciated and if I'm missing any other information feel free to provide additional insight here. I think this would be a great help to not only myself but to this community. And if this is already covered somewhere else, feel free to point me in that direction.

Thanks in advance,

Justin

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Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
7y

For most mortgages having he value fall below the loan balance is not an issue as far as that loan.  It can be an issue if the loan has terms that allow the loan to be called or it has a balloon.

Lenders will look at your tax returns (if available) or use the 75% rule if not (i.e., "net rental income = 75%*rent - PITI") to determine the effect of rentals for qualifying for a new loan. So, even there the value doesn't really come into play.

It does hurt your net worth, and that is a factor for commercial loans.

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  • Shawn McenteerBusiness Member
    Realtor · Boonton Township, NJ · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Justin McElroy:

    My question is this, if my property goes under water, but payments are still being made, will the bank 1) ask for an additional down payment? or 2) force foreclosure/short sale?

    Also, how does having a property that is underwater, that is still paying for itself, affect my ability to finance more properties when prices are dirt cheap? I would assume they definitely take that account, virtually making it impossible to obtain reasonable financing in the near future, but I don't know this for sure.

    Your input is greatly appreciated and if I'm missing any other information feel free to provide additional insight here. I think this would be a great help to not only myself but to this community. And if this is already covered somewhere else, feel free to point me in that direction.

    Thanks in advance,

    If You are making payments bank is happy,  no worries.  Regardless of what happens in market if you default on payment its no good.

    Your next purchase will  be base on debt to income.  If rental is paying for itself you should be fine.

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  • Lee RipmaPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Prairie Village, KS · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    7y

    I agree with @Shawn M. The only thing I'll add the if it's still your primary residence and the mortgage on it exceeds the value of the home this counts against your networth. Once you move out of it it would could against your networth as well (the value of the asset minus the debt would be negative). This shouldn't really matter if you're getting smaller BRRRR props with small commercial or residential loans. But if you were to get a lot of these and it holds your networth down you could have a problem getting large commercial loans. In theory you wouldn't buy another one this problem but just the only way I can think of that it may affect borrowing in the future. You don't want properties that are worth less than their mortgage balance-for fairly obvious reasons!

  • Rental Property Investor · Englewood, FL · Member since 2018 · 15 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    @Justin McElroy great question! I am looking at properties now with the goal or house hacking or doing a BRRRR withing the next the months. The responses here have been quite helpful.

  • Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
    7y

    For most mortgages having he value fall below the loan balance is not an issue as far as that loan.  It can be an issue if the loan has terms that allow the loan to be called or it has a balloon.

    Lenders will look at your tax returns (if available) or use the 75% rule if not (i.e., "net rental income = 75%*rent - PITI") to determine the effect of rentals for qualifying for a new loan. So, even there the value doesn't really come into play.

    It does hurt your net worth, and that is a factor for commercial loans.

  • Rental Property Investor · West New York, NJ · Member since 2018 · 72 posts · 31 votes
    7y

    @Shawn Mcenteer @Lee Ripma@Jon Holdman

    Thank you all for the insights! This makes me feel much better for moving forward.

    @Lewis Colon Glad this topic helped! Good luck with your future investments!

  • Shawn McenteerBusiness Member
    Realtor · Boonton Township, NJ · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @Justin my pleasure

    @Justin McElroyundefined

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