WIIRE 216: Real Estate Investing With Credit Card Debt: Smart Move or Red Flag?

In this episode of the podcast, we're tackling a question many female real estate investors face: Should you invest in real estate if you have credit card debt? We share how tools like 0% APR cards can be used strategically for renovations—when you have the cash and discipline to pay them off—while explaining why it’s nearly impossible to out-invest 20–30% credit card interest. We break down key red flags, including making only minimum payments, having no emergency reserves, and relying on rental cash flow to cover interest with no plan to eliminate principal.

We walk through a few cases where investing while carrying debt might make sense, such as a conservative flip or a house hack that significantly reduces your housing costs, allowing you to attack debt faster. Lastly, we discuss using reserves, selling, or refinancing properties to pay off high-interest credit cards, and the mindset shift from avoidance to taking small, quick-win steps forward.

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