Covering the Mortgage: Borrowing for That First Investment Property

In April 2025, 32-year-old Sarah Martinez believed she had found the perfect property for her first investment in real estate. The six-unit apartment building at 701 Limit Avenue was within walking distance of Washington University in St. Louis and therefore promised to have steady demand from graduate students and young professionals. Further, with an asking price of $1.15 million, it was well within her price range. If the property could generate enough cash flow to cover the expected mortgage payment, it would be an essentially free way to build wealth for her future.