The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not be current. This website may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; we do not recommend or endorse the contents of any third-party sites. Readers of this website should contact their attorney, accountant or credit counselor to obtain advice with respect to their particular situation. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or not act on the basis of information on this site. Always seek personal legal, financial or credit advice for your relevant jurisdiction. Only your individual attorney or advisor can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective employers.
Credit.com receives compensation for the financial products and services advertised on this site if our users apply for and sign up for any of them. Compensation is not a factor in the substantive evaluation of any product.
Q. I have 10 years before I retire and I’m thinking about buying a property that I’d rent out until I’m ready to retire there. I’d need a mortgage but rates are low and I think I can afford the payments even without rental income. What should I consider?
— Planning ahead
A. What you’re suggesting can make sense, but use caution and make the move with your eyes wide open.
There are lots of issues to consider, including bad tenants, repairs and maintenance, vacancies, and rental property tax rules, according to Michael Maye, a certified financial planner and certified public accountant with MJM Financial in Gillette, New Jersey.
He said you need to remember that whether the property is a rental or not, you need to take into account all the carrying costs, and it’s not just mortgage payments. You’ll have to pay for insurance, utilities, property taxes and repairs.
“My suggestion is to run the numbers so you have a full understanding of the economics of owning a second property,” Maye said. “I would also recommend finding a good CPA to discuss tax implications of owning a rental property which include passive activity rules, mixed use property (rental/personal use), and conversion from a rental property to a personal home in 10 years.”
Bottom line? Do your due diligence, understand the implications and then move forward, Maye said.
[Editor’s Note: Before you buy a house, it’s a good idea to check your credit so you have an idea of what you may qualify for when applying for a mortgage. You can see two of your credit scores for free, updated every 14 days, on Credit.com.]
Image: LiudmylaSupynska
December 13, 2023
Mortgages