You want to invest in real estate. What's the best way to use your money? The use of leverage and OPM (other people's money) is what makes real estate such a powerful investment tool. Different people have distinct viewpoints regarding how much leverage and OPM is good. The first thing you must remember is that your team of experts demands an equally competent mortgage professional. Depending on your goal and current situation, the scheme to acquire financial success may vary. The following examples present scenarios but they may or may not suit your specific situation. To vitalize your financial goal, look closely into your options. What's amazing in the real estate market is the assurance that you are in control. For instance, you have $20,000 to start with. With this amount, you can have either a 10 percent down payment on a $20,000 worth of property or a 20 percent down payment on a $10,000 property. Of course, you will be the one to decide which is better.
Maybe you want to ask: what is the difference between these two options? Considering you decided to put in a larger down payment, chances are, you will pay your mortgage at a much lower price and you do not need mortgage insurance at the 20 percent mark. Larger down payments can provide you cashflow if that is what you like.
Assuming that for the $100,000 and $200,000 properties, the appreciation is set at 6 percent (Please note that the appreciation rate actually varies depending on their locations, type of property, etc..but for this article, you can well disregard these differences). That translates to these figures: the $100,000 will be worth $106,000 after a year of appreciation and the $200,000 becomes $212,000.
The amount of appreciation for both properties ($100,000 and $200,000) obviously doubles itself year after year. All these and more, but you would not be spending any thereby saving yourself some serious bucks!
In a relatively shorter time, your gain will be sufficient to obtain equity and purchase another PROPERTY so you actually have doubled your properties and compounded their appreciation. On another hand, the cashflow might not be present in the $200,000 property and perhaps there will be times when you have to expend for maintenance costs but look at the greater appreciation and long-term benefits.
In addition, cashflow is taxable but debt payments and maintenance costs are tax deductions so again you're getting an advantage by using more leverage (more OPM) and getting less monthly cashflow. Some people need the monthly cashflow, and if so, one can shift his strategy to accomplish just that. Many others will find that giving up the extra cash every month means huge long-term wealth building advantages.
The choice is yours! Build your team of experts to help you make the right decision.
About the Author: Alexandria P. Anderson is an Eden Prairie real estate agent that helps people to find and purchase Eden Prairie homes and properties in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
