DSCR Loan – Is It Right For Your Real Estate Investment?

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DSCR Loan – Is It Right For Your Real Estate Investment?

What is a DSCR Loan?

A DSCR loan stands for Debt Service Coverage Ratio loan and is an excellent loan for real estate investment. It’s designed specifically for real estate investors. This type of loan helps you buy rental properties, whether they are long-term or short-term rentals. It’s not for flips or homes you plan to live in.

Why Choose a DSCR Loan?

Choosing a DSCR loan can be a smart move for several reasons:

  1. Easy Qualification: You don’t need to worry about how long you’ve been in business or your personal income. Even if you started your business yesterday, you could qualify.
  2. Focus on Property Income: The loan qualification is based on the income generated by the property, not your personal income.
  3. 30-Year Loan Options: You get a good 30-year loan product, which can provide stability and predictability.

How Does a DSCR Loan Work?

The key to a DSCR loan is that it focuses on the property’s ability to generate enough income to cover its expenses. Here’s how it works:

  1. Property Income: The income from the rental property should at least cover the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and any HOA or flood insurance fees.
  2. Credit Score: Your personal credit score is important. The higher your score, the better the terms and rates.
  3. Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV): This is the amount of the loan compared to the property’s value. Lower LTV means less risk for lenders and better terms for you.

Who Can Benefit from a DSCR Loan?

DSCR loans are perfect for:

  • New Investors: If you’ve just started your real estate investment journey, you can qualify even without a long business history.
  • Tax Savvy Investors: If you write off a lot of expenses on your taxes, which can reduce your reported income, this loan can still work for you.
  • Expanding Portfolios: Investors looking to add more rental properties can benefit from the flexible qualification criteria.

Example

Imagine you are an investor who just started a year ago. You found a great rental property, but traditional lenders won’t approve your loan because you don’t have two years of business income. A DSCR loan can help. As long as the rental income covers the mortgage and other expenses, you can get the loan and grow your investment portfolio.

Important Considerations

Before jumping into a DSCR loan, consider these factors:

  1. Prepayment Penalties: These loans often come with penalties if you pay them off early. Make sure to understand these terms before committing.
  2. Higher Interest Rates: DSCR loans can have slightly higher interest rates compared to traditional loans. This is because they are easier to qualify for.
  3. Not for Flips or Personal Use: These loans are strictly for rental properties, not for homes you plan to flip or live in.

Is a DSCR Loan Right for You?

If you’re a real estate investor looking for a flexible loan option that doesn’t rely heavily on your personal income, a DSCR loan could be the perfect fit. It’s especially useful if you’re new to the business or if you maximize your tax deductions. Always run the numbers and shop around for the best terms.

Get Started with a DSCR Loan Today

A DSCR loan is an excellent loan for real estate investors. Is it right for your investment needs? Contact us at The Cash Flow Company. We have the tools and expertise to help you understand your options and find the best loan for your needs.

Watch our most recent video to find out more about: DSCR Loan – Is It Right For Your Real Estate Investment?

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Business Credit vs. Personal Credit: What’s Better?

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The struggle of business credit vs. personal credit cards is the #1 thing slowing real estate investors down.

Especially in the beginning, it’s tempting to use personal credit cards to kickstart your investing adventures.

However, the use of personal credit cards on investment projects can ultimately cause significant harm to your dreams of building wealth.

The Risk of Personal Credit Cards

Using personal credit cards for the type of large-scale spending necessary in real estate investing drives up usage. 

Your credit score is calculated based on two factors: funds available and usage. High usage tanks your credit score fast. A low score can significantly damage terms of loans and your overall ability to grow your investment business. 

A Better Alternative

In order to protect your credit score, consider switching your investment spending to a business credit card.

This separates your investment usage from that personal credit score. 

Additionally, since these cards don’t penalize high usage, you can run up the balance as long as you pay it off on time. In fact, consistently high usage and good payment history can even result in the bank raising your spending limits on that business card.

Getting a business credit card is easy, and with this simple change, your personal credit score is protected. If you have a good score, lenders can confidently offer better rates and terms which will save you a lot of money in the long run.

What to Look for in a Business Credit Card 

Here’s the good news: shopping for a business credit card isn’t all that different from looking for a personal one!

