After experiencing the worst hurricane on record, it is likely that Irma left your Florida investment property (or properties) with at least some amount of damage. But, while vacation homes and investment properties are not covered under FEMA’s disaster assistance program, and it’s likely that your home owner’s policy for your rental units excludes wind damage due to hurricanes, there are still some steps that you can take to get your properties back into shape quickly. One possible option is to go with a low-interest disaster loan through the Small Business Administration.
As a rental property owner, you are considered a small business owner – and because of that, if your property (or properties) have suffered physical damage and / or you have sustained economic injury following a disaster, you could be eligible. This financial relief could come in the form of a(n):
- Physical Disaster Loan – Businesses of all sizes may apply for an SBA physical disaster loan of up to $2 million in order to repair or replace damaged real estate, as well as fixtures, equipment, and / or inventory. And, the loan may even be increased by up to 20% of the total amount of physical loss (as verified by the Small Business Administration) in order to protect against future disasters of the same type.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan – You could also apply for an economic injury disaster loan via the SBA. Here, too, the loan amount could be as high as $2 million, which can help to meet financial expenses.
Provided that you do not have credit available elsewhere, the interest rate on both of these loans will not exceed 4%.
For additional information, or to begin the loan application process directly online through the SBA website, go to: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/FactSheetBusinesses. For information on how we can help you with your investment property, contact us here.