If you’re after building long-term wealth, then investing in real estate is one of the ways you could do that. What’s not to love about investing in properties? There’s passive income rolling in every month, the value of your property is likely going to go up, and before you know it, you’ve started your very own real estate empire. But… There’s always a but. If you haven’t saved up enough money before you buy, what should have been a dream investment will become a financial nightmare.
A lot of first-time investors look at the down payment and focus on that. And not to say that the down payment isn’t a big part of it, but that’s not the only thing you have to consider. You also have to factor in closing costs, emergency repairs, vacancies, and expenses you weren’t expecting. All of this will add up fast and if there’s no cushion in terms of finances, you’ll really struggle to cover everything.
So, how much money do you need to have before you invest in your first property? Keep reading and you’ll find out.
Down Payment and Closing Costs
Let’s say you’re looking to invest in real estate (as an investment or straight up buying a house to live in). You go online and start browsing. You find a property that seems perfect and… Now what?
Well, there are a couple of things to consider. And to illustrate it, we’ll provide you with a comparison table; we’ll use the Tarrant County (Texas) as an example:
|
City |
Median House Price (in USD) |
Typical Loan Down Payment (15-25% in USD) |
FHA Loan Down Payment (3.5% in USD) |
|
Fort Worth |
298,372 |
44,756-74,593 |
10,443 |
|
White Settlement |
73,900 |
11,085-18,475 |
2,587 |
|
Springtown |
449,450 |
67,418-112,363 |
15,731 |
|
River Oaks |
87,400 |
13,110-21,850 |
3,059 |
|
Azle |
110,000 |
16,500-27,500 |
3,850 |
As you can see, the down payment is one of the biggest upfront costs. Since this won’t be your primary residence, you won’t get away with 3% down; you’ll need at least 15-25% if you’re going for a conventional loan. If you’re thinking about an FHA loan, that one requires only 3.5% down, but that’s only an option if you’re living in one of the units while renting out the others.
VA and USDA loans offer 10% down options, but they’re usually reserved for eligible military personnel and rural homebuyers, so they’re not really used for investing in real estate. Some investors go for hard money loans or private financing. This can give you more flexible down payment options but keep in mind you’ll pay a higher interest rate.
Aside from the down payment, you also need to think about closing costs. Typically, these add 3-6% of the purchase price and they cover things like origination fees, title insurance, appraisal and inspection costs, and prepaid property taxes and insurance. So, if the property you plan on buying costs $200,000 and you have to give a 20% down payment, that’s $40,000 upfront.
If you add another 5% for closing costs, you’re looking at $50,000 total just to get the property in your name.
So if you live in Fort Worth and you’re researching home values online, you’ll often come across companies that advertise “we buy houses Fort Worth”, which comes as a stark reminder that the housing market is competitive, and if you don’t buy the home you like quickly, there are companies that’ll capitalize on a good investment opportunity, while you’re still deciding.
Extra Savings for Reserves and Unexpected Expenses
Closing costs and down payment are just part of the equation. If you’re smart, you’ll set aside extra money to cover expenses you haven’t expected, or you’ll struggle if things don’t go according to plan.
You’ll see that lenders often require reserves before applying for a mortgage and they’ll usually ask for 3 to 6 months’ worth of mortgage payments. For example, if your monthly expenses are $1,500,0you should have at least $4,500 to $9,000 in reserves before closing. However, even if this isn’t a requirement for your lender, you still really need to have this cushion.
Things happen and sudden expenses tend to pile up one after the other. A roof leak that came out of nowhere, a plumbing issue, a broken HVAC system… It all costs a pretty penny. Plus, maybe your property will end up being vacant for months, what then? You’ll still need to make your mortgage payments and other costs, your lender won’t care that you don’t have tenants. If you hire a property manager, that’s an extra expense, too.
Think about buying your first rental. Everything’s going great at first, but then two months in, the water heater breaks and your roof starts to leak. Without having reserves, you’ll need to dip into your personal savings or, even worse, you’ll need to scramble for a loan. Neither of these options is ideal.
Now, to answer the main question, how much cash do you need to save up for a property that costs $200,000? A conservative estimate would be $59,500. That’ll cover the down payment, closing costs, reserves, and unplanned expenses. However, if you want to play it safe, having $69,000 saved up is much better.
Conclusion
Investing in property is always a good idea, but only if you’re smart about it. If you need to scrape up every last penny just to cover the down payment and closing costs, you’re playing a really risky game.
Without something extra to fall back on, you’ll most likely end up in a great deal of trouble. It’s better to wait a bit more and save so you can start building your wealth the right way.
If you get impatient and rush, the wealth you’re dreaming of having might end up staying just that – a dream.
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More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:
- Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
- Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
- Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
- Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
- Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
- KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
- Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
- Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
- Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
- Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Webull (20 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 20 free shares valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free shares using Webull.
- Moomoo (15 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 2 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- Upgrade ($200) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $200 referral bonus if you open an account and complete a direct deposit. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $200 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($175) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
- 5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
- Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
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