For conservative investors, the stock market holds huge risks. If that’s you, maybe you stick to high-yield savings accounts or low-cost index funds or ETFs. However, investors willing to take a bigger risk may invest in properties. Here’s how to buy an investment property and potentially increase passive income. You can also work with a financial advisor to help you prepare financially to invest in the real estate projects you desire.
Types of Investment Properties
There are many different types of investment properties to choose from, each with its own unique opportunity. You could invest in commercial real estate, rental properties and real estate investment trusts. Investors typically invest in real estate in one of these three ways:
How to Fund an Investment Property
Most investment properties require a lot of capital and it can be hard to invest if you don’t have a lot of money. When buying a home to live in for the foreseeable future, you can find loans requiring a 3.5% down payment or less. When you buy an investment property, traditional financing and conventional loans require a 20% down payment, or more.
You’ll also want to budget for the right project. For instance, if you’re planning to flip a house, estimate how long it’ll take to complete renovations and repairs. Also, figure out how much it’ll cost. Consider covering a few extra months of expenses beyond your original timeline. Over-estimating your time and money in case of unexpected expenses can be wise. If a repair takes longer than you thought or if a pipe breaks during renovations, it won’t sink your budget.
If you’re planning to buy your space for rentals, make sure you have enough money to finance unexpected repairs involving tenants. For instance, if a washing machine breaks or there’s a leak, a contingency fund can help fix it.
In terms of the type of funding that you can get, it is pretty similar to buying a house for yourself. You can get a long-term loan that is secured by the real estate itself after you put up the 20%+ down payment. There are also investment-specific investors who work with investors looking to flip homes as they are used to working with real estate that can shift in value fairly quickly. They may also help you get money for needed repairs. You probably shouldn’t fund REIT investments with a loan, though, as the returns are all you would have to repay the funds.
Credit Needed for Real Estate Investment Loans
If you want to build up your buying power, a solid credit score can get you there. A very good or excellent FICO score typically starts around 740.
If you don’t have stellar credit, you can still take out a loan for investment property. However, it could mean higher interest rates or different loan terms than you’d like. Cleaning up your credit may secure better loan terms. Consider making all minimum payments on time every month. Try to lower your credit use to 30% or less, though under 10% is ideal.
If possible, pay off any outstanding debt that inflates your debt-to-income ratio. The lower your DTI, the better you’ll look to lenders.
Consider Potential Losses
The reward for investing in properties could be lucrative. Some investors that start real estate investing as a side hustle make it a full-time job. However, you may lose money. money. You might buy a home for more than you originally planned. Also, you. may put more money into renovations that take took longer to complete. Or your property could sit on the market for six months to a year. Each of those scenarios loses money.
The longer your home stays up for sale, the more you’re paying in monthly mortgage payments, insurance and other related costs. Even with a big reward comes potential loss. It’s important to keep that in mind, and in your budget, as you consider investment properties.
The Bottom Line
Anyone can invest in real estate properties in a variety of ways. The returns are going to depend on a number of things such as location, purchasing price and what you’re doing with the property. Real estate, though, has traditionally been a stable investment if you’re able to fund the project and sustain it during any real estate drops in value.
Investment Property Tips

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