I’m over $1 MILLION in Debt (Lessons of Leverage in Business and Real Estate)

I’m over $1 MILLION dollars in debt, and here’s why this is actually a GOOD thing and how you can leverage debt can make you more money. Enjoy! Add me on Snapchat/Instagram: GPStephan

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So here’s why I’m a million dollars in debt - there’s a big difference between good debt and bad debt. The reality is that almost every successful business, at some point, needs leverage if it’s to grow exponentially…especially in real estate…and how you manage debt could either make or ruin you. Think of debt a like fire. Fire could give you warmth, cook your food, bring you light…or it could burn you. Debt is very similar.

I grew up in a family that was wrecked by debt…I grew up thinking debt was awful and that credit cards were the worst thing ever. But as I began to associate with people who were just insanely wealthy, I realized…these were people who weren’t afraid of debt. They embraced it and worked the system to their advantage.

Bad debt: This is when borrow money to buy stupid things that depreciate in value and doesn’t make you money. I shouldn’t even need to explain it because this is pretty self explanatory.

Good debt is money that you borrow to make you more money. Good debt is used as a tool to increase your cash flow by borrowing money at a cheaper rate than your money makes you. And right now, we’re at the end of an opportunity of borrowing cheap money - that’s why I’m trying to grab as much as I can while rates are still overall relatively low.

This is why I’m over a million dollars in debt…I have one 30-year loan at 3.375% interest rate, and another one at 4.5% interest rate…my investments make way more than this, and I’m able to profit the difference. It allows me to invest way more long term and increase my cash flow. This is also why there’s absolutely no reason for me to pay this down early…I can pretty much invest my money anywhere and get higher than a 4.5% return, so it makes sense to invest my money than pay down low-interest, tax deductible debt.

So what does this mean for YOU and how can this help YOU?

Knowing the difference between good and bad debt will help you evaluate what you can do to maximize your profits and the amount of money you make. If you’re borrowing $10,000 at a 5% interest rate, but your money is making you 10% elsewhere…that’s a no brainer. Borrow the money, make 10%, pay 5% in interest, and you’ve just got a “Free” 5% without using your own money. This is basic real estate 101, but it also applies to just about any business.

The tricky part, from my perspective, is when you start borrowing money in the 6%+ bracket. The higher your interest rate, the tighter the margins, and the more closely you need to evaluate if it’s worth it. If you’re borrowing in the higher tiers, you need to be absolutely sure you’ll be making a higher return and that it’s sustainable…at a certain point, it becomes more advantageous to pay down debt than re-invest. If I had an 8% loan, you bet I’d be aggressively paying that down as much as I can…but a 3.375% loan like I have on one of my homes? Nope. Keep it forever.

So if you get to the point where you need to grow your business or if you decide to invest in real estate, know that debt CAN be good when managed appropriately…it’s a little like playing with fire, as I mentioned earlier. Used appropriately, it’s great…and it’s how I’ve been able to get some pretty good returns in real estate.

So don’t be afraid of debt, but manage it carefully and consider what your money is really worth!

For business inquiries or one-on-one real estate investing/real estate agent consulting or coaching, you can reach me at GrahamStephanBusiness@gmail.com

Suggested reading:

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent

Your money or your life

The Millionaire Real Estate Investor

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Think and grow rich

Awaken the giant within

The Book on Rental Property Investing

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