  • Look for 0% interest and benefits the same as you would on a personal card.
  • Make sure you know whether or not that card will report. To protect your credit score, you’ll want to find one that doesn’t.
  • Remember: You still need to pay your bills on time. Many business cards will start reporting if you have late or missed payments.

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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Investing in Rental Properties: DSCR Loans

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If you’re new to investing in rental properties, understanding how DSCR loans work is essential.

In the investment world, rental properties are a great source of wealth. The financial potential in fixing up places to then rent out is a very lucrative model, especially in the current housing economy.

What is a DSCR Loan?

DSCR loans are specifically designed for real estate investors who hold rental properties. 

The acronym literally stands for Debt-Service Coverage Ratio which is a fancy way of saying that the loan cares about the cash flow of a property.

The great news, especially for new investors, is that accessing these loans is less dependent on personal or business income. Even if you’ve just begun a new business, qualification for DSCR depends almost entirely on the potential value and expenses of the rental property itself. 

What is a DSCR Ratio?

The DSCR ratio is a simple calculation that compares income to expenses—the cash flowing in vs. the cash flowing out—on a single property.

Essentially, a DSCR ratio of 1 simply means that the income and expenses equal each other.

The DSCR ratio measures the break-even point of your investment. So long as you bring in the same amount of money as you invest, you won’t lose anything.

However, a DSCR ratio of higher-than-1 is even better. A higher ratio means that you’re bringing in more money than you’re spending—generating cash flow and building wealth.

Use Our DSCR Loan Calculator

To help you find your projected rents, expenses, and ratio, you can use our DSCR loan calculator. It’s a free, user-friendly download that will help you estimate your DSCR ratio to see if your investment property is going to break even.

Once you have an estimate for your ratio, it’s time to start looking for loans. 

Finding a DSCR Loan

Banks typically like to see ratios of 1 or higher. 

However, if you’re investing in rental properties that might not break even, you can often still find a loan, but you might be stuck with higher rates.

You can also check out our website and inquire about the DSCR options we offer. 

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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3 Ways to Quickly Increase Your Credit Score and Get Better Financing.

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3 Ways to Quickly Increase Your Credit Score

3 Ways to Quickly Increase Your Credit Score and Get Better Financing.

I don’t know of any other business that is more dependent on financing than real estate investing.

We create wealth by using leverage (aka, by borrowing most of the funds needed to purchase properties).

In today’s financial world, credit scores matter more than ever. The higher the credit score the better the lending options.

3 Ways to Quickly Increase Your Credit Score

Usage makes up 30% of your credit score. With investors tapping into their personal credit cards to keep their business growing, usage creates funding issues.

Here are 3 ways to lower your usage and increase your credit score in weeks, not months:

  1. Obtain a private non-reporting usage loan to pay off all or part of your credit card balances.
  2. Have friends, family members, or a service add you as an authorized user to one or several open credit card accounts. Make sure these accounts are in good standing, have low to no balances, and are at least a year old.
  3. Call your credit card companies and ask them to increase your available credit limit.

Any of these three options will help increase your score in 30 days or less (as long as you maintain all your other credit and keep your current balances and payment history in good standing).

Learn more with these videos from our Youtube Channel.

Next up: Once your score is up…How to fix your usage problem for the long run with business credit cards.

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Personal vs. Business Credit Cards: What’s Better for Investing?

Categories:

The struggle of personal vs. business credit cards is the #1 thing slowing real estate investors down.

Especially in the beginning, it’s tempting to use personal credit cards to kickstart your investing adventures.

However, the use of personal credit cards on investment projects can ultimately cause significant harm to your dreams of building wealth.

The Risk of Personal Credit Cards

Using personal credit cards for the type of large-scale spending necessary in real estate investing drives up usage. 

Your credit score is calculated based on two factors: funds available and usage. High usage tanks your credit score fast. A low score can significantly damage terms of loans and your overall ability to grow your investment business. 

A Better Alternative: Business Credit Cards

In order to protect your credit score, consider switching your investment spending to a business credit card.

This separates your investment usage from that personal credit score. 

Additionally, since these cards don’t penalize high usage, you can run up the balance as long as you pay it off on time. In fact, consistently high usage and good payment history can even result in the bank raising your spending limits on that business card.

