Many newbie real estate investors would buy a duplex, triplex, quadruplex, apartment, or townhouse. This allows them to have their own property, live in one unit, and rent out the other. With rental real estate, one can generate a steady flow of income. With the abundance of information available on the internet, it is easy to gather enough information before shopping for properties. But what kinds of information are worth knowing, especially for those who are still new in real estate investing?
Financing a Multifamily Home Investment
First, start by looking for possible financing options you can use to buy your first multifamily home. If you plan on occupying one of the units, you can choose between a VA loan, a conventional loan, and an FHA loan. But if what you are after is only to rent out all the units, you can only apply for a conventional loan.
An FHA loan is a loan you can borrow from an FHA-approved lender and is insured by the Federal Housing Administration. This is perfect for borrowers who have a low-to-moderate income. Many prefer this type of loan for a multifamily home investment due to its low credit score and low minimum down payment requirements.
Private lenders provide a VA loan under the qualifications and terms set by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is a type of mortgage only offered to veterans and active service personnel and their families. If you are qualified for a VA loan, there is no need to put down a down payment, worry about prepayment penalties, and high closing costs.
On the other hand, conventional loans are mortgages that are not offered by a government entity but secured by a government-sponsored entity. Interest rates tend to be higher than government-back mortgages. The qualifications also tend to be stricter when it comes to conventional loans.
If you prefer not to apply for a mortgage lender, you can consider buying a commercial property that offers seller financing. You can avoid appraisal costs and enjoy a faster closing and flexible down payment. But then, the interest fees you are likely to pay are higher, and if the seller hasn’t paid their mortgage lender, you can end up having to pay their debt in full.
There are other ways to finance a multifamily home, such as the following:
- Hard Money
- Equity Shares
- Repair Allowance
- Real Estate Crowdfunding
The Basics of a Multifamily Home
A multifamily home investment provides more stability compared to other real estate properties. You can choose from various financing options, especially if you managed to save enough down payment and have a good financial situation. This kind of property is also highly tax-advantaged and is accepted by virtually any type of lender out there.
But then, many tend to shy away from multifamily home investments due to its management intensity. You will most likely be dealing with multiple tenants, depending on the number of units. The costs of each unit’s maintenance and repairs are another responsibility, not every real estate investor is willing to take.
When it comes to any rental real estate, buyers must consider the location of their new investment. It has to be safe, in a desirable neighborhood near amenities your target tenants would need. For example, if you want to cater to families, you need the property to be near schools, parks, and playgrounds.
The condition of the property should be considered with aesthetics. The better the condition of the multifamily home you are to buy, the better the rental rate you can place on each unit. This will enable you to use the property at the earliest time possible.
Managing a Multifamily Home
It is never easy to market your property, look for tenants, screen each one, and manage them simultaneously. There are maintenance and repairs you need to invest in regularly, rental property rules to follow, and regulations to enforce. If all these responsibilities seem too much, you can always hire the pros to handle all property management tasks for you.
A reliable property manager can help:
- Set the right rates
- Find quality tenants
- Collect monthly rate
- Take care of the necessary maintenance and repairs
- Make sure your rental property is compliant with local, state, and federal regulations and more.
You get to maximize your time and money profitability and spend more time growing your wealth and diversifying your portfolio.
You can start your real estate investment journey with a multifamily home. This can be a good start whether you plan on only investing or if you want to become a homeowner and landlord at the same time. Consider everything there is to know about this type of investment so you can better prepare yourself and your finances