: A tax-deferment strategy where you sell one property and reinvest the proceeds into "like-kind" properties (often multiple smaller ones) to grow your portfolio without immediate capital gains tax. Financing Options for Multiple Units
Buying multiple rental properties involves a transition from simple homeownership to , requiring strategic financing and disciplined property analysis . Successful investors typically leverage existing equity to fund down payments and utilize specific loan types designed for scaling, such as portfolio or blanket loans. Core Acquisition Strategies
: Buy a small multi-family property (up to 4 units), live in one, and rent the others. This allows for lower down payments—as little as 3.5% for FHA loans or 5% for Fannie Mae —while the other units cover the mortgage.
: Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat. You purchase a distressed property, renovate it to add value, rent it out, and then do a cash-out refinance to pull your initial capital back out for the next property.
As you acquire more properties, traditional residential loans become harder to get. Lenders often classify you as a once you own four or more properties.
