The ABC’s of DSCR loans: What every investor should know

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The ABC’s of DSCR loans: What every investor should know 

Do you need additional income for rental properties without the hassle of tons of paperwork or long processing times? Let’s take a closer look at the ABC’s of DSCR loans and how they can help. There is no need for employment history, and better yet there are only a few factors that are needed to qualify. DSCR, also known as the debt service coverage ratio, calculates whether or not a property breaks even or better yet, has a positive cash flow. These investors only loans are not only simple to apply for, but they can also be used for properties that have 1 to 4 units. Larger unit sizes can also apply, however, there are normally only a few available. DSCR loans are an excellent way for investors to get a 30-year product without worrying about how long they have been in business, their income, or even their business income. 

What three factors impact DSCR loan approval? 

1. Income from the property

The main factor that impacts an approval for a DSCR loan is income. When an investor is buying a property, the lenders will look at personal income, business income, or both. In almost all cases, lenders require two years of taxes showing a businesses income prior to approval. If you are a new investor, or like to write everything off, you will not meet the necessary requirements to apply. This is where a DSCR loan comes into play. The only thing that is taken into account, is whether or not you are going to break even with the rental property. The lenders will then look at the mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, HOA, and flood insurance to determine if you are eligible.

2. Your personal credit  

Especially in the real estate industry, your credit score plays a huge role in your success as an investor. Here at The Cash Flow Company, we see investors who struggle to pay bills on time, overuse credit cards, and don’t use enough credit. This greatly affects your personal credit scores. What can you do to get things turned around? The most important thing is to separate your personal credit from your business expenses to raise credit scores. In turn, it will allow for better rates with better terms for future investments. 

3. Loan to value

The loan to value, or LTV, is the amount of the mortgage compared to the value of the property. Most DSCR loans have a max LTV set to 80% for purchase, as well as rate and term refinances. This percentage then changes to 75% LTV for cash out refinances.  LTV’s can go 5% higher with the right factors, but investors should expect to pay a higher rate. In summary, the lower the loan to value, the less risk for the lender.

DSCR loans are incredibly helpful for investors who need additional income for rental properties. Not only are they fast and easy to apply for, but they also allow you to apply before your investment property is up and running. This is done by appraising properties in the current market and estimating the rent. In doing your research and estimating your cash flow, the sky’s the limit for success! Would you like to find out more and see if DSCR loans are right for you? Use our DSCR calculator to see the impact a DSCR loan can have on your investments.

Find out more about DSCR loans by watching our most recent video. 

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Why real estate investors need to understand escrow?

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Why real estate investors need to understand escrow?

Real estate investors need to understand escrow for their business to be successful. Escrow is a portion of the loan that a lending company puts aside for repairs on the property. As a real estate investor, you need to understand the rules and regulations of the lender in regards of Escrow, in order to save both time and money.  When investors understand escrow, and what they are responsible for, it can ease their frustration, prevent a finance wall, and establish a foundation for cash flow.

1.Understand the rules of escrow

As a real estate investor, you need to understand escrow by researching the rules and regulations for your lender. Any misunderstandings can very easily stall or even jeopardize a project. Investors also need to construct their budget beforehand, to ensure that they stay within it during the process. There is no flexibility after the amount is approved by the lender. Without the ability to expand the Escrow, any additional expenses will come out of your pocket instead.  

2.Begin repairs to receive escrow

Lenders allocate a set amount to not only purchase a property, but also to fix it up in order to get it market ready. The only way to access Escrow funds when buying a fix and flip, or an undervalued rental property, is to submit proof. These can be in the form of receipts, photos, and other documentation sent to your lender to show that repairs are underway. 

3. Optimize profits by using escrow correctly

When real estate investors understand escrow, they can optimize profits and avoid missing the market when it’s “hot.” This is achieved by taking into account all repair costs, having the money set aside to complete repairs, and completing the work quickly. Remember the longer you’re on hold, the more it will cost you, plus it will delay paying contractors. By understanding the importance of cost and timeline, it will result in a larger profit. 

So, what are the other Major Roadblocks that cause burn out, financial hemorrhaging, and unfortunately defeat? 

