Regardless of whether you’re buying a property for investment purposes or to call your home, it is likely that you will need at least some amount of financing in order to make the transaction happen. What is your cost of borrowing?
But, looking at borrowed capital through the eyes of an investor as versus that of a consumer, the numbers can mean different things – and ultimately, the way that you borrow on a property can make a big difference in terms of how much you’ll return overall.
For example, when most consumers are purchasing property as their primary residence, they are often looking for a loan that will allow for the smallest monthly payment – even if it means that they will pay more in total – provided that they stay in that property and eventually pay the loan off.
But what about for investors who are not only looking for a way to produce a return on monthly income, but also a profit when they go to sell the property?
That can depend on how long you plan to keep it. For example, a shorter term loan will typically have a higher APR (Annual Percentage Rate) than a long-term loan. Based on a study conducted by the Electronic Transaction Association, while APR is oftentimes an effective method of comparing the cost of credit on long-term consumer loans – such as a mortgage – it does not always provide all of the information that is needed when considering the best option for financing.
Take, for instance, the chart below.