By J.P. Dahdah, Founder & CEO
When growing your retirement nest egg, it often pays to think outside the box.
For example, did you know a Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) can obtain a loan to invest in real estate? Your IRA savings can be used as a down payment for an investment property and hold a mortgage that is then paid off from the rental income the SDIRA receives.
A non-recourse loan is secured by the property itself, not your creditworthiness or personal guarantees. If you were to default on a non-recourse loan, the lender can only claim the property used as collateral – not your personal or Self-Directed IRA assets. This level of protection makes non-recourse loans an attractive option for savvy Self-Directed IRA investors.
So, don’t let a lack of capital hold you back from a promising real estate opportunity.
Here are the key steps to investing with a non-recourse loan:
- Identify a Suitable Lender: Not all lenders offer non-recourse loans. It’s crucial to find a lender who offers this loan type and understands the intricacies involved in lending to an IRA. At Vantage, we’re happy to offer you our Resource List of non-recourse lenders that offer Self-Directed IRA loan programs to make your search easier.
- Understand What Information is Needed: Applying for a non-recourse loan typically requires detailed information about the investment property, including its value, rental income potential, and more. You may also need to provide financial statements from your Self-Directed IRA.
- Know the Qualifications: Lenders often look at the value of the property, the potential rental income, and the financial health of your IRA when considering a non-recourse loan application. The property itself must have strong income potential as it serves as the primary source of loan repayment. Remember, the IRA is obtaining the loan, not the IRA account holder. The non-recourse lender wants to make sure that there is sufficient rental income being received by the SDIRA, since the SDIRA is required to make the mortgage payments. Each non-recourse lender has their unique set of requirements, terms, and conditions that must be met for the loan to be approved. Keep in mind that non-recourse loans are asset-based lending, so the lender’s underwriting parameters will mainly be driven by equity value and debt-service ratio requirements.
- Select Your Investment Property: After identifying a non-recourse lender willing to provide a loan to your Self-Directed IRA, the next step is to choose and secure your real estate property. Remember, the property title will be held under the name of your IRA (i.e., Vantage FBO [client name] IRA), not your personal name.
- Service Your Loan with Rental Income: If your investment property is rental-based, the income generated from it can be used to service your non-recourse loan.
Leveraging a Self-Directed IRA with a non-recourse loan can provide a robust way to boost your retirement portfolio.
However, it’s important to understand the rules and regulations surrounding Self-Directed IRAs and non-recourse loans. As always, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process – reach out with any questions.
Stay tuned for our next article, where we’ll delve into what to consider when selling a debt-financed real estate property purchased with a Self-Directed IRA.