Watch our latest interview to discover more about the 5 Major Roadblocks

Want more information on real estate investment roadblocks or have any other questions? Contact us today!

 

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Why You Should Fix Your Credit Score for the Current Market

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If you’re stuck with a bad credit score, a 911 loan could help you fix your credit to thrive in this competitive market.

One of the most common issues of investors we talk to is low credit score.

In the real estate world, when the Fed tightens everything up (as they have done recently), credit scores become more and more important. This means that the threshold of what qualifies as a “good” credit score goes up, and it’s almost impossible to get a loan if you don’t meet that threshold.

How can you fix that quickly so it doesn’t tank your investments?

The Changing Economic Landscape

Everyone used to have options. If your credit score was a little low, it was alright; you could still find someone willing to lend to you without too much penalty.

In recent years, things have shifted.

As the Fed tightens up, there’s less money going around, meaning banks don’t have as much money to lend as they used to. 

How do they solve this problem? 

They raise the requirements for getting a loan.

Now, instead of being minorly penalized for a low credit score, some people are finding it difficult to find loans at all. And some of the loans they do find are smaller and have significantly higher rates.

Some banks may not even look at your loan application if you don’t meet their credit score requirement. Therefore, to survive in this market, you need to fix your credit score.

Understanding Your Credit Score

The 2 largest factors that make up your credit score are payments and usage.

  • Payments look at whether or not you’re paying on time. 
  • Usage looks at how much of your total possible balance you’re using each month.

For example, if your usage limit is $10,000, and you’re frequently using $7,000 of that, you have 70% usage.

Ideally, FICO wants to see you using about 20%-30% of your available credit. Any higher than that, and you become riskier for the banks.

Especially when you’re beginning as a real estate investor, it can be so easy to rack up the usage: getting supplies at Home Depot, paying contractors, etc.

It’s all-too-common to see people have $50,000 or $100,000 on maxed out credit cards.

This is where a credit 911 loan comes into play to pay down debt.

How Can I Set Myself Up to Avoid Needing a 911 Loan?

The root of this problem is almost always using personal credit cards for business-level needs. 

Getting the right business credit card in the name of your investing company has a number of benefits:

  • It won’t report to your personal credit if you pay on time.
  • They don’t penalize high usage.
  • Some business cards even reward running up a larger balance.
  • Even if your business is brand new, if you apply for a business credit card with a high personal credit score, you’ll likely be approved.

We’ve partnered with Nav to help you find a business credit card that works well with real estate investing. 

As with a personal card, you can find cards that offer perks and rewards that appeal to you. Just make sure you look for ones that 1) don’t report to your personal credit and 2) like high usage.

Our goal is to help you fix your credit score and get your business in order so that you never need a 911 loan again!

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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How to Fix a Bad Credit Score

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Your credit score is powerful. A bad score can take you from making it big to losing a lot of money.

Especially in the real estate industry, your credit score plays a huge role in the success of your investing. We see many investors (especially ones who are new to the game) struggle with some common issues:

  • Forgetting to pay bills on time
  • Overusing credit cards
  • Not using enough credit

Cultivating and maintaining a healthy score is a fine balance between creating debt and paying bills.

Why Do You Need Debt?

Without some debt, FICO doesn’t recognize you. Without debt, even if you try and calculate your score, you can only get a low one.

This isn’t helpful when you’re trying to purchase investment properties.

Essentially, debt allows your score to exist and gives it the chance to be high—you just shouldn’t have too much debt, and you need to pay your bills on time.

Consequences of a Bad Credit Score

If you end up with no debt, your credit score is likely to drop (or disappear altogether for a while). 

With a low credit score, you can expect higher interest rates on your house, car, and any other loans you hope to take out. 

This makes you lose money fast and can get in the way of your investing or even your retirement. 

Consequences of a Good Credit Score

In contrast, if you have a high credit score, you can look forward to cheaper interest rates and lower bills. 

This makes it far easier to create successful income from real estate investing.

Additionally, if you maintain a high score, you’re more likely to build positive relationships with lenders and grow your business more quickly.

