359: Finance Friday: My Home Renovation Put Me in a HELOC Hole

The house hack strategy doesn’t always run smoothly. Turning an old home into a modern, rentable masterpiece takes money—especially if you’re doing a big renovation. One of the easiest ways to get the rehab funds you need? A home equity line of credit (HELOC). But, when used incorrectly, a HELOC’s adjustable interest rate can bury any chance you have at cash flowing, no matter how great of a mortgage rate you get.

Welcome back to another Finance Friday episode! This time around, we’re tackling a rental property problem that is plaguing today’s guest, Josh. Josh has made some sound financial moves by having a stable income, a great side hustle, and his newest house hack. But, to maximize this house hack’s return on investment, Josh was forced to expand and convert many portions of his newly bought, hundred-and-fifty-year-old home. This forced his budget to shoot up higher than he was expecting. Now, he’s trying to figure out the best move as he manages his debt spread across his mortgage, a high-interest HELOC, a family loan, and more.

Josh is poised to continue investing in real estate even after this intensive experience. He wants advice from veteran landlords Mindy and Scott on what his next move should be, how he can best capitalize on his remodeled home, and when he might be able to buy the next house hack. If you’re looking to reach financial freedom using real estate like Josh is, this episode is for you!

In This Episode We Cover

The house hack strategy and why it’s a phenomenal way for new investors to build wealth

Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and when using this type of debt makes sense

Home renovation budgeting and what to expect when doing an entire house remodel

Velocity banking and why this form of leverage isn’t a smart move to make now

When to sell a rental property and when to keep a cash-flowing investment

The medium-term rental strategy and how to get higher rents for the same room or unit

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

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BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

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Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

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Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-359

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