Tag Archive for: credit scores

Real Estate 2024: Your Credit Score Matters

Today we are going to discuss why your credit score really matters. On average, we talk to 20 to 25 investors a day. Many of them are facing a number of hurdles that are not only impacting them, but their investments as well. By looking at the patterns that we have seen over the years, it allows us to better meet the needs of our clients. How can your credit score impact your success as a real estate investor? Let’s take a closer look.

Credit score obstacles.

Your credit score can often hinder your success in real estate investing. Over half of our calls are from people who have a score that is too low for them to get what they want. For example, we have a guy from Texas who is trying to get his property refinanced.  While the property is great and he has an amazing tenant, his credit score is too low for him to get the rate he needs to cash flow. By working on your credit scores and setting things up right, you can achieve the credit score you need to get what you want. 

Business credit cards.

Getting business credit cards is the #1 thing that will help you achieve your goals in real estate investing! Those who are able to get business charges off of their personal credit cards will in turn open up a lot of funding options. Struggles with credit scores is often the cause of people getting out of real estate investing. Don’t let this happen to you! 

Increasing your credit score quickly.

We have a lot of different options available to investors that will help them get their credit score back on track in a matter of weeks! 

  1. Usage loan

A usage loan is used to pay down credit cards by using a private loan. As a result of paying down the credit cards, it raises your credit score. By increasing your credit score it will then allow you to refinance and buy your next investment property. 

  1. Business credit cards

We can not stress enough how important business credit cards are! By setting up business credit cards instead of personal credit cards it will help to increase your funding options. The majority of business credit cards do not report your usage. Therefore they are not hurting your DTI or your credit score. Make the change today and see the effects it can have on your credit score! 

Are you on the right path? 

Contact us today if you have any questions about how to get started in real estate investing! Do you have a property in mind? Send us the numbers and we will see if it is a good investment opportunity for you. Since your credit score and funding are such crucial pieces to your success, it is important that you know them before diving into a deal!  

Watch our most recent video to find out more about Real Estate 2024: Your Credit Score Matters.

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Create Generational Wealth with a Portfolio Loan

Real estate investors enter into this community with the goal of creating generational wealth. Generational wealth can be achieved by creating a portfolio of homes, as opposed to just acquiring just a few properties. Many investors wonder what needs to happen financially in order to successfully create a portfolio. Success begins by finding the right portfolio loan for your needs. Let’s take a closer look at how you can create generational wealth today by using a portfolio loan!

Changes in lending options. 

Investors who expand from a few properties to a portfolio of properties will need to open the door to other loan products. Those who invest in single family homes or have 1 to 2 units are using traditional loans, conforming loans, bank loans, or single DSCR loans. If you are transitioning to a portfolio loan it is important to take everything into consideration before diving in. 

Conforming loans:

Conforming loans limit investors to 10 properties and have a lot of qualifications that you need to meet. 

Bank loans:

Many people use bank loans when they have a portfolio, however, banks normally write their products for 5, 7, or 10 years. This means that every 5, 7, or 10 years investors have to refinance. Some clients are having to refinance properties every year depending on how their cycle is set up.

Portfolio loan:

A portfolio loan is used for 5 to 100 properties and covers all of the properties in one loan. This umbrella loan can not only help investors who have mixed properties, but it also prevents you from needing multiple loans. Another benefit is that a portfolio loan will provide you the support you need as you expand the number of doors per unit. 

Is a portfolio loan right for you?

Benefits to a portfolio loan:Work smarter not harder! 

  1. All mixed properties are under one blanket
  2. One monthly payment
  3. Some have nonrecourse (Nonrecourse does not require a personal guarantee)
  4. Commercial based
  5. The loan is bases on the income from the properties
  6. Don’t have to pay for underwriting on each property
  7. Typically there is a better rate on a larger loan
  8. Can clear up some slots for you.
  9. Can use another person’s credit score if they are under your LLC 

Cons to a portfolio loan:

  1. Lower LTV
  2. Individual appraisals are needed for each property
  3. Pulling a property out is a hurdle (You won’t be able to sell properties to generate money)

Flexibility of a commercial loan.

A commercial loan can provide the flexibility you need to create generational wealth. One of the biggest benefits is that it provides the opportunity for you to use another person’s credit score as long as they are under your LLC. In doing so, a higher score can not only keep the transaction going, but it can open more doors. Another thing to keep in mind is that commercial loans are primarily based on the cash flow and the property value. This allows you to lock them in when rates are good so that you can use the slots to build up some additional properties on the side.

Create generational wealth.

