How to Fund Your College Education with Real Estate Investing: A Practical Guide

College education is one of the best investments you can make for your future, but it also comes with a hefty price tag. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2023-2024 academic year was $37,650 for private colleges, $10,560 for public in-state colleges, and $27,020 for public out-of-state colleges.

If you're wondering how to pay for college without taking on massive student loans, you might want to consider real estate investing as an alternative option. Real estate investing is a proven way to generate passive income, build wealth, and achieve financial freedom. It can also help you cover your college expenses, if you do it right.

In this article, we'll show you how to fund your college education with real estate investing, using some of the most common and effective strategies, such as:

• Buying rental properties
• Flipping houses
• Investing in real estate syndications
• Using home equity loans

We'll also give you some tips on how to save money on college expenses, such as:

• Applying for scholarships, grants, and financial aid
• Choosing a cheaper college option
• Working part-time or online

Let's get started!

Buying Rental Properties

One of the most popular and profitable ways to fund your college education with real estate investing is to buy rental properties. Rental properties are properties that you buy and rent out to tenants, who pay you monthly rent. The rent can cover your mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and property management fees, and still leave you with some cash flow. You can also benefit from appreciation, tax deductions, and equity.

To buy rental properties, you need to follow some steps, such as:

• Finding a good location and property. You want to find a property that is in a high-demand area, has a low vacancy rate, and attracts quality tenants. You also want to find a property that is in good condition, has a positive cash flow, and has a high return on investment (ROI).
• Financing the property. You need to have enough money for the down payment, closing costs, and reserves. You can use your own savings, borrow from family or friends, or get a loan from a bank or a hard money lender. You can also use creative financing methods, such as seller financing, lease options, or partnerships.
• Managing the property. You need to take care of the property and the tenants, such as collecting rent, screening tenants, signing leases, performing repairs, and handling complaints. You can do it yourself, or hire a professional property manager to do it for you.

To illustrate how buying rental properties can help you fund your college education, let's look at an example:

• You buy a duplex for $200,000, using a 20% down payment ($40,000) and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 4% interest rate. Your monthly mortgage payment is $764.
• You rent out each unit for $1,000 per month, which gives you a total monthly income of $2,000. Your monthly expenses, including taxes, insurance, maintenance, and property management, are $600. Your monthly cash flow is $636 ($2,000 - $764 - $600).
• You save your cash flow for four years, which gives you a total of $30,528 ($636 x 12 x 4). You use this money to pay for your college tuition and fees, which are $10,560 per year for a public in-state college. You graduate debt-free, and still own a cash-flowing asset that will continue to generate income and appreciate in value.

Flipping Houses

Another way to fund your college education with real estate investing is to flip houses. Flipping houses is the process of buying, renovating, and selling properties for a profit. Flipping houses can be a quick and lucrative way to make money, if you have the skills, experience, and capital. It can also be a risky and stressful way to lose money, if you don't know what you're doing.

To flip houses, you need to follow some steps, such as:

• Finding a good deal. You want to find a property that is undervalued, distressed, or in need of repairs. You also want to find a property that is in a desirable area, has a high demand, and has a low supply. You can use online platforms, such as Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, to find and analyze potential deals. You can also use offline methods, such as driving for dollars, networking, and direct mail, to find off-market deals.
• Financing the deal. You need to have enough money to buy, renovate, and sell the property. You can use your own cash, borrow from family or friends, or get a loan from a bank or a hard money lender. You can also use creative financing methods, such as wholesaling, joint ventures, or private money.
• Renovating the property. You need to fix and upgrade the property, such as repairing the roof, plumbing, and electrical systems, painting the walls, replacing the flooring, and installing new appliances. You want to make the property look appealing, functional, and modern, but not over-improve it. You also want to stick to your budget and timeline, and avoid any surprises or delays.
• Selling the property. You need to market and sell the property, such as listing it on online platforms, staging it, hosting open houses, and negotiating with buyers. You want to sell the property as fast as possible, for the highest price possible, and with the lowest costs possible.

