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Updated over 9 years ago on . Most recent reply

Account Closed
  • Madison, WI
0
Votes |
3
Posts

Here's my goal, whats my strategy? Buying o/o then leaving & buying single fam.

Account Closed
  • Madison, WI
Posted

Hello, I'm new to this forum. Please pardon me if this is posted in the incorrect forum area or if similar topic has already been discussed.

My wife and I are looking to buy a home. We are in a good spot to take advantage of a the WHEDA first time home buyers low down payment as we are looking to buy our "first" home (first time home buyer but not owner; story for another time).

As I've always wanted to get into real estate investing with multi-family, I figured this is the absolute BEST time to buy a 4plex, as owner occupied, for 3% down.  Therefore we are considering this option as an investment.

We have one income. My wife would qualify for the loan, my name would not be on the mortgage. 

We don't REALLY want to live in a 4plex, we want a house for our growing family.  It's my understanding that we are supposed to be owner occupied for so many years (1,3,5?). What are the guidelines for mandatory length of occupancy? Property would be in Wisconsin if that matters. So we plan to move out asap. Is it possible to move out before the required o/o time frame, how is it enforced? Has anyone done this? If so, how should we go about moving out, without causing attention and jeopardizing the bank, mortgage, loan situation? Is it as simple as using a PO Box for bank related mailings and auto deduct from bank account for mortgage?

The BIGGER concern I have is as follows:

In the situation above, my wife would have the mortgage in her name. So lets say we find a way to move out of our 4plex investment, now want to buy our single family home for ourselves. With this mortgage, my wife cannot qualify for another loan (assumption). As a stay at home dad myself, will I be able to use the rents at the 4plex as my only source of income to qualify for a mortgage? Would our joint tax returns cause any issue if I wanted to qualify for a home mortgage only in my name? If we file income taxes jointly, would the lender look at the income from the 4plex as 50/50 income, therefore I should be filing separately once we buy the 4plex?

To summarize our goal: 

1. Buy an investment 4plex with only 3% down as owner occupied.

2. Move out of the 4plex ASAP. What are the length of occupancy guidelines and how are they enforced?

3. Qualify to buy a single family home with only 1 income, or 2 if the lender uses rents from our investment, the 'first time home,' 4plex. This is my main concern as we don't want to get "stuck" in a 4plex, without the ability to buy a single family home shortly after. How do we qualify assuming 1 income can't float 2 mortgages (in the lenders eyes anyway)?

Is this something that can be pulled off? What am I missing, what are my potential pitfalls? Whats the best way to accomplish the goal?

Thanks to anyone who can comment on this strategy and give helpful or useful advice. I am truly open to any constructive thoughts, ideas, suggestions. 

Please chime in!

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