Getting a business credit card is easy, and with this simple change, your personal credit score is protected. If you have a good score, lenders can confidently offer better rates and terms which will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Requirements for Business Credit Cards

Business credit cards are one of the best ways to make real estate investing easier and more profitable. But what do you need before you start looking for a business credit card?

1. A Business

Typically, you need to have an operating business for at least a year (though there are exceptions)  before applying for a business card. 

This isn’t quite as tricky as it may sound. You need a business account, website, billing information, etc. Essentially, you need proof that you are, in fact, operating an investment business. 

2. A Good Personal Credit Score

Even though you’re applying for a card that won’t report on your personal credit score, approval for the business card is based on your personal credit score.

If you need to raise your personal credit score before applying for a business card, we can help you with that! Usage loans essentially transfer some of that credit card spending into a separate loan that won’t tank your credit score.

Both we and our sister company Hard Money Mike offer usage loans.

3. 1–2 Personal Credit Cards

Obviously, you will need to use your personal credit cards for your investment needs in the beginning. However, if you’ve been using those well, then banks are more likely to approve a business credit card.

All in all, if you have a business, a good credit score, and a couple of credit cards already, it’s fairly easy to start the process of switching to business cards. 

What to Look for in a Business Credit Card 

Here’s the good news: shopping for a business credit card isn’t all that different from looking for a personal one!

  • Look for 0% interest and benefits the same as you would on a personal card.
  • Make sure you know whether or not that card will report. To protect your credit score, you’ll want to find one that doesn’t.
  • Remember: You still need to pay your bills on time. Many business cards will start reporting if you have late or missed payments.

Tools to Help You Find the Right Card

We want to make it easy for you to succeed as a real estate investor—no strings attached. The more you know and the more resources you have, the better equipped you are to find the right deals for you.

We’ve already done some of the work for you:

1. Business Credit Card Marketplace

Here at the Cashflow Company, we’ve partnered with Nav to help you find the right business card for you. By inputting a few pieces of information, we’ll let you know what cards match your needs (and won’t report on your personal credit score).

2. Credit Score Checklist

You can use our free credit checklist download to check the health of your credit score. What can you do to improve that score? Does it need some CPR? What are your options?

3. Other Real Estate Investing Tools

Explore our other tools to optimize your investment strategy. We have various calculators, questionnaires, optimizers, and analyzers to walk you through the various steps of the game.

Contact Us!

Credit scores are a very important piece of leverage. We want you to feel equipped and confident that you’re protecting that credit score in a smart way.

If you want to discuss your credit score, a usage loan, or business credit cards, contact us at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com. We’re always happy to help!

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What Should You Do Before Interest Rates Drop?

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Interest rates are currently high, but they’re likely to start falling in 2024. What can you do now so that you’re prepared to build wealth when interest rates drop?

It’s important to look at the patterns of those interest rates so we can project where they’ll be over the next few years.

Real estate investing is one of the most accessible ways to create generational wealth. It takes two things to be successful:

  1. Leverage: knowing how to use other people’s money (bank loans, etc.) to turn a profit
  2. Math: know how the numbers work so you can use them to your advantage.

Even though interest rates are currently high, if we understand how to use leverage and math to our benefit, we’ll be creating wealth in no time.

Falling Interest Rates Generate Generational Wealth… If You’re Prepared.

If you buy when interest rates are high, you’re going to increase your income as rates fall by refinancing. This puts money back in your pocket. You’re also going to increase your net worth even if you don’t sell.

Refinancing when rates fall is a great way to create the income you need to begin a sustainable investment cycle. 

Also, this strategy also naturally lets you diversify lines of credit, cross liens, etc. that allow you to increase your portfolio.

Time to Buy

Here’s the bottom line: rates are going to fall, and if you buy now, you’ll build income without needing to invest in additional investments. 

This is the time to be buying investment properties.

We’re moving into a market where there’s going to be a lot of demand for properties. As rates fall, more people will be looking to buy. Get ahead of that rush, and use the dropping rates to put money in your pocket.

Resources

It’s important to keep your finger on the pulse as a real estate investor — especially if you’re serious about generating wealth. We have a weekly Investor Mortgage Report that keeps you updated on DSCRs, bank rates, private money, and market trends so you can be an informed investor.

Things change rapidly. Rates may rise through the end of 2023, but the moment they start to fall, you want to be prepared.

If you’d like to be put on the Investor Report email list, or if you have questions about how to get started as an investor, reach out to us at Mike@TheCashFlowCompany.com.

