Following the Fed’s rate cut decision can become an obsession. Will they, won’t they? Should you wait a bit longer for rates to come down?
This is understandable when you are a regular buyer. After all, even a small rate cut can translate into significant savings on your mortgage payments. When you are an investor, however, you need to think differently.
Beyond rate cuts: how to improve cash flow
Remember that, ultimately, your tenants are paying your mortgage, including interest. They’re the ones generating your passive income. The other is that there are other ways to improve cash flow; refinancing is just one of them, and rate-only refinancing is not the only option. You can, for example, use the equity you have in your existing investments to purchase another investment and consolidate or cancel out any expensive debts you may have. Cash-out refinancing, as it’s known, can be highly beneficial to an investor, provided you use the cash wisely.
Always diversify
The other thing to remember is that a real estate investment is a long-term investment type. Short-term fluctuations in interest are less important than your long-term strategy and your ability to diversify. Instead of fixating on rates, your energy could be better spent looking at new real estate types or alternative investment options in case rates rise again. Do more research if necessary. For example, could you get better returns by investing in a vacation rental? Why not look into fractional real estate platforms like Ark7 for a lower-cost alternative to traditional real estate investing?
Or, if you are losing money due to high tenant turnover, what can you do to improve tenant retention? And if higher interest rates become a reality, do you have backup investment channels, like stock, that will compensate for the losses from real estate? A wise investor always has fingers in proverbial pies. Recommended: What is fractional real estate?
Pay attention to the wider economy, not just rates
Finally, as the past several months have proved, mortgage rates do not always rise and fall with the Fed’s decisions. The key interest rate is only one factor that lenders consider when setting their rates. They also consider the economy’s overall performance when deciding how risky it is to lend. The economic outlook at this point is very uncertain.
This doesn’t mean we’re about to experience an economic collapse or recession, but we don’t know what will happen to inflation or employment. This atmosphere of uncertainty keeps mortgage rates elevated, and we’ll likely see this effect well into next year. While the overall projection is that mortgage rates will continue to fall gradually throughout 2025, this is not guaranteed.
So, make your real estate investing decision based on your individual circumstances. Does the math work out with the rates where they currently are? If yes, then there’s no point waiting.
Final Thoughts
While rate cuts can help investors improve their cash flows, they’re not the only or even the main thing you should be focusing on. Consider diversifying your real estate investing portfolio with different property types and strategies. For example, explore fractional real estate platforms and apps like Ark7. Additionally, research wealth management options beyond real estate to better insulate yourself from the impact of interest rate fluctuations.
