Student Loans? You Can Still Invest in Real Estate

If you’re in your 20s to 50s and thinking about investing in real estate or buying your first home in San Francisco, Redding, or nearby neighborhoods, chances are you’ve had this thought:
“I still have student loans—does that mean I can’t buy property yet?”

Here’s the truth: student debt doesn’t have to delay your entry into the real estate market. In fact, many buyers—especially first-timers—are in the same boat, and they’re still moving forward with smart, long-term investments in real estate.

You Can Buy Property With Student Loans

Let’s clear this up. According to the National Association of Realtors, 1 in 3 first-time buyers had student loan debt. And many of them still secured mortgages, closed deals, and started building wealth through real estate.
So if you’ve been thinking, “I should wait until my student loans are paid off,” take a pause. You may not need to wait.

Lenders look at your overall financial picture—not just your student loans. That includes your income, credit score, and debt-to-income ratio. If those numbers are in good shape, your student loans likely won’t block you from qualifying.

As Chase puts it:

"Student loans usually don’t affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage any differently than credit cards or auto loans.”

Why It Matters—Especially Now

In high-demand areas like San Francisco, housing prices continue to rise, while Redding offers relatively more affordable opportunities with strong growth potential. If you’re waiting until your loans are gone to buy, you could be missing out on equity gains and compounding value over time.

Real estate is one of the most powerful tools for long-term wealth building. Whether you're eyeing a luxury condo, a fix-and-flip in an up-and-coming neighborhood, or a multi-unit investment property, the sooner you get in the market, the more time your asset has to appreciate.

And if you're already in the construction field or have a background in management or real estate development, there’s an even greater advantage: you can leverage your knowledge to improve, manage, or add value to your property, even while still carrying student debt.

Bottom Line

Your student loans don’t have to hold you back from homeownership or real estate investing.
Instead of assuming it’s out of reach, speak with a local lender or reach out to me—I’ll help you connect with professionals who can break down your options clearly.

You might be closer to your first—or next—real estate purchase than you think.