Thinking of buying a rental property? Congratulations on discovering the best way for smart investors to secure and grow their money. Rental properties represent an avenue to invest in a long-term asset, allowing you to generate monthly income. It has many advantages over stocks, gold, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. It is tangible and resilient against a lot of the shocks that stocks and mutual funds are vulnerable to. At the same time, however, investing in real estate is not a walk in the park. There are potential pitfalls that first-time property investors need to be aware of if they are to make the most of their investments. And one of the most challenging areas for would-be real estate investors is financing. Getting a mortgage for a primary residence is very different from a mortgage for a rental property. Today we will dive into helping you understand the key things you need to know when applying for an investment property loan. Do you qualify? What do traditional lenders look at before they decide to approve or to decline a loan application? They look at a combination of the person's financial capacity and their money management abilities. The factors they may consider include:
Financing Options Along with conventional mortgage loans, investors have other options for financing the purchase of their second property:
Types of Investment Properties
In addition to the qualification criteria listed above, the type of investment property an investor is planning to purchase is essential as it determines what their financing will look like. There are two types of investment properties:
Down payment Since 2010, the down payment required for investing in a rental property in Canada is 20%. For owner-occupied properties with 3-4 living units, the accepted down payment may be as low as 10%. If the home has only two units, the down-payment for owner-occupied homes goes down to 5%. But if a property is non-owner-occupied, regardless of whether it has 2 or 4 units, the down-payment is 20%. Additionally, non-owner-occupied homes have a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 80%, versus 90%-95% for owner-occupied properties. Amortization periods Investors who make a down payment of less than 20% can expect an amortization period of 25 years. But if they down put 25% of the property value or more, they qualify for an amortization period of 30-35 years. This is regardless of whether the property is owner-occupied or not. More extended amortization periods mean lower monthly payments, but more interest is paid over the loan's lifetime. But a more extended amortization period is a plus for rental property owners because interest payments are tax-deductible, and it lowers the monthly carrying costs on the property. Finally, one of the best things you can do for yourself, as a first-time rental property investor, is to find a mortgage broker who has experience with investment properties. An experienced broker will help you navigate the inroads of investment property financing and ensure you get the best rates available in the market. To learn more about how to leverage your home equity to buy a rental property, have a friendly call with Jim today at 604.620.2697. |
Silver Hill BlogJim Horvath is the principal broker and director of Silver Hill Mortgage Corp., arranging private mortgage loans in British Columbia for over 25 years. Archives
July 2024
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