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The Daily Insight

Can you sell rental property and use proceeds to pay mortgage?

Author

John Thompson

Published Feb 23, 2026

The proceeds from the sale can be used to pay of the mortgage – but the occupancy rule applies. May 31, 2019 5:48 PM Can I sell the rental property and use the proceeds to pay off the mortgage on my primary residence without paying capital gains tax? No. The two events are not related.

What kind of tax do you pay when you sell a rental property?

The most significant sum you need to consider when you sell a rental property is capital gains tax, also known as CGT. Capital gains tax is a charge you pay when your rental property sells for a profit. The amount of tax you pay will depend on three main factors: ● Your income bracket

What’s the ROI on paying off a rental property?

If you are averaging a 4 percent return on your other investments then paying off your rental property mortgage will ensure a 2 percent increase in ROI. Keep in mind while you are running these numbers that comparing a potential rate of return on a fixed-rate mortgage is a lot more accurate, because it doesn’t change.

Who are the landlords that have to sell their properties?

Marilyn Blackburn, a landlord in Washington state for 20 years, has decided to sell her nine rental properties as soon as she can. Washington State Landlord Marilyn Blackburn. “It’s been six months with these tenants and we’ve lost, I think I’m out about $12,000 so far just in the rents,” said Blackburn.

How to calculate your profit when selling your rental property?

Based on the improved value of the property, net $125,000 in land value (which is not depreciable per IRS guidelines), and a 27.5-year schedule, you claimed $100,063 in depreciation expense over four years. Deducting this from the adjusted basis of $817,500 gives a net of $717,437.

When to invest proceeds from sale of rental property?

If you aren’t ready to immediately invest in another home, sale proceeds are placed into an escrow account until you line up another property. The IRS gives you 45 days to find the property and six months to close the deal.

What happens when you pay off your mortgage on a rental property?

The most basic problem with paying off the mortgage on a rental property early is that it requires capital to do it. In fact, it usually requires a lot of it. Once you pay off the mortgage, you lose access to that cash. It represents capital that can be used to purchase other rental properties.

Which is better to pay off a primary home or a rental property?

I think that in most people’s minds, there’s a difference in priority regarding the decision to pay off a mortgage on a primary residence or a rental property. There may be more urgency to pay off a primary residence than an investment property, simply based on reducing monthly expenses.

Where can I get a mortgage for a rental property?

Typically, government-backed loans – U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs loans – require the property being purchased to be a primary residence, says Jason Larkins, branch manager and loan officer at United Fidelity Funding Corp. in Scarborough, Maine.

What do you need to know about buy to let mortgages?

A buy-to-let mortgage is a mortgage sold specifically to people who buy property as an investment, rather than as a place to live. If you plan to rent out a new property, most lenders will prefer you not to finance your purchase with a standard residential mortgage. Who are buy-to-let mortgages for?

What’s the interest rate on a mortgage for a rental property?

The principal and interest payments come to $1,249 a month, and over the life of the loan, you’ll pay nearly $200,000 in interest. Now, say you want to borrow that same amount for a rental property, but your rate is set at 4.88% now.