Using equity to buy an investment property

When it comes to investing in real estate, equity is a key concept to wrap your head around. The Successful Investor’s Michael Sloan explains what equity is, and how you can use it to your advantage.

What is equity?

Equity is the difference between the current value of your home and how much you owe on it.

For example, if your home is worth $400,000 and you still owe $220,000, your equity is $180,000.

The great thing is, you can use equity as security with the banks. This means you can borrow against your equity to fund life’s big purchases, such as:

• extending your home
• starting a business
• buying a car
• going on a holiday.

You can use also use equity to buy an investment property and get into the real estate game.

Total equity and useable equity

Banks will typically lend you 80% of the value of your home – less the debt you still owe against it. This is considered your useable equity.

Since the bank is lending you money against the value of your home, they won’t lend you the full amount. Put simply, if house prices dip, they don’t want an outstanding loan that’s worth more than your property.

Keep in mind that it’s possible to borrow more than 80% if you take out Lenders' Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

How much can you borrow?

Using the example above, let’s say your home is valued at $400,000 and your mortgage is $220,000. Here’s the breakdown of sums:

• value of your property - $400,000
• value of your property at 80% - $320,000
• minus your mortgage - $220,000.

This means your useable equity would be $100,000.

Learn how to estimate your property’s equity using the NAB app.

Using the ''rule of four"

When it comes to actually buying an investment property, it can be hard to know where to start.

But a simple rule of thumb is to multiply your useable equity by four to arrive at the answer.

For example, four multiplied by $100,000 means your maximum purchase price for an investment property is $400,000.

Why four and not five?

If you’re buying an investment property worth $400,000, the bank will lend against your future property just as they would against your existing home.

The banks will lend 80% (or $320,000) in this scenario, but the property costs $400,000. This leaves an $80,000 gap, which is your house deposit.

However, you also have to budget for purchase costs such as stamp duty, legal fees and more. This is approximately 5% of the purchase price – around $20,000 on a $400,000 property.

Therefore, the total amount of funds needed to purchase a $400,000 investment property is now $100,000 – an $80,000 deposit plus $20,000 costs.

Final tips

Even if you have plenty of equity, it’s not always a given that you can borrow against it. The bank will take into account several factors such as your income, your age, how many kids you have, and any additional debts.

Remember to play it safe. If you don’t have any funds outside your home equity, then it’s risky to use every last cent of your usable equity to invest in property.

You always need a buffer – back up funds in case things don’t go to plan. Even if it means you can’t invest for a while, it’s important to keep yourself protected.

Ultimately, using equity to buy an investment property can be a smart move. But before you get serious, it’s best to talk to your banker or broker.

Before you decide which strategy is best for you, talk to a professional. A financial adviser or an accountant is a good place to start.