To illustrate how flipping houses can help you fund your college education, let's look at an example:

• You buy a fixer-upper for $100,000, using a 20% down payment ($20,000) and a hard money loan at 12% interest rate and 4 points. Your monthly loan payment is $1,067.
• You spend $30,000 on renovations, which takes you three months to complete. Your total holding costs, including loan payments, taxes, insurance, and utilities, are $5,000.
• You sell the property for $180,000, which gives you a gross profit of $50,000 ($180,000 - $100,000 - $30,000 - $5,000). Your selling costs, including agent commissions, closing costs, and taxes, are $15,000. Your net profit is $35,000 ($50,000 - $15,000).
• You use your net profit to pay for your college tuition and fees, which are $10,560 per year for a public in-state college. You have enough money to cover more than three years of college, and still have some left over.

Investing in Real Estate Syndications

A third way to fund your college education with real estate investing is to invest in real estate syndications. Real estate syndications are pooled investments, where multiple investors join forces to buy and manage large-scale properties, such as apartment buildings, office buildings, or shopping centers. Real estate syndications can offer passive income, diversification, and scalability, without the hassle of being a landlord.

To invest in real estate syndications, you need to follow some steps, such as:

• Finding a good syndicator and deal. You want to find a syndicator who is experienced, reputable, and trustworthy. You also want to find a deal that is attractive, feasible, and profitable. You can use online platforms, such as CrowdStreet, RealtyMogul, and Fundrise, to find and compare different syndicators and deals. You can also use offline methods, such as attending events, joining groups, and asking for referrals, to find and vet potential syndicators and deals.
• Financing the investment. You need to have enough money to meet the minimum investment requirement, which can vary depending on the syndicator and the deal, but typically ranges from $25,000 to $50,000. You can use your own savings, borrow from family or friends, or use a self-directed IRA or 401(k) to invest in real estate syndications. You also need to understand the fee structure, the profit distribution, and the exit strategy of the syndication.
• Receiving the returns. You need to wait for the syndicator to manage the property and generate income and appreciation. You will receive periodic reports and updates on the performance and progress of the property and the syndication. You will also receive regular distributions of cash flow and profits, according to the agreed terms and conditions. You will also receive a final payout when the property is sold and the syndication is dissolved.

To illustrate how investing in real estate syndications can help you fund your college education, let’s look at an example:

• You invest $50,000 in a real estate syndication that buys and operates a 100-unit apartment building in Austin, Texas. The syndicator charges a 2% acquisition fee, a 1% asset management fee, and a 20% performance fee. The syndicator also offers an 8% preferred return and a 70/30 profit split to the investors.
• The syndicator buys the property for $10 million, using a 75% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage at 5% interest rate and 30-year amortization. The monthly mortgage payment is $40,379.
• The syndicator rents out the units for an average of $1,200 per month, which gives a total monthly income of $120,000. The monthly expenses, including mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and property management, are $80,000. The monthly cash flow is $40,000.
• The syndicator pays the investors an 8% preferred return, which is $4,000 per month, or $48,000 per year. You receive $960 per month, or $11,520 per year, as your preferred return, based on your $50,000 investment.
• The syndicator also pays the investors a 70/30 profit split, after deducting the preferred return and the performance fee. The monthly profit is $28,800 ($40,000 - $4,000 - $7,200), of which 70% goes to the investors, and 30% goes to the syndicator. You receive $403 per month, or $4,836 per year, as your profit share, based on your $50,000 investment.
• The syndicator holds the property for five years, and sells it for $15 million, which gives a gross profit of $5 million ($15 million - $10 million). The syndicator pays the investors a 70/30 profit split, after deducting the mortgage balance, the closing costs, and the performance fee. The net profit is $3,150,000 ($5,000,000 - $6,250,000 + $4,400,000 - $750,000 - $250,000), of which 70% goes to the investors, and 30% goes to the syndicator. You receive $44,100 as your profit share, based on your $50,000 investment.
• You earn a total of $81,956 from your investment in the real estate syndication, which is a 164% return on your investment, or a 27% annualized return. You use this money to pay for your college tuition and fees, which are $10,560 per year for a public in-state college. You have enough money to cover more than seven years of college, and still have some left over.

