Real Estate Investing - Should You Ever Use Credit Cards?

Over-using credit cards can lead to financial disaster. Alternatively, careful use of credit cards can jump-start a successful real estate investment program. Under what circumstances should you use credit cards to fund real estate purchases? When should you leave your credit cards alone?

Perhaps I should tell you the story of my first home purchase. I purchased my first piece of real estate in Chicago during the late 1970s. At the time, the city was in the midst of a relatively new real estate phenomenon. Real estate developers and investors were feverishly purchasing large and mid-size apartment buildings, renovating them and converting them to condominiums. I had recently arrived in Chicago from college to start my first job. Arriving at the beginning of this condominium craze, I was immediately attracted to what appeared to be an excellent ground-floor opportunity. Houses in the Chicago area were well beyond my means, but the cheaper two-bedroom condos were within reach.

While I was otherwise qualified to purchase a very nice condominium in a turn-around Chicago neighborhood, what I did not have was money for a down-payment. I stayed awake at night trying to envision a way to pull together what was needed. An older buddy at work told me the story of how he purchased his first house using credit cards. This information was just what I needed to put together my first down payment. I used my only credit card and one that my parents had to put my plan into action.

The plan worked well for me because: my credit was very good at the time and drawing down the maximum under my card did not dissuade the mortgage lender; I had full access to my card and was able to tap my parents’ card; I had a stable job and earned enough to service the credit card debt, the mortgage loan, and still be able to repay my parents within a year; and lastly, I am a bit of a risk taker, and fortunately the risk paid off.

Using credit cards as a tool to help finance real estate can be useful. Credit cards are convenient, versatile forms of financing. Usually, you can borrow and re-borrow up to the cash advance limit as needed. Finally, you have already been approved to use them.

There are, however, some big negatives.

The repayment requirements are fairly stiff. Most credit cards require repayment of the outstanding balance within as little as 42 months. This short time frame may not fit your cash flow circumstances.

Another negative is that high card balances will negatively impact your credit rating. If you have great credit and you can afford the credit card payments, it might be worth taking this risk to buy good real estate.

Using credit cards and other consumer credit can be addictive. If you have little self-discipline in this area, it is probably best not to use your cards for real estate. You might be better served by ridding yourself of credit cards altogether.

Lastly, the interest rates charged by the credit card companies are relatively high. Rates can range from 12% to well over 18% per year. These high rates will eat into your real estate gains.

Given the advantages and disadvantages, do credit cards make a good choice for financing real estate investments? This method certainly is not an ideal one because of its high risk. It would not be my first choice. I would tap other assets like life insurance cash value or money from a 401-K plan ahead of using credit card debt.

I would only recommend this financing method as a short-term arrangement, if you have run out of other alternatives. Additionally, it probably makes little sense unless: you have a stable job; you can afford to service the credit card debt; you can afford the real estate mortgage and can manage the related real estate expenses; and you will still have money left over to live fairly comfortably.

Notwithstanding the benefits and risks, the credit card option is one worth noting.

About the Author

George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. (”LTI”). Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in equipment financing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at: www.ltileasing.com.

Best Real Estate Investing Program - Monopoly Theory

Everybody has a different theory about how best to win at Monopoly. Some say The Railroads are the answer, others the Utilities. For some it?s crucial to own Boardwalk and Park Place, and for others it?s the green and orange properties. When it comes to deciding on the best real estate investing program, you can learn a lot from Monopoly.

If you?re actively looking for the best real estate investing program, and you?re trying to decide whether to invest in houses or apartments, you could try approaching investing like you would approach a game of Monopoly. If nothing else, it will make for an interesting exercise.

When you own property in Monopoly, your primary goal is to acquire all of a particular color group, and your purpose is clear- to be able to build houses and, ultimately, hotels. The more houses, the higher the rents, and hotels allow rents that are higher still. This remains one of the best Monopoly strategies, and I believe it?s also the best real estate investing program for many people.

I consider a hotel in Monopoly to be roughly the equivalent of an apartment building.

Following the Monopoly logic, you would begin by acquiring houses, both single family and duplexes. Using a combination of creative financing, rehabbing, and wholesaling, and being very careful to buy value, you would build up your cash and equity reserves. This is the first phase of the best real estate investing program.

In the second phase of the best real estate investing program, you would leverage this equity and cash into larger 3-5 unit apartment houses in appreciating neighborhoods. At the same time, you will be acquiring topnotch property management skills, and learning the ins and outs of 1031 exchanges and financing strategies.