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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How to Raise Your DSCR Ratio

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The DSCR ratio measures the break-even point of your investment. How can you leverage your money to actually build wealth?

A DSCR ratio of 1 means that the expenses of your rental property are equal to the income you receive through rents. So long as you bring in the same amount of money as you invest, you won’t lose anything.

However, a DSCR ratio of higher-than-1 is even better. A higher ratio means that you’re bringing in more money than you’re spending—generating cash flow and building wealth.

Raising the DSCR Ratio

You can get a higher DSCR ratio in a few ways. 

1. Be mindful of your expenses.

Especially if you’re a new investor, make sure you’re shopping around for the best deals. 

Before you buy a property, research the typical costs for the area. Is there an HOA? Will you need any specialized insurance? Typical taxes?

Knowing these things beforehand can help you make more informed decisions and keep your costs lower.

2. Set rents intentionally.

Look at the average rents in your area. Remember, the higher your income (rents), the higher your DSCR ratio.

Let’s look at an example:

When rents equal our cash out, lenders may see your loan as “safe,” but it’s not making you any money. 

Instead, raising rents can help you end up with a higher DSCR ratio (and more money in your pocket).

When you raise rents, simply divide your expenses by your income (rents) to find your new ratio.

By raising rents by $200, we end up with a much better ratio (1.2) that actually creates wealth instead of simply covering expenses. 

As an investor, the goal is to always make decisions that can create generational wealth for us in the years to come. Even small adjustments in rents and expenses can have a significant impact on your ratio. Do your research and your math when you work with rental properties!

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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DSCR Loan Calculator: How to Find Your Ratio

Categories:

A DSCR loan calculator is an invaluable tool for real estate investors.

In the investment world, rental properties are a great source of wealth. The financial potential in fixing up places to then rent out is a very lucrative model, especially in the current housing economy.

What is a DSCR Loan?

DSCR loans are specifically designed for real estate investors who hold rental properties. 

The acronym literally stands for Debt-Service Coverage Ratio which is a fancy way of saying that the loan cares about the cash flow of a property.

The great news, especially for new investors, is that accessing these loans is less dependent on personal or business income. Even if you’ve just begun a new business, qualification for DSCR depends almost entirely on the potential value and expenses of the rental property itself. 

What is a DSCR Ratio?

The DSCR ratio is a simple calculation that compares income to expenses—the cash flowing in vs. the cash flowing out—on a single property.

Essentially, a DSCR ratio of 1 simply means that the income and expenses equal each other.

The DSCR ratio measures the break-even point of your investment. So long as you bring in the same amount of money as you invest, you won’t lose anything.

However, a DSCR ratio of higher-than-1 is even better. A higher ratio means that you’re bringing in more money than you’re spending—generating cash flow and building wealth.

Raising the Ratio

You can get a higher DSCR ratio in a few ways. 

1. Be mindful of your expenses.

Especially if you’re a new investor, make sure you’re shopping around for the best deals. 

Before you buy a property, research the typical costs for the area. Is there an HOA? Will you need any specialized insurance? Typical taxes?

Knowing these things beforehand can help you make more informed decisions and keep your costs lower.

2. Set rents intentionally.

Look at the average rents in your area. Remember, the higher your income (rents), the higher your DSCR ratio.

Let’s look at an example:

When rents equal our cash out, lenders may see your loan as “safe,” but it’s not making you any money. 

Instead, raising rents can help you end up with a higher DSCR ratio (and more money in your pocket).

When you raise rents, simply divide your expenses by your income (rents) to find your new ratio.

By raising rents by $200, we end up with a much better ratio (1.2) that actually creates wealth instead of simply covering expenses. 

Use Our DSCR Loan Calculator

To help you find your projected rents, expenses, and ratio, you can use our DSCR loan calculator. It’s a free, user-friendly download that will help you estimate your DSCR ratio to see if your investment property is going to break even.

Once you have an estimate for your ratio, it’s time to start looking for loans. 

Finding a DSCR Loan

Banks typically like to see ratios of 1 or higher. 

However, if you’re working with a property that might not break even, you can often still find a loan, but you might be stuck with higher rates.

You can also check out our website and inquire about the DSCR options we offer. 

Here at The Cash Flow Company, we scour the market to make sure we offer competitive rates and connect good people with good loans.

