Refinancing your rental property can be a smart move to save money, increase cash flow, and grow your real estate portfolio. However, it can also be a costly and risky decision if you don't do it right. In this blog post, we'll explain what refinancing your rental property means, why you might want to do it, and how to decide if it's worth it. We'll also share some tips and examples on how to refinance your rental property successfully.
What is Refinancing Your Rental Property?
Refinancing your rental property means replacing your existing mortgage with a new one, usually with different terms and conditions. For example, you might refinance your rental property to get a lower interest rate, a shorter or longer loan term, a different type of loan, or a larger loan amount.
The main goal of refinancing your rental property is to improve your financial situation, either by reducing your monthly payments, increasing your cash flow, or accessing your equity. However, refinancing your rental property also comes with some costs and challenges, such as closing fees, appraisal fees, prepayment penalties, and tax implications.
Why Refinance Your Rental Property?
There are many reasons why you might want to refinance your rental property, depending on your goals and circumstances. Some of the common reasons are:
- To secure a lower interest rate. A lower interest rate can lower your monthly payments, save you money on interest, and increase your cash flow. This is especially beneficial if the interest rates have dropped since you got your original mortgage, or if your credit score has improved and you qualify for a better rate.
- To change your loan term. A shorter loan term can help you pay off your mortgage faster, build equity quicker, and save money on interest. A longer loan term can lower your monthly payments, free up more cash flow, and give you more flexibility. You might want to change your loan term depending on your income, expenses, and investment strategy.
- To switch your loan type. You might want to switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM), or vice versa, depending on your risk tolerance and market conditions. An ARM has a variable interest rate that changes periodically, which can be advantageous when the rates are low, but risky when the rates are high. A FRM has a fixed interest rate that stays the same throughout the loan, which can be more stable and predictable, but less flexible and competitive.
- To tap into your equity. You might want to tap into your equity by doing a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan, or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). These options allow you to borrow against the value of your property and use the cash for various purposes, such as renovating your property, buying another property, paying off debts, or investing in other opportunities. However, these options also increase your debt and reduce your equity, which can affect your cash flow and net worth.
- To consolidate your debts. You might want to consolidate your debts by refinancing your rental property and using the extra cash to pay off your other loans, such as credit cards, personal loans, or car loans. This can help you simplify your payments, lower your interest rate, and improve your cash flow. However, this can also extend your repayment period, increase your loan amount, and reduce your equity.
How to Decide If Refinancing Your Rental Property is Worth It?
Refinancing your rental property can be a beneficial or detrimental decision, depending on your situation and goals. To decide if refinancing your rental property is worth it, you need to consider some factors, such as:
- The interest rate. The interest rate is the most important factor that affects your refinancing decision. Generally, you want to refinance your rental property if you can get a lower interest rate than your current one, and if the savings from the lower rate outweigh the costs of refinancing. A rule of thumb is to refinance your rental property if you can lower your interest rate by at least 1%.
- The closing costs. The closing costs are the fees and charges that you have to pay when you refinance your rental property, such as origination fees, appraisal fees, title fees, and recording fees. The closing costs can vary depending on your lender, loan type, and loan amount, but they typically range from 2% to 6% of the loan amount. You need to factor in the closing costs when you calculate the savings and benefits of refinancing your rental property.
- The break-even point. The break-even point is the time it takes for you to recover the closing costs and start saving money from refinancing your rental property. You can calculate the break-even point by dividing the closing costs by the monthly savings from refinancing. For example, if your closing costs are $6,000 and your monthly savings are $200, your break-even point is 30 months. You need to compare the break-even point with your expected holding period of the property, and make sure that you plan to keep the property long enough to break even and profit from refinancing.
- The cash flow. The cash flow is the amount of money that you have left after paying all the expenses related to your rental property, such as the mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and vacancy. The cash flow is a key indicator of your rental property's performance and profitability. You need to evaluate how refinancing your rental property will affect your cash flow, both positively and negatively, and decide if it aligns with your financial goals and investment strategy.
- The tax implications. The tax implications are the effects that refinancing your rental property will have on your tax liability and deductions. Depending on your situation and loan type, refinancing your rental property can have different tax consequences, such as changing your mortgage interest deduction, triggering a capital gains tax, or affecting your depreciation schedule. You need to consult with a tax professional before refinancing your rental property, and understand how it will impact your tax situation and obligations.
Tips and Examples on How to Refinance Your Rental Property Successfully
If you decide that refinancing your rental property is worth it, you need to follow some tips and steps to make it a successful and smooth process. Here are some of them:
- Shop around for the best lender and loan. Don't settle for the first offer that you get from your current lender or the first lender that you contact. Shop around and compare different lenders and loan options, and look for the best interest rate, terms, fees, and service. You can use online tools and platforms, such as LendingTree, Zillow, and Bankrate, to find and compare the best mortgage refinance rates and offers for your rental property.
- Prepare your documents and finances. To qualify for refinancing your rental property, you need to meet certain requirements and criteria, such as having a good credit score, a low debt-to-income ratio, a sufficient equity, and a positive cash flow. You also need to provide various documents and information, such as your income, assets, debts, tax returns, bank statements, and property details. You need to prepare your documents and finances in advance, and make sure that they are accurate and complete.
- Negotiate the terms and fees. Don't be afraid to negotiate the terms and fees of your refinancing loan, and ask for discounts, waivers, or reductions. You can use your credit score, equity, income, and cash flow as leverage, and show that you are a low-risk and reliable borrower. You can also use the offers from other lenders as bargaining chips, and ask your preferred lender to match or beat them. You can save a lot of money and get a better deal by negotiating the terms and fees of your refinancing loan.
- Close the deal and enjoy the benefits. Once you find the best lender and loan for your refinancing, you need to close the deal and finalize the process. You need to review the loan documents carefully, sign the papers, pay the closing costs, and get the new loan. You also need to cancel your old loan, and notify your old lender and your tenants about the change. After closing the deal, you can enjoy the benefits of refinancing your rental