What Can I Do About a Bad Credit Score?

This is where companies like us or Hard Money Mike come in.

If your score has dropped because of late payments, the best way to fix that is simply time. However, if it’s low from over-usage, you have some options!

Usage Loans

So long as you are paying your bills on time and have a small amount of debt that keeps your credit score active, you can fairly easily raise your credit score with a usage loan.

We offer emergency usage loans here at The Cash Flow Company to raise your score FAST.</span>

Business Credit Cards

If you’re using personal credit cards for business-level investing, it’s time to re-evaluate. 

Real estate investing simply requires more usage than personal credit cards are designed to reward. Business cards, on the other hand, typically like higher usage.

If this is new to you, we have many resources to help you find the right business card for you.

Next Steps

We’re always happy to walk you through the ins and outs of navigating your credit score.</span>

Having a healthy score is accessible to nearly everyone with the right coaching and tools. If you’re struggling with low credit, talk to us, and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.

As always, let us know if you have questions about credit scores, usage loans, or business credit cards. You can reach out to us at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com or fill out a contact card.

Happy investing!

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80% of Real Estate Investors fail at taking this step

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80% of Real Estate Investors fail at taking this step:

A looming problem that 70%-80% of investors are facing today, is the effect that business expenses are having on their personal credit. How can you make things easier, faster and cheaper? The answer is applying for and using business credit cards! This is a simple step that every investor should be taking to alleviate future strain on personal credit scores. In having better credit scores, it then opens the door to endless possibilities that will create wealth. Let’s look closer at how business credit cards can make your life easier both on the personal side, as well as on the business side.

1. What impacts investors’ personal credit score?

High credit scores are important for investors because it creates the leverage and funding they need to grow their business. Almost every investor runs up their personal credit card balance, by putting too many business charges on them. Thus, jeopardizing their personal credit score due to their credit utilization rate. For personal credit cards, MyFico only allows for a 20% utilization rate before it impacts your credit score. However, business credit cards do not have the same restrictions. Instead, you are able to use the entire credit limit without having to worry. In having better credit scores, it opens the door to endless possibilities that will create wealth.

2. What are the benefits of getting a business credit card?

Business credit cards are the most important thing that investors can do to ensure success. They not only provide funding, but also the leverage required to create further growth. Many investors have heard of corporate credit and have taken the steps to get started down that path. Unfortunately, this option results in years of hard work and multiple steps before any progress can be made. Business credit cards on the other hand, are quick to set up, extremely flexible, and most importantly they will not impact your credit score. Eliminate the cash crunch by separating your personal credit from your business.

3. How do low credit scores impact acceptance?

One challenge that many investors have, is that their personal credit is too low to apply for a business credit card. In this case, they need to pay down their credit card balances by using their savings, or they can take out a personal loan. How can real estate investors repair their credit score and help grow their business? By applying for a usage loan, investors can pay off credit card debt quickly and easily. This in turn allows them to qualify for fix and flip loans, DSCR loans, or other bank loans that can get the business back on track. 

4. What steps do you need to take to set up your business correctly?

The fourth and most important step is setting up your business properly. If it’s not, fix it now! In having your business set up correctly it will make it easier to access more lending options and increase your profits. How can you get on track and set up your business correctly? We are here to help by providing a 1-10 checklist for you to follow. This includes links to the Secretary of State, EIN information, and much more to help get the ball rolling. Our goal is to make it as easy and profitable as possible.

By using personal credit cards for business expenses, you are jeopardizing your credit score and endangering the success of your business. Do not join the 80% of real estate investors who fail. We can help guide you through the entire process from setting up your business correctly, to researching credit cards, and can even provide usage loans to get you back on track.

Watch our most recent video to discover more about the importance of business credit cards and how we can help guide you to success.

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How a Bank Collapse Impacts Real Estate Investors

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How a Bank Collapse Impacts Real Estate Investors

Without a doubt, banks are experiencing a significant decrease of money flowing into the lending pool. But, how does this impact investors? There are three main ways a bank collapse could impact real estate investors today. What are they? Let’s dive in and discover more!

