{"id":4915,"date":"2023-12-12T01:35:51","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T01:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/your-car-is-the-number-one-thing-preventing-you-from-making-your-first-deal\/"},"modified":"2023-12-12T01:35:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T01:35:51","slug":"your-car-is-the-number-one-thing-preventing-you-from-making-your-first-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/your-car-is-the-number-one-thing-preventing-you-from-making-your-first-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Car Is the Number One Thing Preventing You From Making Your First Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div :class=\"{ 'hidden': $store.proContent.showFullPrompt() }\">\n<section class=\"px-4 relative border border-slate-200 mobile-toc lg:hidden\" x-data=\"{open:false}\">\n<button x-on:click=\"open = !open\" class=\"flex items-center gap-4 my-2 border-none w-full\"><br \/>\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"h-6 w-6\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M4 8h16M4 16h16\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-semibold text-slate-800 text-base m-0 js-toc-ignore\">In this article<\/p>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You\u2019ve been listening to all the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/podcasts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">BiggerPockets podcasts<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, reading the blogs, interacting on the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/forums\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">forums<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and going to all the meetups. Every day, you\u2019re analyzing deals from the MLS and from wholesalers that you\u2019ve met. You\u2019re networking, learning, and doing all the right things, but it\u2019s just not coming together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You need to make a change in your life for yourself and your family\u2019s future, and there\u2019s no room for error here. How do people do this, starting from scratch?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The biggest thing holding you back that you haven\u2019t even considered is your car payment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Check Your Car Payment<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many investors are looking for deals that cash flow at least a bit\u2014maybe a couple of hundred dollars per door or so.\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/loans\/auto-loans\/average-monthly-car-payment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Nerdwallet reports that in 2022<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">average\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">used car payment in America was $516. And new cars? A whopping $725.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s per month, folks\u2014and it\u2019s the\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">average<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Stack that on top of the fact that most families have two cars, even if they were used, and that\u2019s an average of $1,032 per month in car payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How would you like that\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-i-make-one-million-in-cash-flow-after-less-than-ten-years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">cash flow<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">? Well, you could have it tomorrow if you got rid of those car payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cBut I need my car to get to work!\u201d Do you mean that job that you are trying to get rid of? Seriously, there are so many alternatives: drive a junker, ride a bike or a skateboard, walk, public transportation, or carpool. The options are endless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Think about this critically: Why do you need that car payment? I mentor many aspiring investors in my market, and nine times out of 10, they pull up in a nicer car than I have. I always ask about it, and the answer is always the same: Either they \u201cneed\u201d it for work, or they need a \u201csafe\u201d car for their family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Well, sure, a 2010 Camry is nominally less safe than a 2022 Tesla Model Y, with all its fancy navigation panels and automatic this and that. But do you really\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">need<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0the latter?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Or you might say, \u201cI\u2019m a contractor, and I need my truck.\u201d If you are a contractor making less than $150,000, the last thing you need is a $1,200 truck payment. The bed of a 2008 F150 can haul a box of nails just as well as a 2023 F350 with a lift.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why Real Estate in the First Place?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Before we delve further into the car payment conundrum, let\u2019s talk about real estate investment and why it\u2019s a savvy financial move.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Real estate is a proven asset class for building wealth over time. Unlike cars, which depreciate in value the moment you drive them off the lot, real estate has the potential to appreciate, generating wealth through both property value increases and rental income.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here are a few reasons why real estate is an attractive investment:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Steady income:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/are-rental-properties-a-good-investment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">invest in rental properties<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, you can enjoy a consistent stream of income from your tenants.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Appreciation:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Real estate tends to appreciate over the long term, increasing the value of your investment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tax benefits:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0There are numerous\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/real-estate-taxes-deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">tax advantages<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to owning real estate, including deductions for mortgage interest, property taxes, and depreciation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Diversification:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Real estate offers\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-the-best-real-estate-investors-diversify-their-portfolios\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">diversification in your investment portfolio<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, reducing risk.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Leverage:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0You can use financing (<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/what-is-a-mortgage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">mortgages<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">) to purchase real estate, allowing you to control a valuable asset with a relatively small upfront investment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Delaying Gratification<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With car payments, the inverse is true in every single one of these real estate benefits. How can we say that we believe that real estate is an obvious path to wealth while we are working a W-2 job and driving a car well beyond our financial means?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Honestly, we all need to check our egos. In American culture, cars have always been one of the statements we make about ourselves, and car manufacturers have done a great job of taking advantage of that weakness in all of us. When was the last time you used that $1,500 built-in drink cooler in your armrest? It sure seems like an alluring option when you are rolling into your car payment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are no shortcuts in real estate, and we all know the way to win in life is through delayed gratification. Why should having your dream car be any different?