Loan or Partnership? The Smarter Way to Fund a Rental Property Down Payment

🎧 Loan or Partnership? The Smarter Way to Fund a Rental Property Down Payment What should you do when you find a strong rental property deal but do not have enough money for the full down payment? In today's episode of the Canadian Real Estate Investing Morning Show, Wayne and Gabby answer a listener's question about using a friend's money to complete a real estate purchase. Should the money be structured as a loan with interest, or should the investor bring the friend into the deal as a joint venture partner? Wayne breaks down the questions that need to be answered before choosing either option, including how the loan would be secured, whether the payments are sustainable, how the lender would be repaid, whether the mortgage lender permits borrowed down-payment funds, and how the responsibilities and profits would be divided in a partnership. They also explain why borrowing the down payment can quickly eliminate the cash flow from an otherwise profitable rental property—and why a properly structured partnership may offer a safer path to growing a larger portfolio. 🧠 What You'll Learn The difference between borrowing down-payment money and forming a partnership Why the most profitable-looking option may not be the safest How a private loan should be secured What collateral may protect the person lending the money Why the interest cost must be included in the property's cash-flow analysis How monthly loan payments can increase investment risk Why every borrowed down payment needs a clear repayment strategy Whether banks allow borrowed funds to be used for a down payment Why lenders need to know the source of the investor's funds How long-term partnerships differ from short-term loans Why trust is essential when partnering with a friend How responsibilities and decision-making authority should be divided Why detailed joint venture agreements are necessary What both partners should understand before going on a mortgage together Why loans may work better for short-term value-add projects Why partnerships are often safer for long-term buy-and-hold properties How joint ventures can help investors scale beyond one property 📊 The Cash-Flow Example Wayne uses a simplified example of a $200,000 Edmonton townhouse requiring a $40,000 down payment. If the property produces approximately $500 per month in cash flow, but the investor borrows the $40,000 at 15% annual interest, the interest payment would also be approximately $500 per month. That means the property's entire cash flow could be consumed by the cost of borrowing the down payment—before accounting for repairs, vacancies or unexpected expenses. 👥 About Your Hosts Wayne and Gabby Hillier are Canadian real estate investors, entrepreneurs and real estate investing coaches based in Edmonton, Alberta. They have used joint venture partnerships for more than a decade to grow their rental property portfolio. Through REI Masters and the Canadian Real Estate Investing Morning Show, they help investors analyze deals, structure partnerships, reduce risk and build sustainable real estate businesses. 💡 Resources & Contact Want to be coached personally by Wayne and Gabby? Join the REI Masters Mentorship Program: 🌐 www.reimasters.ca Book a one-on-one coaching call, explore courses or learn more about joint venture investing: 🌐 www.reimasters.ca Learn how to measure rental property cash flow with Wayne's book: The 5% Rule™: A Cash Flow Test for Canadian Real Estate Investors Available on Amazon. Have a real estate investing question you would like answered on the show? 📧 [email protected] The Canadian Real Estate Investing Morning Show broadcasts live every weekday morning on YouTube. 📅 Upcoming Events Edmonton Garden Suites 101 Edmonton, Alberta July 25, 2026 www.reimasters.ca/edmontongardensuites101 REI Masters Edmonton Real Estate Investing Bus Tour August 22, 2026 www.reimasters.ca/edmontonbustour 🤝 Sponsors Calvin Realty – Edmonton Investor-Focused Realtor Team 🌐 www.calvinrealty.ca Finngo Bookkeeping & Tax Specialized bookkeeping and tax services for Canadian real estate investors. 🌐 www.finngo.com/rei Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group Investor-focused mortgage planning for Canadian real estate investors. 🌐 www.kbmortgages.ca 📧 [email protected]