Banks are Lending Less

Nowadays, banks are being forced to swim upstream in search of the “best of the best clients.” But what makes a perfect client? Well, it’s those who have more cash in the bank, more revenue, and higher credit scores.

Investors Book of Debt

To put it briefly, savings accounts and CD’s that were booked years ago at low percentages are experiencing a dramatic increase. What started at a monthly profit of 3% to 4%, has become a deficit of 5% to 5.25%. For this reason, investors are now upside-down on their assets.

Book of Business

Now, the notes that banks wrote 3 to 5 years ago, are now coming due. What started at 3%- 4% interest rates, has skyrocketed to 8%-10%. As you can see, lending is no longer in the forefront of banks’ minds in the traditional sense. 

How Investors are Managing the Lending Squeeze

So, what can real estate investors do? To start, they can prepare by making sure they have cash, high credit scores, and keeping up on projects. At this point and time, money and credit are going to be your keys to success. They are what will ensure you are in the game as rates continue to rise.  

Undoubtedly, there’s a bank collapse on the horizon. But as long as you’re aware of the situation and are willing to put in some work, you’ll be okay. Plus, we can guide you through a bank collapse by helping you improve your credit sores, increase your cash flow, and explore alternative lending options. Contact us today! 

Do you need more resources on how to navigate a bank collapse? Watch our most recent video to learn more!

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How to Fill Your Money Bucket For a Bad Market

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When the real estate market tightens up, you need to be prepared with leverage in your money bucket so you can take advantage of opportunities.

Once you’ve been in the business for as long as we have, you start noticing patterns. The investing world goes through cycles every few years where things tighten up before flowing normally again. 

However, a ‘bad market’ doesn’t necessarily mean bad news. 

If you’ve prepared beforehand, you can actually take advantage of the challenging landscape to build some wealth.

What is a ‘Bad Real Estate Market’?

Essentially, what’s happening right now is banks are tightening up. This means most are lending out less money, making it harder for investors to get the money they need.

This also means that, over the next 6-9 months, people are going to be getting rid of some properties and fewer people will be buying.

If this sounds like bad news, don’t worry. If you’re ready for these market changes, it can actually be the perfect time for you to buy. 

Filling Your Money Bucket

Since there’s going to be fewer loans coming out of banks, what can you do to make sure your finances are prepared for the shift in funding?

For every project, there is an amount of money that goes into it. We call it a bucket of money, or, your money bucket. 

Your money buckets needs to cover purchase, rehab, closing costs, etc. Part of that bucket comes from lenders, and part of it comes from you. 

If you’re a newer investor, don’t panic! Read on to learn how to build up that money.

Finding Money for Your Bucket

If you’re new to real estate investing, this is often the hardest part. However, there are many ways you can work to fill your bucket without needing to drain your personal bank account.

Obviously your lines of credit can be an asset to your money bucket, but Other People’s Money (OPM) is also important.

Ask around your friends, neighbors, family members, or investment clubs. Many of them could be interested in investing a few thousand dollars into a project with a secured return of 8-10%.

There are so many creative ways to help fill your money bucket from hard money, to lines of credit, to OPM. With more money in your bucket, you can do more transactions.

If you need help filling your personal bucket, reach out to us. We’ve coached many new investors through this process.

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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5 Major Roadblocks in Real Estate Investing Solutions Revealed

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5 Major Roadblocks in Real Estate Investing

Did you know there are 5 major roadblocks in real estate investing? From buying and holding rentals, to flipping properties, to dividing land, investors face numerous roadblocks that create frustration, and lead to defeat. But fear not! When investors identify these 5 roadblocks, they can ease their frustration, prevent a finance wall, and learn how to create consistent cash flow.

We work with many clients, including those who are just starting out on their real estate investment journey, to those who have become experts. Every day, our company receives numerous calls  from people saying, “I wish I would have,” or “I wish I did that too.” Therefore, we’ve  created a guide to help others skip bumps in the road that can impact their success. When you’re aware of these 5 roadblocks, do your research before embarking on your real estate journey, and reevaluate quarterly, the sky’s the limit.

