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Financing Strategies For Property Investment

Investment property loans are one of the most common methods of investment property financing. Whilst some people use their own money to invest in property, you may not be financially able to do this. If so, then investment property loans are a good way to finance your investment. However, before taking out investment property loans you need to look at a number of possible issues. If you can answer all these issues then you will be less likely to end up with monetary problems and be able to earn money from your investment.

What are investment property loans?

Investment property loans work in the same manner as a traditional mortgage, and allow you to buy a property for investment when you do not have sufficient funds. The terms of these investment property loans can vary, but typically they have a number of common features:

• Will allow you to borrow 15-80% of the purchase price of the property
• Are usually about 0.5% higher than standard mortgage rates
• Are available in long, short, capped and fixed options

The loans can be obtained from most banks and mortgage providers. The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) controls specific investment property loans for the buy to let market.

Eligibility

Obviously, getting investment property loans is similar to getting any other type of loan, in that it requires you to be financially stable enough to make the repayments. Banks will need clear documented proof that you have the ability to repay the loan, and that the investment you are making is a sound one. Banks will usually issue loans for good investment property, especially if the tenant is financially strong, as they know the loans and interest will be paid. Typically, the higher the percentage of the value of the property that you want to borrow, the tougher the terms of the loan. Most banks will not lend above 75% of the property value unless they have some extra form of security, and will usually want the loan repaid in 10 to 15 years.

Check your finances

Before applying for investment property loans you need to think carefully about your own finances, and whether or not you can really afford to take out the loan. It might seem easily repayable if things all go smoothly, but this is not always the case. You need to be sure you can repay the loan even when things are going badly, and that taking out the investment property loans will not negatively impact the rest of your life. After all, the point of property investment is to increase cash flow and make some profit. If you over-commit yourself with the loan, they this might cause problems in the future. Things to think about before taking out investment property loans are:

• Will I be able to cover my mortgage repayments and insure the property even when there is no rent coming in?
• Can I afford to lose money if the housing market takes a downturn?
• Will taking out a mortgage on this property affect my other finances, or stop me from getting credit or mortgages if I choose to move house in the future?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then taking out investment property loans is probably not a good idea. However, if you know that even in the hard times you will be able to cope, and have found a good investment property, then taking out investment property loans will be good for you.

Why take out a loan?

Apart from the obvious reason that taking out investment property loans will give you the money you need to buy the property, there are other good reasons to take one out. Even if you have the money to buy the property, taking out investment property loans can have tax benefits, and also allow you to keep the money you have for unexpected circumstances or other investment.

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