Welcome to second segment of a three-part series about income property. In this second segment we will be discussing financing options for residential income properties as well as upside (and downside) of owning this type of property.

Financial Concerns

Financing options for residential income property vary widely from commercial or industrial properties. For one thing, most private lenders place size requirements on apartment complexes they are willing to finance, usually five units or more. Smaller complexes just don't have revenue generation potential required to make your loan officer feel comfortable.

The good news is that residential income property loans usually carry a higher LTV ratio than other property types. If you recall from first segment of this series, LTV (loan-to-value) ratio indicates percentage of money your lender will lend you to property's market value. An 80% LTV is maximum most lenders will provide for residential income property.

Loan terms usually range from 25 to 30 years with a maximum loan amount of up to $3 million. Current competitive interest rates can range from 4.70% up to 6.625% depending on several factors including your credit rating and size of your down payment.

Most loans for residential income property are termed as 'recourse loans'. This means that lender has 'recourse' to your personal assets in event you default on loan. Needless to say, you need to make sure you are ready to assume financial responsibility of making your payments in a timely fashion.

Managerial Challenges

Besides financial responsibility, residential income property management brings with it other unique challenges. Likewise, it demands certain skills above and beyond investment savvy and experience. To successfully manage your residential income property, you'll need a good combination of street smarts, interpersonal, and handyman skills.