So, what are the 5 Major Roadblocks that cause burn out, financial hemorrhaging, and, unfortunately, defeat? Well, here’s what you need to know to make your real estate investments successful.

5 Major Roadblocks:

1. Cash Flow 

The first roadblock that can greatly affect your success is not understanding the importance of cash flow. If your property’s expenses outweigh your profits, then that’s going to hurt you and your business. You want to make sure your profits are always greater than your expenses. The best way to avoid this roadblock is to make a plan and know your numbers upfront! Don’t dive into an investment before you know if your property will cash flow. 

2. Escrow 

The second roadblock every investor should understand is escrow. Escrow is a portion of the loan a lending company puts aside for repairs to the property. The only way to access these funds is to submit receipts, photos, and other proof to your lender that the repairs are underway. So, if you want to optimize your profits and avoid missing the market when it’s “hot,” you need to take all repair costs into consideration, make sure you have money to get the repairs started without your lender’s help, and complete repairs quickly and correctly.

3. Too Many Projects

The third roadblock is having too many projects. From multiple property costs to paying contractors, investors can get too big too fast. It is important to “err on the side of caution” to prevent the “finance crunch” that often occurs. So, slow down, be realistic, and limit your losses. 

4. Rentals

The fourth roadblock is navigating rental cash flow. The deal needs to be a positive investment not a negative one after considering all costs. These costs include rents, taxes, and insurance. In real estate investing, you cannot afford losses or simply break even. The numbers game is intense! It is vital that you are prepared and learn the ropes!

5. Personal Credit Usage

The fifth and final roadblock is the misuse of personal credit cards to cushion purchases or expenses. If you want to avoid spiraling into debt, then quickly set up your business and begin using a business credit card. Business credit cards are easy, fast, and make every investor’s life easier. 

At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is keeping personal and business expenses separate. It’s vital to a successful real estate investing.

Watch our latest interview to discover more about the 5 Major Roadblocks

 

Want more information on real estate investment roadblocks or have any other questions? Contact us today! 

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The FASTEST Way to Pay Down Debt: Credit Score 911

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If you’re stuck with a bad credit score, a 911 loan could be the perfect way to pay down debt.

One of the most common issues of investors we talk to is low credit score.

In the real estate world, when the Fed tightens everything up (as they have done recently), credit scores become more and more important. This means that the threshold of what qualifies as a “good” credit score goes up, and it’s almost impossible to get a loan if you don’t meet that threshold.

How can you fix that quickly so it doesn’t tank your investments?

The Changing Economic Landscape

Everyone used to have options. If your credit score was a little low, it was alright; you could still find someone willing to lend to you without too much penalty.

In recent years, things have shifted.

As the Fed tightens up, there’s less money going around, meaning banks don’t have as much money to lend as they used to. 

How do they solve this problem? 

They raise the requirements for getting a loan.

Now, instead of being minorly penalized for a low credit score, some people are finding it difficult to find loans at all. And some of the loans they do find are smaller and have significantly higher rates.

Some banks may not even look at your loan application if you don’t meet their credit score requirement.

Understanding Your Credit Score

The 2 largest factors that make up your credit score are payments and usage.

  • Payments look at whether or not you’re paying on time. 
  • Usage looks at how much of your total possible balance you’re using each month.

For example, if your usage limit is $10,000, and you’re frequently using $7,000 of that, you have 70% usage.

Ideally, FICO wants to see you using about 20%-30% of your available credit. Any higher than that, and you become riskier for the banks.

Especially when you’re beginning as a real estate investor, it can be so easy to rack up the usage: getting supplies at Home Depot, paying contractors, etc.

It’s all-too-common to see people have $50,000 or $100,000 on maxed out credit cards.

This is where a credit 911 loan comes into play to pay down debt.

What is a Credit Score 911 Usage Loan?

A Credit Score 911 Usage Loan is essentially a non-reporting loan that pays off all credit cards, allowing your credit score to shoot upwards.

These loans act as a fast-acting antidote to your credit score usage problems. The next time your credit report is generated, you should see significant improvement.

