Over the past few years, the basic guidelines for lending money on investment properties have changed greatly. At one time, during the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, multiple mortgage lenders offered various loans designed specifically for buying a rental property. However, with the real estate crash, all of that has changed. Listed below are the basic rules for buying investment properties in the current economic climate.
Type of Loan
For the vast majority of people, getting a loan on a rental house will result in the borrower getting a conventional loan. While it is possible to secure a commercial loan, these loans are generally reserved for large properties such as an entire condo building or an apartment complex.
Type of Terms
Investment property loans are offered with either a fixed term for the duration of the loan or an adjustable rate that will usually have a short fixed period from 5 to 10 years. After that fixed period, the rate will be adjustable for the remaining life of the loan.
Maximum Number of Loans
A borrower can have up to 10 financed properties. The borrower must document their income and prove that they can afford the payments on all of the mortgage loans.
Documenting Income
To protect borrowers from buying more than they can afford, the income rules are a bit conservative. If a person is buying their first investment property, one of the two rules will be applied:
- The person’s current income must be sufficient to pay for the investment property loan and all other debt; the borrower cannot use potential rental income to qualify for the loan
- If the borrower is buying a property that is currently rented out and there is a rental agreement in place, 75% of the rent can be used as income for the borrower.
A current investor can refinance an existing loan on a rental property. However, the borrower must provide the rent receipts from the previous 2 years and the income must be reflected on the person’s tax returns. The rent income is once again limited to only 75% of the net rent, but the depreciation may be added back.
Down Payment
To purchase a rental property, the borrower must pay at least 15%, depending on several factors including the number of units, of the purchase price in a down payment. This money must come directly from the borrower’s own funds (savings, checking, retirement account, stock and bond investments, etc.). If the borrower is using money gained due to the sale of some other item, the money must remain in some account for at least 60 days before it can be used for the investment property purchase.
Loan to Value limit on Refinance
There are different limits for a refinance loan, based on the type of loan and the type of property.
- If the borrower has a property with 2-4 units, the maximum loan amount for a cash-out refinance is limited to 70% of the appraised value.
- If the borrower has a 1-unit rental property, the maximum loan amount for a cash-out refinance is limited to 75% of appraised value.
- If the borrower is only refinancing to lower the rate or improve the term, the maximum loan amount is limited to 75% of the appraised value.
Investment Properties Reserve Requirements
Another hedge designed to protect the borrower is the reserve requirements. To qualify for a loan on any rental property, the borrower must show that they have an aggregate of the outstanding balance on the other financed properties. The percentage changes depending on how many financed properties you have. The reserve requirements are separate from the down payment requirements.
We make every effort to explain loan scenarios to potential loan investors and provide them will all the information they need to make the best decision for their needs. We take pride in our experience with investment loans and we want to make sure you have a successful journey as a landlord.
Jumbo investment property loans are also available.
