How an investor used his rental property to buy BTC

Lately, I’ve been hearing from more clients who got into crypto just a few years ago—not the early adopters, but investors who’ve watched their Bitcoin positions grow and are now looking for ways to make those gains work harder.

That was exactly the case with a client I worked with recently, a real estate investor who had spent years building a strong portfolio of rental properties and fix-and-flips. He and his wife, a financial accountant, had always favored tangible investments. They liked seeing where their money was—on the ground, in property. But after a successful flip ended in a bidding war, they had extra liquidity and, with some encouragement, used part of it to buy BTC.

Fast-forward a few years, and their crypto had grown. They weren’t looking to sell off any properties, but they were interested in buying more Bitcoin. That’s when they started searching for lending options that wouldn’t force them to give anything up—and found Milo.

Identifying the opportunity

When we spoke, it was clear he was open-minded but cautious. They were newer to crypto, optimistic about its potential but still feeling it out. What made the conversation easy was the common ground: real estate. As we reviewed his portfolio, we saw a clear opportunity with one of his rental properties in Houston, Texas. It was valued at $650,000, and he only had $125,000 left on the mortgage.

We structured a cash-out refinance that let him pull $250,000 out of the property. That put him at 58% loan-to-value (LTV)—a conservative position that gave him room to move without overextending. For context, LTV is the ratio between the loan amount and the appraised property value. In this case, $375,000 on a $650,000 property.

A better experience than a traditional lender

He could have gone to a traditional lender for the refinance, but he chose to work with us because we brought something more complete to the table. We understand real estate inside and out, and we’re equally well-versed in crypto. That gave him confidence. This wasn’t just about doing a refi and parting ways.

With Milo, he got a full-circle solution. We helped him unlock equity from the property, and instead of simply pocketing the cash, he used it to invest in BTC. Then, once that BTC was in place, we helped him leverage it through a crypto-backed loan, without having to sell it or give up the upside.

The best part? That crypto loan gave him the liquidity to act fast when a waterfront foreclosure in North Florida hit the market. Because his BTC was already in place and loan-ready, he moved quickly, paid cash, and started renovations. It’s now his next flip.

Effectively, he used the same $250,000 twice—first to grow his crypto holdings, then to acquire another property. He didn’t have to choose between the two. He just needed a lending partner who could help him connect the dots.

What this means for the next wave of investors

This client’s story is becoming more common. We're seeing a growing wave of investors who started buying crypto in the past five years and are now at the point where they want to make it work alongside their real estate goals. They’re not just in it for the long hold—they want to use what they’ve built to build more.

That’s where we come in. Our team understands how to structure loans that don’t force tradeoffs. We help clients keep their property, keep their crypto, and still take the next step.

This isn’t just about unlocking funds. It’s about unlocking possibilities.

Ready to make your crypto count? Explore how Milo can help you qualify for a mortgage without selling your Bitcoin or Ethereum. Keep control of your assets and unlock new opportunities in real estate. Get started by booking a call today.

The opinions expressed in the Blog are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security or investment product.