If you have questions or want to talk about a loan, reach out to us at Mike@TheCashFlowCompany.com.

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Will Interest Rates Go Down in 2024?

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If you’re in the real estate investing game, you’re probably wondering, “Will interest rates go down in 2024?” The 2023 market has been tough, but good news is on the way!

2023 has been an interesting year for investors as we’ve faced exceptionally high interest rates. At times, this has been stressful, but how can we use this information to help us prepare for the next year of opportunities?

Currently, rates are between 7% to a little over 7% for people looking to buy an owner-occupied property with a 30-year fixed mortgage.

The Fed has nearly reached their max which means lower rates are coming! And not just on housing; credit cards, student loans, etc. will all start seeing lower interest rates.

This is great news, but how does it impact you in real terms?

How Interest Rates Effect Real Estate Investing

As interest rates go down, you’ll have the opportunity to increase your cash flow just by refinancing or being smart with your purchases. 

The lower the interest rate, the more money goes into your own pocket in each deal.

But how does the math work?

If you’re looking at your finances, and you can afford $2,000/month in payments, here’s the breakdown:

  • In total, you can afford $2,000 a month in payments 
  • Subtract $100 for taxes
  • Subtract $100 for insurance
  • TOTAL: Investor can afford about $1,800/month that goes towards the mortgage

Now, let’s run that through different interest rates. 

Even though you can afford only $1,800/month towards a mortgage, the interest rate significantly changes the loan amount. This in turn changes the types of property you can pursue:

Even a change from a 7% to a 6% interest rate results in an 11% increase in the price of a home you can afford. 

As interest rates go down, more people can access what’s on the market. 

If you’re in real estate investing, having homes ready to flip in 2024 to meet that pent up demand as interest rates drop can make a huge difference for you.

Make a Game Plan

Even though rates are still high, based on these evidence-based real estate market predictions, you should start buying and getting properties ready to flip by the end of this year.

Real estate markets move quickly, so you’ll want to be ready for those falling rates when the market demand spikes. 

If you’re wondering why should I buy when interest rates are so high? here’s the deal: If you buy right now when interest rates are high, you can cash flow them as rates fall. This makes your properties more valuable when you flip them, and cash flow is going to increase.

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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How to Create Wealth Investing in Real Estate

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Interest rates are currently high. This can create a discouraging market for new investors, but it’s important to look at the patterns of those interest rates so we can learn how to create wealth investing in real estate.

Real estate investing is one of the most accessible ways to create generational wealth. It takes two things to be successful:

  1. Leverage: knowing how to use other people’s money (bank loans, etc.) to turn a profit
  2. Math: know how the numbers work so you can use them to your advantage.

Even though interest rates are currently high, if we understand how to use leverage and math to our benefit, we’ll be creating wealth in no time.

It Comes Down to Numbers (and Interest Rates)

We’re all in real estate investing to create income, wealth, a better life. Interest rates are a significant aspect of that. We need to understand exactly how to leverage high interest rates to help you create the wealth you’re here for.

Here’s the good news: interest rates will likely go down soon.

If you buy a property when rates are high, you can refinance when rates drop to increase both your income and equity. 

For Example…

  • Let’s say you have a 4-plex that you’re going to purchase with the following figures:
    • 4-Plex (Initial Numbers)
      • Loan Amount: $500,000 
      • Interest Rate: 8.5% 
      • Monthly Payments: $3,800

    As we said earlier, rates are likely to decrease soon. We’re heading into a big election year which tends to drop rates, and the Fed is hitting their apex. So what happens when the rates decrease and we look at refinancing?

    • 4-Plex (Refinanced!)
      • Loan Amount: $500,000 
      • Interest Rate: 7.5%
      • Monthly Payments: $3,496 (+ $360 income/month)

Even if interest rates only drop by 1%, you still end up with over $4,000/year more in your pocket.

Similarly, because of the  shifting value, that initial $500,000 now has a value of $550,000 (10% higher than before).

If all you do is refinance when rates drop by 1%, you can easily build income and equity. Imagine the strides you can take when interest rates drop even further.

This same strategy applies to portfolio/multi-family homes. When rates drop, you can look into refinancing any investment property to explore these possibilities and take advantage of this opportunity to build generational wealth.

 

Read the full article here.

Watch the full video here:

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