The #1
Real Estate Investing
Community

Tue, Dec 02, 2008 
TCI Shopping
Featured TCI Properties
1572 Main Street
Buffalo, NY
Price: $350,000
Topics 'N Comments
Forum Topics
* Foreclosure Property, Cash Offers Only? Newb Alert!
* Apt Complex Note Deal
* Looking To Invest From Online Overseas
* Phenomenal Price Escalation
* Foreclosure And Liabilities
* Moving From Many Single Houses To Multi Unit Buildings
* Is An Annuity And A 401k Protected In A Foreclosure?
* Vacant Lots
* Countrywide - Las Vegas - Short Sale - Need Realtor
* Financing For An Auction

Comments
* Optimism is a great...
* That is a great...
* Great advice. Thanks...
* Fortunately I...
* Thanks for sharing....
* Many of the...
* Good list. I have...
* Thank you gentleman...
* I cant take any of...
* Quote Per your ...
Contact Us
703-778-5755
Login Problems?
Sales
Support
Feedback
Recommend Us
History and Purpose of TCI


Advertise on our site
Advertising Login
Sell Your Product Here!
Official PayPal Seal
Send this to:                            

Interest Only Loans - Good or Evil?

Monday, January 30, 2006 @ 02:53 PM EST Printer Friendly Page  Printer Friendly Page
Send this Story to a Friend  Send this Story to a Friend


Contributed by: Joel Webb

Joel Webb Properties

Read more archived articles about Credit and Finance

I used to think Interest Only loans were the worst possible way to finance a property. You are really in essence renting from the bank instead of a landlord. Why would you do it??

The first time I saw Interest Only Loans used was when I went to California to visit a friend. He was telling me that everyday people couldn't afford to purchase a property with a conventional loan let alone a low-interest loan, so many people were resorting to Interest Only Loans.

I thought this was crazy.

I was pretty shocked by how this
 
Advertisement
was totally upside-down from our area in Greensboro, NC.

Now of course in GBoro, the economy is not that of California. Properties aren't increasing by double digits, but at least they haven't been stagnant either.

Either way, I was watching TV this weekend and saw an ad for an Interest Only loans for our area.

With a new property foreclosure we are about to purchase, I was wondering how I could our company could use a Interest Only Loan to our advantage. Here is what I came up with:

When you pay a normal loan, the Interest that you pay is huge compared to the principle that you pay. But by the 10th year of your amortization, you are contributing a larger portion to Principle than Interest.

Don't let me lose you now. If your using an Interest Only Loan that cuts your monthly payment down by 40%, then that means if you pay what your normal payment would be, your principle contribution would be significantly higher than what a conventional amortization would be. Much Larger!

If your monthly payment is 1000/m and the IO loan brings your payment down to 600/m. This means if you normally pay the 1000 per month even though your normal payment is 600. You are really knocking down your principle.

It is just like coming in on a 30-year loan at the 7-10 year mark.


WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

It means that for the first couple years, you can really knock down your principle faster than a conventional mortgage. Then after 2-3 years, refinance to a conventional 15 year mortgage.

Now these are ONLY thoughts I had this weekend while reflecting on my refinance. I haven't verified that the Interest-Only Lenders don't have a pre-payment penalty. But I would assume that they would have one in place to protect themselves from guys like me who don't want to be screwed when it comes to paying my debt off.

What are you thoughts?



Word Cloud:
don't than /> what down really principle like they loan, only /> it haven't used first would normal what this /> now years, were weekend means good /> i property people have could mortgage. payment then conventional loans monthly year interest when evil? loan

 
Username or Email

Password

Remember Me:

Join 232,549 other
members FREE!
· More about Credit and Finance
· Other articles by Joel


Most read story about Credit and Finance:
The Real Truth About Financing

Average Score: 0
Votes: 0

Please take a second and vote for this article:

Bad
Regular
Good
Very Good
Excellent



Printer Friendly Page  Printer Friendly Page

Send this Story to a Friend  Send this Story to a Friend

Threshold
  
Logged In members can moderate all comments.
Re: (Score: 2)
by neutral on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 03:42 PM EST

I don’t know that this is figured correctly-

For example- If your take a mortgage out for $150,000 at 7%, your a fully amortized payment would be about $998- If you had this same loan with an interest-only option, your payment would be $875. This isn’t a 40% difference. You’re lowering your monthly payment by $123.