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can absolutely have your dream car, whatever that may be, but you can have it later. If you don\u2019t have enough\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/raking-in-passive-returns-in-real-estate-without-volatility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">passive income<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to cover those payments, you need to examine your budget. If you stopped working your W-2 job tomorrow, how long could you keep making your housing payments, insurance, living expenses, and car payments? If the answer is not \u201cforever,\u201d then you need to get that car sold yesterday and find another way to get around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now, back to the high car payments and their impact on real estate investment. One of the primary culprits here is the need for immediate gratification. We live in a world of instant everything\u2014fast food, on-demand streaming, and, yes, even instant car loans. It\u2019s all too easy to succumb to the desire for immediate rewards, like driving off in a fancy new car.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, this desire for instant gratification often comes at the expense of future happiness. When you commit a significant portion of your monthly income to car payments, you have less money available for investing. It becomes a vicious cycle: You buy a pricey car to satisfy your immediate desires, but in doing so, you limit your capacity to invest in assets like real estate that can truly change your life for the better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">All of that, and we haven\u2019t even begun to discuss the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/what-is-debt-to-income-ratio-dti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">debt-to-income (DTI) ratio<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. When people with average incomes begin to invest and scale, the limiting factor that will smack them in the face the quickest is being shut down by conventional lenders due to their high DTI. If you make $80,000 per year and have a $500 car payment, you\u2019ll struggle to find a conventional lender who will be able to help you scale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I know, I know\u2014<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/find-private-money-lenders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">private money<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/dscr-loans-what-are-they\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">DSCR loans<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0are where it\u2019s at. Sure, but DSCR loans are really tough to get those ratios on right now, with 8% and higher interest rates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Newer investors always want the best deal, and conventional loans are always going to be the best rates and terms available\u2014that rate and those terms are what will make your deal cash flow or not. If you want the best pricing on your loans, you need to free up as much DTI as you possibly can. Getting rid of your car payment is a painless way to make a big dent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Opportunity Cost: What Could You Be Missing?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To put this in perspective, let\u2019s consider the concept of opportunity cost\u2014what you forego by choosing one option over another. In this case, the opportunity cost of having car payments could be substantial.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Imagine you have a $700 monthly car payment. Over the course of a year, that\u2019s $8,400. Now, what if you took that $8,400 and put it into a brokerage account to save a\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/down-payment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">down payment<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0on an investment property or contributed it to a\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/money-466\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">retirement<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0account? Over time, that money could grow significantly through compound interest or real estate appreciation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In contrast, the car you purchased will lose value year after year. It\u2019s a classic case of prioritizing short-term feelings over long-term freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Finding Balance<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The key takeaway here is to find a balance between your immediate desires and long-term financial goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019re itching for a new car, set yourself an income goal that will pay for the car. For instance, if you buy three properties that cash flow $250 per door over three years, your car with a $750 payment is essentially \u201cfree.\u201d Your tenants bought it for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">High car payments, driven by the need for immediate gratification, are very likely to hinder your ability to invest in real estate. While the allure of a shiny new car is undeniable, it\u2019s crucial to weigh that desire to have a shiny new car now against your goal of being financially independent. Is it really worth it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">By finding a balance between satisfying your short-term desires and earning a financially free future, you can ensure that you\u2019re not just driving in style today but also building a solid foundation for tomorrow. It\u2019s not about denying yourself pleasures; it\u2019s about making choices that align with the future that you build for yourself. It starts today.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"visibility-group-block_64dd56548a48e\" class=\"visibility-group  hidden\">\n<div id=\"hero-block_62df1a82bfc88\" class=\"first:mt-0 hero-block py-4    has-background has-theme-gold-light-background-color has-text-color has-theme-gold-color\">\n<div class=\" flex flex-wrap lg:flex-nowrap max-w-screen-xl mx-auto px-4 relative lg:items-center \">\n<div class=\"relative z-30 w-full \">\n<main class=\"py-4\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-theme-gold-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:800\">Get the Best Funding<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-3 md:my-5 lg:my-8 has-slate-900-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:16px\">Quickly find and compare investor-friendly lenders who specialize in your unique investing strategy. It\u2019s fast, free, and easier than ever!<\/p>\n<p><\/main>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\" first:mt-0 relative h-full lg:flex lg:items-center\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-cover w-full relative z-20 my-0  shadow-xl rounded-md hidden lg:block\" src=\"https:\/\/bpimg.biggerpockets.com\/https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Lender-Match.png\" alt=\"find a lender with lender match\" title=\"Your Car Is the Number One Thing Preventing You From Making Your First Deal 2\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<div id=\"visibility-group-block_64dd31c79f00f\" class=\"visibility-group  \">\n<div id=\"hero-block_64dd2875dba9d\" class=\"first:mt-0 hero-block py-4    has-background has-slate-100-background-color has-text-color has-theme-slate-color\">\n<div class=\" flex flex-wrap lg:flex-nowrap max-w-screen-xl mx-auto px-4 relative lg:items-center \">\n<div class=\"relative z-30 w-full \">\n<main class=\"py-4\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-3 md:my-5 lg:my-8 has-theme-slate-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Ready to succeed in real estate investing? Create a free BiggerPockets account to learn about investment strategies; ask questions and get answers from our community of +2 million members; connect with investor-friendly agents; and so much more. <\/p>\n<p><\/main>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"italic\"><b>Note By BiggerPockets:<\/b> These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/car-payments-will-prevent-you-from-making-your-first-real-estate-deal\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article You\u2019ve been listening to all the\u00a0BiggerPockets podcasts, reading the blogs, interacting on the\u00a0forums, and going to all the meetups. Every day, you\u2019re analyzing deals from the MLS and from wholesalers that you\u2019ve met. You\u2019re networking, learning, and doing all the right things, but it\u2019s just not coming together.\u00a0 You need to make [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4916,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4915"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4915\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frankbuysphilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}