Investment and rental property mortgage rates: How much more will you pay?

Investment and rental property mortgage rates are above 'standard' rates

Investment and rental properties can make you a lot of money.

If you buy an investment property at the right price, and finance it correctly, it can create cash flow for you almost immediately.

But getting an ultra-cheap mortgage rate on a rental or investment property is tougher than for a primary residence. That’s because lenders charge more for “non-owner occupied” transactions — loanspeak for a property you don’t plan to live in.

Despite higher rates, investing in real estate is often a good idea long-term. Here’s how much you can expect to pay now to finance that future cash flow.

In this article (Skip to...)

• How much higher are investment property rates?
• The math behind investment property loan rates
• What are current interest rates?
• What affects my rate?
• Three ways to get a lower mortgage rate
• Types of rental property mortgages
• Investment property FAQ

How much higher are mortgage rates for investment properties?

Mortgage interest rates will always be higher on investment properties than on your primary residence.

How much higher? Technically, the answer to that question depends on the type of investment property, your credit-worthiness, and your down payment.

But as a rule of thumb, you can expect the interest rate on your investment property to be at least 0.50% to 0.75% higher than the rate on your primary mortgage.

As a rule of thumb, you can expect the interest rate on your investment property to be at least 0.50% to 0.75% higher than the rate on your primary mortgage.

For example, today’s live 30-year fixed rate as of November 23, 2024 is % (% APR) for a primary residence, buyers can expect interest rates to start around % to % ( - % APR).

Lenders add this upcharge because they consider a rental or investment property mortgage to be a riskier loan product.

Mortgage borrowers tend to bail on rental properties before they’d bail on their primary residence if the going gets tough. Thus, these loans are more likely to default during hard economic times.

Research has shown that even “good” homeowners tend to stop paying their rental property mortgages if that residence becomes a bad investment. Lenders know that when you think of property as a business, you’re less attached to it.

To protect themselves against the extra risk that comes with investment property financing, lenders charge a higher interest rate and have stricter qualification rules for borrowers.

That makes it extra important to shop around and make sure you’re getting a fair mortgage rate on your investment property before you buy.

The math behind investment and rental property loan rates

Behind the scenes, the rate your mortgage lender charges isn’t totally up to the lender. Property lenders often adjust rates to meet rules set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Fannie and Freddie set rules and fees for most mortgages today — and the fees they charge directly affect the final interest rate you pay.

Thanks to the increased risk of purchasing or refinancing investment properties, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge higher fees on those transactions. Their fees trickle down to you as a higher interest rate.

Rates shown here are a sample set meant for comparison only. Your own rates will vary. Get a personalized investment property interest rate here

For instance, a 20-percent-down investment property loan would require a fee equal to 3.375% of the loan amount.

This is the same as $3,375 for each $100,000 borrowed.

In most cases, the borrower chooses to pay a higher interest rate instead of extra dollars in closing costs. So, how do these fees translate to your final rate?

In this case, 3.375% in investment property loan fees can be covered by an extra 0.5% to 0.75% added to the rate.

Keep in mind this is for a single-family home. Buy a duplex and you might pay another 1.0% in fees or 0.125% to 0.250% added to your rate.

What are current investment property mortgage rates? 

Investment property rates are usually at least 0.5% to 0.75% higher than standard rates.

So at today’s average rate of % (% APR) for a primary residence, buyers can expect interest rates to start around % to % ( - % APR) for a single-unit investment property.

Note, today’s average rates are based on a “prime” borrower profile, with a credit score of 740 and 30 percent down payment.

If you have lower credit or a smaller down payment, your interest rate will likely be higher than what you see advertised.

That’s why average rates should be used as a benchmark only.

Your own investment property rate will be different, so be sure to compare quotes from a few lenders and find the best deal for you.

What affects my investment property interest rate?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines aren’t the only things that affect your investment property mortgage rate. All the personal factors that determine mortgage rates are in play, too.

That includes:

• Your credit score
• Your debt-to-income ratio
• Your cash reserves
• Loan-to-value ratio on the investment property

In fact, your personal finances — including your credit report and possibly your tax returns — will be put under even stricter scrutiny when you buy an investment or rental property than when you buy a home to live in.

It will take a more robust financial profile to qualify for your investment mortgage — and to score a competitive rate on top of that.

Investment property loans require larger down payments

Most rental property buyers will finance their homes via conventional loans. Following are down payment requirements to buy a rental property.

A down payment of 15 to 25 percent is a considerable amount, especially compared to the 3 percent you could put down on a conventional mortgage for a primary residence — or the 0 percent down payment for homebuyers qualifying for the USDA or VA mortgage loan programs.