Let look at what happens if you pay this for 3 years both ways.
If you pay the I/O payment of $875 for 36 months, your total payments would be $31500 and your principle balance would remain at $150,000.

If you set this up as an I/O and pay $998 a month, you are more or less paying down your principle by $123 a month- So after 36 months, you would have a principle balance of $145,572.

Now if you set this up as a fully amortizing mortgage paying $998, because the amount of interest each month is amortizing, after 36 months, you would have a principle balance of $145090. Using this type of loan will actually pay down your principle balance faster than using an interest only loan and paying the fully amortized payment.

You also must keep in mind that when you opt for an interest only loan, more than likely the lender will put a “bump" on your rate. You don’t have to worry about Prepayment Penalties with I/O. There are several loan programs available that do not have a PPP.

Having an interest only loan isn’t like renting from a bank. In the right market, you will experience appreciation while keeping your cash flow more positive.

For any question on investment financing please don't hesistate to contact me.

neutral

[ Post Comment | Reply to This Comment ]



  • Here is my point by joel on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 04:44 PM EST



  • Re: Interest Only Loans - Good or Evil? (Score: 1)
    by neutral on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 04:57 PM EST

    To calculate your interest only payment you multiply your loan amount by the interest rate and then divide by 12.

    ($150,000 x .07) = 10,500 / 12 = $875

    I wouldn't reccommend your strategy for two reasons: 1. your not saving any money and 2. if you change your mortgage after a couple of years you will incur a couple thousand dollars in closing costs.

    [ Post Comment | Reply to This Comment ]



  • Re: Interest Only Loans - Good or Evil? by joel on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 08:18 PM EST



  • Re: Interest Only Loans - Good or Evil? (Score: 1)
    by ray_higdon on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 05:10 PM EST

    Equity in your property has no rate of return. I do not think there is any problem with interest only loans so long as you are investing the difference in payments not making an SUV or boat payment instead. If you are pulling out equity in your property and paying 7% annual but earning even 5-6% compound (like with real estate), the numbers are easy to determine. Now, most of you think that the best way to own a property is to own it outright with no mortgage, I disagree. Would you bury $100,000 or more in your backyard to earn no interest? That is what you are doing with leaving equity trapped in your house(s). A great book that details this more eloquently than I ever could is "Missed Fortunes" or "Missed Fortunes 101" by Douglas Andrew, highly reccomend reading that.

    [ Post Comment | Reply to This Comment ]



  • Re: Interest Only Loans - Good or Evil? by joel on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 08:17 PM EST



  • Re: Interest Only Loans - Good or Evil? (Score: 4)
    by phildo22 on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 08:45 PM EST

    Agreed with the 2nd poster- this original thread was figured incorrectly. The benefit of the I/O loan is as the other poster stated regarding using the extra cash flow for additional investments - not money savings.

    Also - consider that by paying down your principle you reduce the amount of interest you can deduct against your rental income, more and more each year, until 1 day, it will not exist at all! I prefer to keep the deduction and not pay tax on the rental income, especially when my renters are covering my interest payments for me, and I'll take the free appreciation in return.

    [ Post Comment | Reply to This Comment ]



  • Re: Interest Only Loans - Good or Evil? by joel on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 @ 08:57 PM EST



  • Real Estate News | Real Estate Investing Articles | Real Estate Investing Gurus | Real Estate Forums | Real Estate Lenders | Real Estate Investing Groups | Real Estate Course Reviews | Real Estate Services | Real Estate Courses | Investment Properties | Real Estate Search | Commercial Properties | Land For Sale | Houses For Sale | Houses For Rent | Real Estate Comps | Sell House Quick | Sell House Fast

    The Creative Investor web site was created for Landlords, Property Managers and Real Estate Investing community.
    Through using our forums, investors will be able to talk about finance, no down payment purchases, debt payoff, purchase strategies and current real estate news.
    Privacy Agreement and Terms of Use. All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner.
    The comments are property of their posters, all the rest 2002 by PropBot.com L.L.C.