Should I invest cash out refifunds into ADU or another strategy??

Should I invest cash out refifunds into ADU or another strategy??

Member since 2019 · 20 posts · 7 votes

I just did a 60% LTV cash out refi on my 2 family home via an amazing loan program at 3.75% for 30 years! After upgrades in both units and the exterior, I'll have about 130k left to invest. I want to make the smartest decision with these funds and not sure of my next move. I had always planned to add a 2 or 3 bedroom ADU to my basement, making it a legal 3 family home. The cost to do this would probably be around 130k. The way I look at it, that's like buying a 2 or 3 bedroom unit in the city of Boston for 130k, which does not exist. If I do this, I can possibly refinance again with the same program and get another 200k out. That's assuming the property appraises for about 1.2 mil as a 3 family, the loan program still offers the special low rate, and I qualify. If it were a 3 family right now, the house would definitely appraise for between 1.2-1.3 mil. I'm just not sure about what it will be 12 months from now.

If I don't do the ADU, I'd like to invest in another multi unit building, at least 6 units. I would have to put at least 25% down which would likely take the whole 130k here in Mass. Any ideas of how I can really maximize and grow these funds I currently have? Should I do the ADU and try to refi again? Put that money down on another multi unit building...or something else?? Thanks!

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Lien VuongBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Boston, MA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y

Congrats on the purchase and smart refi timing! $130k to an an ADU won't likely add in the value you're thinking of for the refinance because it is not a legal third unit and the next buyer would have to be an owner occupied person to rent that additional space out. That's speaking about general ADUs in the Boston market. I see a lot of value in investing this fund into a second property as long as it meets your criteria and has additional value add potential. I've been able to accumulate much of my portfolio from cash out refi and HELOCs like this to grow and grow and I look forward to seeing you add more units!

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  • Lien VuongBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Boston, MA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    Congrats on the purchase and smart refi timing! $130k to an an ADU won't likely add in the value you're thinking of for the refinance because it is not a legal third unit and the next buyer would have to be an owner occupied person to rent that additional space out. That's speaking about general ADUs in the Boston market. I see a lot of value in investing this fund into a second property as long as it meets your criteria and has additional value add potential. I've been able to accumulate much of my portfolio from cash out refi and HELOCs like this to grow and grow and I look forward to seeing you add more units!

  • Member since 2021 · 13 posts · 3 votes
    3y

    I agree with Lien that buying the second unit is the better way. As an FYI, the City of Boston offers a no-interest loan (up to $50K) for ADUs. You can see more info here: https://www.boston.gov/departm... 

    If you can share the loan program via a reply or DM, that would be great. 

  • Tyler MunroePro Member
    Boston, MA · Member since 2017 · 89 posts · 42 votes
    3y

    Are you in 3 family zoning? If so, then an additional unit may be a better value add than purchasing something else. If you can only add the 3rd unit via the ADU program it may not be worth it based on the restrictions of the program (see previous replies).

  • Member since 2019 · 20 posts · 7 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Mario Teran:

    I agree with Lien that buying the second unit is the better way. As an FYI, the City of Boston offers a no-interest loan (up to $50K) for ADUs. You can see more info here: https://www.boston.gov/departm... 

    If you can share the loan program via a reply or DM, that would be great. 

    Hi Mario, thank you for chiming in! Apologies for the delayed reply...I have a newborn at home and just coming out of the woods lol. I'm familiar with the ADU program in Boston and the 50k. I may not qualify for that because I used some funds for the Homeworks program to do some repairs on my home when I bought it. Supposedly if you have used city funds before, you don't qualify for the 50k. But I may be able to get around that. 

    The cash out refinance loan that I used is through First Republic Bank. It's location dependant so the property itself has to qualify.i believe right now its available for Boston, Quincy, Chelsea. And its also depends on the specific address. I hear they will be expanding into other towns this year. They only do 60% LTV, but it made sense as I was sitting on lots of equity. If you'd like the contact info for the loan officer let me know!

    Shalaye 
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