Bigger down payment requirements are just another way lenders protect themselves against risk when writing loans for real estate investing.

Investment property credit score requirements

When you finance an investment property, lenders generally want to see a better credit score than they do for primary residence buyers.

For instance, Fannie Mae borrowers putting at least 25 percent down could get approved with a 620 FICO score for a primary home. That minimum credit score increases to 640 for a rental.

If you don’t have great credit, you can try an FHA loan whose underwriting is much more lenient.

FHA loans are available for homes with up to four units, and credit score requirements start at 580. The catch? You must live in one of the units, so the building is still technically a ‘primary residence.’

Other guidelines for rental and investment property loans

When you apply to buy a rental property, underwriters will check out your ability as a potential landlord. If you’ve never owned a home or managed any property, you’ll have a tougher time.

Some lenders allow first-time real estate investors to get around this by hiring a property manager. There is nothing definitive about this in the official guidelines so check with your loan officer.

There are limits to the number of properties you can own with mortgages on them, if you go with conforming (Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) financing.

And you’ll be required to have reserves — several months of mortgage payments — in the bank to cover those months when your property is unoccupied.

Three ways to get a lower mortgage rate for your investment property

It’s hard to escape high interest rates on investment real estate. But there are ways to make sure you get the best deal possible.

1. Make a bigger down payment

The surest way to get a lower interest rate on your investment property is to make a bigger down payment. Much of the added cost goes away if you can put at least 20 percent down.

It might be worth borrowing against the equity in your current home to increase your rental’s down payment. Or buying a cheaper house. Or finding a foreclosure you can buy at below market value.

You could even consider — if this is a VERY good investment — borrowing against your 401(k).

2. Improve your credit score

Most rental property buyers will finance the purchase with a conventional loan (more on investment property loan types below).

Rates for these types of investment loans are ultra-sensitive to credit score. Following is an example of a buyer with a 650 score compared to a 720-score buyer.

Because of the lower monthly payments, the buyer with the better credit score could afford to offer tenants a better rental price.

This real estate investor could also use the lower monthly payment to create more cash flow.

3. Shop around

Studies have shown that an average home buyer can save around $90 per month on their mortgage simply by comparing rates from a few different lenders. And for an investment property, where rates (and stakes) are higher, savings could be even bigger.

We recommend comparing rates from a minimum of three lenders before choosing one to finance your investment property.

Types of rental property mortgages

When purchasing investment property, you have access to many of the same property financing options as people buying their primary homes. They just cost more and are a bit harder to get.

Conventional loans

You can use a standard conventional (a.k.a. “conforming”) loan for an investment property. The minimum down payment is 15%, but 20% is recommended to avoid mortgage insurance.

Government-backed loans

You can buy an investment property with an FHA or VA loan loan IF you choose a multi-unit (2-4 unit) property and live in one of the units. These come with minimum down payments as low as 3.5% for FHA and 0% for the VA loan (when you meet eligible military service requirements).

Portfolio loans

Portfolio lenders can make up their own investment property loan rules. You may be able to put less down or finance more properties with these programs, but you should expect higher interest rates.

Hard money loans

Hard money lenders charge high interest rates and steep fees, but these short-term loans could help when you’ve found a great investment opportunity and need the money fast.

Speed of financing is one of the only reasons to consider a hard money loan. Most real estate investors can find better financing options with another loan type.

Commercial loans

Finally, for those who want to borrow solely against the income of the property, or buy projects with more than four units, there are commercial residential loans. They can be expensive and complex to set up.

You will probably have to establish a single asset bankruptcy remote entity, which prevents property owners from siphoning off the rental income without paying the mortgage.

Alternative investment property financing

Your seller may be happy to have an income stream from you without the hassles of being a landlord. Seller financing can be cheaper than banks or brokers.

The seller may be more interested in unloading the property than in profiting from your mortgage. But make sure you get the home appraised and inspected before buying!

Alternatively, there are lenders that specialize in financing commercial residential property — from homes to apartment buildings.

As long as the property income is sufficient to cover the mortgage and other expenses, they may finance you for less.

Investment and rental property mortgage FAQ

What are today’s investment property rates?

Mortgage rates for investment properties are higher than those for primary residences because they are viewed as higher risk.

Still, rental properties are usually a great investment in the long run, and a slightly higher rate might not matter much when compared to the returns you’ll see on the property.

Every applicant is different. The best way to get your current investment property mortgage rate is to get quotes from multiple lenders and make them compete.

Rates change all the time, so contacting lenders online is the quickest way to get a fist full of rates to compare.