Using Home Equity Loans

A fourth way to fund your college education with real estate investing is to use home equity loans. Home equity loans are loans that you can get based on the equity that you have in your home. Equity is the difference between the value of your home and the amount that you owe on your mortgage. Home equity loans can offer low interest rates, tax deductions, and flexible terms, compared to other types of loans.

To use home equity loans, you need to follow some steps, such as:

• Finding a good lender and loan. You want to find a lender who offers competitive interest rates, fees, and terms for home equity loans. You also want to find a loan that suits your needs and goals, such as a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). A home equity loan is a lump sum loan that you repay in fixed monthly payments, while a HELOC is a revolving line of credit that you can access and repay as needed.
• Applying for the loan. You need to have enough equity in your home to qualify for the loan, which can vary depending on the lender and the loan, but typically ranges from 80% to 90% of the value of your home. You also need to have a good credit score, a low debt-to-income ratio, and a stable income. You need to provide various documents and information, such as your income, assets, debts, tax returns, bank statements, and property details.
• Receiving and using the loan. You need to wait for the lender to approve your loan and disburse the funds. You can use the loan for any purpose, such as paying for college, investing in real estate, or consolidating debts. You need to repay the loan according to the agreed terms and conditions, and pay interest on the borrowed amount.

To illustrate how using home equity loans can help you fund your college education, let’s look at an example:

• You own a home that is worth $300,000, and you owe $200,000 on your mortgage. You have $100,000 of equity in your home.
• You apply for a home equity loan of $50,000, using 50% of your equity as collateral. You get approved for a 15-year loan at 6% interest rate. Your monthly loan payment is $421.
• You use the loan to pay for your college tuition and fees, which are $10,560 per year for a public in-state college. You have enough money to cover more than four years of college, and still have some left over.

Tips on How to Save Money on College Expenses

Besides using real estate investing to fund your college education, you can also use some tips and strategies to save money on college expenses, such as:

• Applying for scholarships, grants, and financial aid. Scholarships, grants, and financial aid are forms of financial assistance that you don’t have to pay back, unlike loans. They can help you cover some or all of your college costs, depending on your eligibility and availability. You can apply for scholarships, grants, and financial aid from various sources, such as the federal government, the state government, the college, and private organizations. You can use online platforms, such as Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and FAFSA, to find and apply for scholarships, grants, and financial aid.
• Choosing a cheaper college option. The cost of college can vary significantly depending on the type, location, and reputation of the college. You can save money by choosing a cheaper college option, such as a community college, a public in-state college, or an online college. You can also save money by choosing a college that offers in-state tuition, tuition discounts, or tuition waivers to out-of-state or international students. You can use online platforms, such as College Board, U.S. News, and Niche, to compare and rank different colleges and their costs.
• Working part-time or online. Working part-time or online can help you earn some extra income, and reduce your reliance on loans or savings. You can work on or off campus, depending on your availability and preference. You can also work online, using platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Amazon Mechanical Turk, to offer your skills and services to clients around the world. You can use online platforms, such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter, to find and apply for part-time or online jobs.

Conclusion

Paying for college can be a daunting and expensive challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. By using real estate investing as a way to fund your college education, you can avoid or minimize student loans, and enjoy the benefits of passive income, wealth creation, and financial freedom.

In this article, we showed you how to fund your college education with real estate investing, using some of the most common and effective strategies, such as buying rental properties, flipping houses, investing in real estate syndications, and using home equity loans. We also gave you some tips on how to save money on college expenses, such as applying for scholarships, grants, and financial aid, choosing a cheaper college option, and working part-time or online.

We hope this article was helpful and informative, and inspired you to pursue your college and real estate goals. If you need any help with finding, analyzing, or managing real estate investments, or any other real estate needs, please contact us today. We’re happy to help you with your real estate journey. 😊