By using a portfolio loan you are creating a bigger asset. More importantly commercial loans, unlike traditional loans, will not show up on your credit. Another thing to keep in mind is that banks often restrict your growth either by the number of properties or the loan amount. Those who are aggressive and use a portfolio loan have the flexibility they need to create the generational wealth that they want.

Is a portfolio loan right for you?

Real estate investors who have 20 properties or more need to start searching for other lending options. A portfolio loan is an excellent way to put all of your properties under one blanket loan. Is this the right loan for you? Contact us today to find out more about portfolio loans and other ways you can create generational wealth. 

Watch our most recent video to find out how you can  Create Generational Wealth with a Portfolio Loan.

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Better Credit, Better DSCR Loan

Today we are going to explore how better credit results in a better DSCR loan. Here at The Cash Flow Company we have a magical solution that can easily solve this problem, which is the 911 usage loan! Our goal is to help people raise their score immediately so that they can get the loan they need. On average we see 7 out of 10 people struggle with a usage problem. This prevents them from being successful in real estate investing. Don’t fall into this trap! Improve your credit today and get the DSCR loan you need.

Usage problem uncovered.

Usage loans are very common in this business because many investors have a usage problem. The usage problem is created when investors excessively use their personal credit cards or personal loans to pay for their business expenses. This will affect you everywhere you go, whether it’s a flip project or you’re applying for a DSCR loan. Here at The Cash Flow Company we deal a lot with credit score struggles, fix and flip properties, and rental properties. No matter what the project is, having good credit is the key to getting the funding you need.

Credit score struggles.

The percentage that is used on your credit card is referred to as the credit utilization rate. If you are above 30% usage on your credit cards, your  score  will begin to decrease. Investors who come in with a 640 or a 660 credit score often need to increase their score to 700. In doing so, they will be able to get either the LTV or rate they need to create cash flow. Nowadays rates are still in the 7’s or 8’s. That is why it is so important to get the best rate you can in order to maximize both your LTV and cash flow. 

How can a private loan help your credit?

One quick way to increase your credit score is to use a 911 loan. The 911 loan pays down credit card debt by using private money. These funds are secured with a property to guarantee the repayment of the loan. As a result of removing the credit cards from the personal credit report, the credit score will reflect the changes after the statement cycle.

Where do you get started?

The first thing that you need to do is run a simulation. We ask investors to do a simulation on MyFico, Credit Karma, or Experian to see how paying off a credit card will impact their credit score. We have seen people max out their credit cards at $3K, while others are maxed out at $175K. These maxed out credit cards not only impact credit scores, but they also impact DTI as well. To clarify, DTI stands for the debt to income ratio. 

For example: A client in Texas just went through a simulation and his credit score went up 100 points. He went from 653 to over 753 by simply paying off the credit cards that he had maxed out. 

We are here to help!

Here at The Cash Flow Company we are here to help you get on the right path. Remember better credit will result in a better DSCR loan! Get your credit card debt off of your personal credit report today! Contact us today to find out more about usage loans and how they can set you up for long term financing. To clarify, the usage loan is a private loan that does not show up on your credit for 60 to 90 days and won’t affect your DTI. Now is the time to set yourself up for success! 

Watch our most recent video to find out how Better Credit, can get you a Better DSCR Loan. 

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DSCR Loans: How Flexible Are the Rules and Guidelines?

Many investors wonder how flexible the rules and guidelines are for DSCR loans. Do all DSCR lenders have the same guidelines or follow universal rules? The answer is no! Unlike Fannie and Freddie, or traditional lenders, DSCR loans do not have the same guidelines. Instead, DSCR loans are regulated by a few big investors and do not force people to fit into a computerized box. This creates the opportunity for investors to find the perfect loan to meet their needs. 

Every lender is different.

Every DSCR lender is different and they each have their own guidelines that they follow. While a lot of lenders will only do 1 to 4 units, others will be more adventurous and do commercial properties.  For these lenders, you either fit in their box or you don’t. All DSCR lenders are not the same, they don’t always look the same, and most importantly they are not priced the same. It is important to keep this in mind when you are looking and shopping for DSCR loans.  Shopping around for the best loan to fit your needs is especially important if you have something unique. 

Unique properties require unique loans.

Many unique properties include ones that need a smaller loan, a rural loan, mixed use, or properties that are above 4 units.  Keep in mind that some lenders are not always able to meet your needs. Unlike traditional loans, DSCR lenders all follow different guidelines and requirements. While one will do a DSCR ratio of 1, another lender will require 1.1 to get their best rates. Your credit score also plays a role in loan approval. Some lenders will go down to a 620 credit score, while others will say that 680 is the lowest they will go. There are so many different options that are available to investors. Be sure to take your time to find the best option for you and your property.  

The lending box.