Phase three would find you trading some of your mid-size apartment houses for large apartment buildings and multi-unit complexes, letting the economy of scale and the cumulative power of depreciation, appreciation, and cash flow make you a very wealthy Monopoly player. Can you see why this may be the best real estate investing program of all?

Over a 5-10 year period, making allowance for a mistake here and there, there?s no reason you couldn?t wind up controlling several million dollars worth of property, and several hundred rental units. Then your toughest decision may be whether to sell Connecticut Avenue and buy Park Place!

For more on getting started right, see The Best Real Estate Investing Program

Now, go make more offers!

Best Real Estate Investing Program - Monopoly Theory

Everybody has a different theory about how best to win at Monopoly. Some say The Railroads are the answer, others the Utilities. For some it?s crucial to own Boardwalk and Park Place, and for others it?s the green and orange properties. When it comes to deciding on the best real estate investing program, you can learn a lot from Monopoly.

If you?re actively looking for the best real estate investing program, and you?re trying to decide whether to invest in houses or apartments, you could try approaching investing like you would approach a game of Monopoly. If nothing else, it will make for an interesting exercise.

When you own property in Monopoly, your primary goal is to acquire all of a particular color group, and your purpose is clear- to be able to build houses and, ultimately, hotels. The more houses, the higher the rents, and hotels allow rents that are higher still. This remains one of the best Monopoly strategies, and I believe it?s also the best real estate investing program for many people.

I consider a hotel in Monopoly to be roughly the equivalent of an apartment building.

Following the Monopoly logic, you would begin by acquiring houses, both single family and duplexes. Using a combination of creative financing, rehabbing, and wholesaling, and being very careful to buy value, you would build up your cash and equity reserves. This is the first phase of the best real estate investing program.

In the second phase of the best real estate investing program, you would leverage this equity and cash into larger 3-5 unit apartment houses in appreciating neighborhoods. At the same time, you will be acquiring topnotch property management skills, and learning the ins and outs of 1031 exchanges and financing strategies.

Phase three would find you trading some of your mid-size apartment houses for large apartment buildings and multi-unit complexes, letting the economy of scale and the cumulative power of depreciation, appreciation, and cash flow make you a very wealthy Monopoly player. Can you see why this may be the best real estate investing program of all?

Over a 5-10 year period, making allowance for a mistake here and there, there?s no reason you couldn?t wind up controlling several million dollars worth of property, and several hundred rental units. Then your toughest decision may be whether to sell Connecticut Avenue and buy Park Place!

For more on getting started right, see The Best Real Estate Investing Program

Now, go make more offers!

Best Real Estate Investing Program - Monopoly Theory

Everybody has a different theory about how best to win at Monopoly. Some say The Railroads are the answer, others the Utilities. For some it?s crucial to own Boardwalk and Park Place, and for others it?s the green and orange properties. When it comes to deciding on the best real estate investing program, you can learn a lot from Monopoly.

If you?re actively looking for the best real estate investing program, and you?re trying to decide whether to invest in houses or apartments, you could try approaching investing like you would approach a game of Monopoly. If nothing else, it will make for an interesting exercise.

When you own property in Monopoly, your primary goal is to acquire all of a particular color group, and your purpose is clear- to be able to build houses and, ultimately, hotels. The more houses, the higher the rents, and hotels allow rents that are higher still. This remains one of the best Monopoly strategies, and I believe it?s also the best real estate investing program for many people.

I consider a hotel in Monopoly to be roughly the equivalent of an apartment building.

Following the Monopoly logic, you would begin by acquiring houses, both single family and duplexes. Using a combination of creative financing, rehabbing, and wholesaling, and being very careful to buy value, you would build up your cash and equity reserves. This is the first phase of the best real estate investing program.

In the second phase of the best real estate investing program, you would leverage this equity and cash into larger 3-5 unit apartment houses in appreciating neighborhoods. At the same time, you will be acquiring topnotch property management skills, and learning the ins and outs of 1031 exchanges and financing strategies.

Phase three would find you trading some of your mid-size apartment houses for large apartment buildings and multi-unit complexes, letting the economy of scale and the cumulative power of depreciation, appreciation, and cash flow make you a very wealthy Monopoly player. Can you see why this may be the best real estate investing program of all?

Over a 5-10 year period, making allowance for a mistake here and there, there?s no reason you couldn?t wind up controlling several million dollars worth of property, and several hundred rental units. Then your toughest decision may be whether to sell Connecticut Avenue and buy Park Place!

For more on getting started right, see The Best Real Estate Investing Program

Now, go make more offers!