Essentially, it’s a quick fix for people who pay their bills on time.

Who Should Use a 911 Loan?

If your credit score is weighed down by a long history of late payments, this loan is not going to help you very effectively. 

These loans are perfect for people whose credit has been plagued by high usage, who need to fix their credit score FAST.

In short, here’s what you should know about a 911 Usage Loan:

  1. It’s used to pay down debt that’s accumulated through usage issues, not late payments.
  2. We’re an asset-based lender, so make sure you have some real estate to secure your loan.
  3. You need an exit strategy. We want to make sure you have a way of paying that loan back.

Real estate investing is a fast-moving business, and it’s important to have a quick solution for an issue that could otherwise cost you thousands of dollars in higher payments or declined deals. 

How Long Before it Pays Down my Debt?

We call this a “Credit Score 911” because we understand that a low credit score can be an emergency need.

It can take as little as 2 weeks (or up to 30 days) to get this loan and see results in your credit score. The timing depends simply on when your credit cards report and when your statements come out.

You still owe the money, but now you owe it to a non-reporting entity.

Although it can be daunting to take out an unexpected usage loan, a delay of a month is far better than a long term delay where you can’t refinance or buy.

How Can I Set Myself Up to Avoid Needing a 911 Loan?

The root of this problem is almost always using personal credit cards for business-level needs. 

Getting the right business credit card in the name of your investing company has a number of benefits:

  • It won’t report to your personal credit if you pay on time.
  • They don’t penalize high usage.
  • Some business cards even reward running up a larger balance.
  • Even if your business is brand new, if you apply for a business credit card with a high personal credit score, you’ll likely be approved.

We’ve partnered with Nav to help you find a business credit card that works well with real estate investing. 

As with a personal card, you can find cards that offer perks and rewards that appeal to you. Just make sure you look for ones that 1) don’t report to your personal credit and 2) like high usage.

Our goal is to help you fix your credit score and get your business in order so that you never need a 911 loan again!

Next Steps

If you’re wondering if a Credit Score 911 loan is right for you, what steps should you take?

  1. Look at sites like Credit Karma or TransUnion. See where your score is at, and run simulators to see what would happen if you paid off certain credit cards.
  2. Consider the qualifications for a 911 loan. Are you paying on time? Do you need to fix the problem quickly?
  3. Draft a plan to pay off a credit score loan. Especially if timing is important, having your exit strategy ready helps us get that money to you more quickly.

Remember, you still need to pay everything on time. We’re just here to help people who have fallen into the trap of using personal credit cards for business purposes in this competitive environment.

If you’re ready to take the next steps or have questions, reach out to us at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com. 

We’re always happy to talk you through a 911 loan, how it can pay down debt, and how you can set up your business to avoid this problem in the future.

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How Does Credit Score Impact DSCR Loans?

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What do you need to know about your DSCR loans so your investing is easy, lucrative, fun, and fast?

DSCRs are investor-friendly loans. Banks calculate these loans based on the break-even point between the income of the property (rents) and the payments for that property (taxes, insurance, HOA, etc.). 

Let’s look at an example to see how credit score can impact your DSCR loans:

Once you subtract your expenses from the monthly rent, you’re left with $2,100. This means that, in order to maintain a DSCR ratio of 1 (the minimum to break even), you need a loan that has monthly payments of $2,100 or lower.

In the following example, Investor 1 has maintained a high credit score while Investor 2 has dipped below most banks’ minimum requirements.

In the two examples above, everything is the same except for the credit scores, and the effect is significant. Investor 2 can’t get a loan to refinance, and they’re either going to have to sell the property or keep their original loan for far longer than they wanted. 

Regardless, the person with the higher score is able to move through the investing process easily, lucratively, and quickly.

A bad credit score can tank your leverage and sabotage your investing by creating unnecessary roadblocks for your projects. 

In summary, leverage is king, and credit scores are an important piece of your leverage.

A good credit score makes it easier for you to qualify for and refinance your DSCRs. They can also help you put less money down on a property and increase your cash flow. 

Take care of your money buckets and credit score on the front end so you can succeed when deals come your way.

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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