There is a lending box that 60% to 70% of investors fit into. This box requires them to have a 700 credit score, 75% LTV, and a 1 to 4 unit property. For these investors, it becomes a matter of price shopping to see which lender has the best price for their property. If you don’t fit into this box don’t worry! There are a multitude of loan options available that can provide the flexibility you need to succeed. Do you have a VRBO, Airbnb property, pad rental, or a rural property? Find the right loan and the right amount for your next investment project. Whether it’s $50K or $300K, DSCR lenders have the versatility that can open the door to endless possibilities.

What to look for?

It is important to keep in mind all of the options available to you when looking at DSCR loans. This includes the pricing, rules, and regulations, which can vary depending on the lender. Here at The Cash Flow Company we have between 7 and 10 different places that we work with for DSCR loans. That is because not every DSCR loan type will fit in every lender’s box. For example, we are doing a portfolio for a customer who has a 12 plex, 4 plex, and a couple single family properties. The borrower only wants one loan. Another customer is doing 3 single family properties, but two are very unique situations. One is a pad split, another is a contract for a deed. Our goal for both customers is to find a lender that can do all of these properties in one loan. By finding the right DSCR lender, the sky’s the limit to your success.

We are here to help!

Are you in need of a DSCR loan for a unique property? Here at The Cash Flow Company we are happy to run through the numbers to see which loan is best for you. Most importantly, there is no need to run your credit! Don’t get stressed trying to fit into a lending box! Keep your options open and find the right DSCR lender today! 

Contact us today to find out more about DSCR loans! 

Watch our most recent videoDSCR Loans: How Flexible Are the Rules and Guidelines?” to find out more! 

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Credit scores and loans

Leverage/loans are the key to building a successful real estate business.  Credit scores are becoming more and more of a factor on who is approved for loans and or denied.

All serious investors must understand how to win at the lending game. A large part of that is understanding and managing your credit score.

Better scores equal better loans.  Better loans help create wealth and income faster.

 

How Your Credit Score Impacts Loan Approval

Lenders use your credit score when deciding if and how they offer you credit, such as mortgage, car loan or a credit card. Your score also affects terms and rates associated with these loans.

Your payment history is the cornerstone of your credit score, but other elements also play a part. These could include:

Your credit score is a number.

Lenders use your credit score to assess your risk as a borrower, using data reported to credit bureaus such as Equifax(r), Experian(r), and TransUnion(r).

Your credit score can have an immense impact on your life. It can determine whether a lender approves of an application for a mortgage.

Your credit score takes into account how you’ve paid past bills and the debt that’s currently outstanding, along with your mix of accounts (credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans (car or student loans) and finance company accounts). Lenders also look at how long it has been used; generally speaking it should remain under 30%.

Your credit score is a factor.

Many individuals don’t realize how important their credit score is in loan approval decisions. Lenders use it to assess whether someone should qualify for mortgage, business loans as well as determine interest rates that borrowers will pay on these loans.

One of the key factors affecting one’s credit score includes length of history, debt-to-credit ratio, payment history and types of accounts held. An equally significant element is how long since any negative event such as missed payments or bankruptcy occurred. Either can have an enormously detrimental effect on one’s score.

Lenders prefer to see a mix of retail, finance company and installment loans in your credit profile. Too many new accounts may raise red flags.

Your credit score is a red flag.

Lenders use credit scores to gauge whether or not someone will repay what they borrow. A higher score demonstrates responsible financial behavior.  Higher scores will help qualify an applicant for better terms on loans.

Your credit score is determined by many factors, including payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new accounts opened and mix. One keyway you can improve your score is paying debts on time: this component accounts for 35% of FICO scores and 30% of VantageScores.

Excessive new account activity can also lower a credit score. This factor is measured by the total number of hard inquiries on your report; these could include applications for new credit as well as inquiries made by lenders to pre-qualify you for loans or credit cards.

Your credit score is a good thing.

Your credit score demonstrates your reliability as a borrower and determines the likelihood that a lender will approve of you for a loan. Furthermore, it affects interest rates you will pay, potentially saving thousands over the course of your loan’s lifespan.

FICO or VantageScore scores are calculated based on information found in your credit reports. This information comes from the three major bureaus, which contain payment history, utilization rates and age information of accounts.

Setting and making regular on-time payments are two effective strategies for increasing your scores, along with keeping revolving balances to an absolute minimum. Lenders tend to prefer when their borrowers use no more than 30 percent of available revolving credit available.  Having multiple types of loans like mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards may also boost your score. Keep in mind that your score may change with new information appearing in your report over time.

 

Need a loan to increase your score in less than 30 days?  Credit score usage loan.

How Your Credit Score Impacts Loan Approval. Credit usage loan.

Credit scores and loans

 

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