Cash-Out Refinance on Real Estate Assets—Putting Your Equity to Work

Are you a Bay Area or Sacramento real estate investor looking to unlock the equity in your property? Did you know that a cash-out refinance can help youfree up funds for the down payment on your next acquisition, cover maintenance and renovations costs, or even free-up funds to open another business? Here’s what you need to know about the cash-out refinance loans and how to determine if it is a logical solution for your financing goals.

What is a Cash-Out Refinance?

Before delving into the details of how to obtain a refinance loan for an investment property, it’s a good idea to clarify what a cash-out refinance is and what the process entails. A cash-out refinance is a new 1st or 2nd lien position loan against your property in which you net loan proceeds into your bank account. In many cases, weprovide 2nd lien position cash-out loans behind existing long-term conventional 1st lien position loans. In that scenario, you can enjoy keeping the rate and term of your 1st lien position loan, while accessing your equity via the new 2nd lien position loan we provide.

To illustrate, say you own a $1,000,000 investment property, and you have an existing $450,000 in 1st lien position. By obtaining a cash-out refinance in 2nd lien position with us at up to 65% combined loan-to-value, you will receive $200,000 in cash that you can use for whatever business-purpose that you choose.

Do You Have Equity in Your Investment Property?

The more equity you hold the better positioned you will be in terms of qualifying for and utilizing the benefits of a cash-out refinance. Whether you own a non-owner-occupied single-family rental property, 2-4 unitsmall income property, 5+ unit multifamily property, or mixed-use property, Security Financial Services offers unparalleled flexibility. We provide both term loans (where the loan amount is fully disbursed upon closing) and non-revolving credit advance facilities (where the funds are advanced upon your request and you only pay interest on the outstanding loan amount). Our cash-out refinance loan amounts range from $100,000 up to $1,500,000. Generally speaking, rental properties with at least 30 to 40 percent equity are the best candidates for cash-out refinancing—especially if you purchased the property several years ago. 

What are the Advantages of a Cash-Out Refinance for Investors?

There are three main reasons why a real estate investor may find it ideal to complete a cash-out refinance on one of their assets:

  • Cover Improvement and Maintenance Costs: One of the most common reasons that investors opt to refinance their initial mortgage is to complete needed improvements and renovations on the property. It’s a wise choice considering the fact that the more amenities the property has to offer and the more updated the property appears, the more rent investors can charge for the unit. From that perspective, if your property has seen some considerable wear and tear over the years or simply looks run-down, it may be a solid move to consider investing in a few updates such as putting in new hardwood flooring or updating the kitchens and bathrooms.

  • Diversifying Your Real Estate Portfolio: If your rental units are already top-of-the-line, another potential option is to leverage the existing equity that you hold in the asset in order to expand your real estate portfolio. You can use the cash from your refinance to facilitate the acquisition of additional properties. Depending on the value of the property and how much equity you have built up, you could either use the refinance proceeds to buy a new property or put the funds towards the down payment.

  • Funding Business Expenses: Looking to open up a second business? If you need to cover start-up or existing operational expenses in the near future, doing a cash-out refinance on your investment property is a savvy way to get the funds instead of getting more expensive business debt.

Am I Eligible for Cash-Out Refinancing?

First, take into account your combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio. In real estate, a CLTV is a measurement of your existing loan balance plus the proposed loan amount all divided by the property value, or, put simply, the amount of equity that you have accrued in the property. Security Financial Services generally will consider lending up to 65% CLTV and can offer flexible term options up to 60 months with a maximum two years fixed and the remaining term variable. Also keep in mind that if the property isn’t fully rented, the amount we will be able to lend may bedetermined byyour credit, income, and/or cash reserves.

Every situation and lender is unique. Here at Security FinancialServices, we have the industry experience and expertise to assist you in achieving your real estate investment goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you fund your next acquisition or renovation by strategically leveraging your hard-earned equity.