BRRRR - Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat
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Updated 4 months ago on . Most recent reply

Please Help - Second Property Investment Route
Good evening,
I purchased a townhome in Houston, Texas in August 2020, locked in at a 3% rate with a low 5% down payment on a conventional loan for $284k. I currently sit at $258K to go on the mortgage and did this through a small bank, which I believe approved me for such good financing at the time. The property is now valuing minimum at 365K via Zillow, HAR, and in the 400's with CreditKarma, with identical / neighboring units selling +$20,000.00 more than those estimates.
With the equity built since 2020, I am trying to determine the best way to route it through BRRRR and begin snowballing my portfolio/capital availability. I purchased the property after reading Brandon Turner's Rental Property Investing, and with what I learned, planned to purchase 1 property per year for 7 years to develop a solid stream of passive income. I have not pulled the trigger yet on a second property due to risk averseness, lack of capital and analysis paralysis. Could someone please advise an actionable step or game plan I can follow to tap into my equity correctly (if that makes sense here) whether that's HELOC, Cash-Out or another strategy? However that looks, what next?
I would like to eventually leave my 9-5, pay off student loans and get rid of PMI on my first property ASAP.
The townhome is my primary residence and I will answer any questions and be grateful for any guidance.
Most Popular Reply

Mitchell,
I always encourage people to take action BUT I also try to ensure they count the cost before they move forward.
Some things to consider:
1. If you refinance at 80% value ($365,000 *.80) = $292,000 - $258k balance = $34k net before refinance closing cost. Do you have something in mind to purchase that a $30k downpayment will make sense?
2. Can you make the payment on the $292,000 loan for your primary if the tenants don't pay rent?
3. Can you pay all of your bills, mortgage for the rental and potential maintenance bills for a rental if the tenants don't pay their rent or if the place is vacant and needs rehab after the tenants destroyed it? i.e. deductible for a roof replacement or replacing an HVAC unit or replacing a hot water heater?
You can always put in sweat equity to do repairs / renovations but you still have to pay for supplies and other associated bills.
4. Do you plan to manage the rental yourself or will you have a property manager?
Work through the questions above and figure out HOW to do it. This business is a thinking man's game...solving problems is what we do, this is just the first of many.
A. I wouldn't put my personal residence at jeopardy that's just me. Keep the 3% rate.
B. What can you do to save / get the money to buy your first investment property? Work a 2nd job, cut back on current expenses?
C. Owner financing on a deal? Creative financing options, partner w/ someone?
There are options, some will take more thought but it can be done.
Hope this helps...