Tag Archive for: hard money

Busting Hard Money Myths: How Hard Money Can Be Cheaper Than Banks

Busting Myths: How Hard Money Can Be Cheaper Than Banks

Let’s keep busting hard money myths and talk about how hard money can be cheaper than banks.

But, first, in case you missed our other hard money myth busting videos, check them out on our YouTube channel!

So far, we’ve busted common myths like “Hard money is too expensive,” and “Hard money is a trap.”

Now, let’s look at another common misconception about hard money:

“Bank lines are cheaper than hard money.”

Okay, on the surface, bank loans are cheaper. Yes, that part is technically true.

However, when you scratch below the surface, you’ll discover hard money can be cheaper. All because of one important factor that doesn’t get calculated into the equation at the start of a loan:

Timing.

Think about how long it can take to close a bank loan. You might get lucky and close within 30 days, but it often takes longer. Sometimes MUCH longer.

Hard money, on the other hand, moves much, much faster. You can usually close within two weeks, but it can be even faster. Some lenders can close in just a few days. When you close faster, you can get to work faster…which means you can complete your project faster. Faster projects mean more money in your pocket.

Another timing issue real estate investors fail to consider: The amount of time it takes to fund escrow.

AKA, your rehab.

If it takes longer to access those funds, then it’ll take longer to pay your contractor. And if your contractor isn’t paid quickly enough, they might move on to another value-add property project.

Not only does it take banks longer to approve escrow funds, but they have stricter guidelines. Let’s look at an example:

You want to withdraw $10,000 from your escrow account to pay your electrician. But when you get the invoice from your electrician, you realize you only needed $8,000.

However, your plumber suddenly also needs to be paid $2,000.

Unfortunately, the bank won’t care about your plumber. They’ll send you only what you need to pay your electrician since that’s what you originally asked for.

You’ll have to waste precious time sending in another request for the $2,000. Within that time, your plumber might take off and find a different project. They can’t wait around for you to pay them so they can complete their work.

That means you have to search for a new plumber…which means you waste time.

And time is money!

Hard money lenders respect that.

Most of them focus on moving fast, being flexible, and working with you to get you through your project as quickly as possible so you can tackle your next real estate deal.

So, there you have it. In the long the run, hard money can be cheaper than banks.

Again, it all comes down to timing. And, again, time is money in real estate investing.

Stay tuned for our next video where we talk about the biggest and most misleading myth of all:

Hard money is a curse.

Ready to chat about your hard money and other lending options? Great! Our team is excited to set you on a path that makes you the kind of money you need…to live the life you want.

Happy investing!

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Busting Myths: How to Get Out of Hard Money FAST

Busting Myths: How to Get Out of Hard Money FAST

Today, we’re going to bust another myth, and show you how to get out of a hard money loan FAST.

So many real estate investors believe hard money is a trap.

This is false!

In fact, many investors think hard money is a profit death sentence.

Again, this is FALSE.

Here’s the truth: Hard money loans should only be used as temporary solutions for your value-add properties. They’re not meant to be long-term options. If you enter a hard money loan with a long-term mindset, then yeah, you’ll probably lose most (or all) of your profits.

So, what can you do to ensure you’re in and out of a hard money loan fast? Here are 3 tips:

Make a plan to exit your loan as quickly as possible.

Don’t walk into your loan without a plan to get out of it.

If you’re doing a fix and flip, then make sure you have everything scheduled and set so you can get the work done and sell the property ASAP.

If you’re looking at fixing and holding (aka, rental property), then make sure you line up a long-term loan (aka, a traditional or bank loan) alongside your hard money loan. Don’t wait until you’ve completed the renovation portion of the project to start the refinance process.

If you work with the right lender, you can get help creating your specific plan, and get help with both your hard money AND long-term loan.

Focus on your credit score.

If you want to refinance out of your hard money loan quickly, then you’ll need to make sure you have a good credit score.

What is a good score? Ideally, you want it to be above 640. But that’s the bare minimum. Aiming for 670 or higher is even better.

If your credit score is below 640, then take the time to raise it before you get a hard money loan. Otherwise, you’ll likely get stuck because there aren’t many—if any—real estate lenders who can help you refinance with such a low score.

If you need tips on raising your score, check out some of our other videos on our YouTube channel.

Don’t delay construction.

Sometimes real estate investors close their deal with a hard money loan and then…sit. They don’t jump straight into the project and get things moving. Or they get started, but then hit a bump in the road and delay things.

Don’t do this.

The faster you get your work done, the faster you can sell or rent the investment property. Which means you can get out of your pricey loan a lot faster.

A great way to stay on track is through the Flipper Force app.

Listen, a hard money loan isn’t an expensive trap. It only becomes an expensive trap because real estate investors don’t go into it prepared.

If you need help preparing before you commit to a hard money loan, then our team is always here to help.

Stay tuned for our next video where we talk about bank lines compared to hard money loans. Believe it or not, bank lines aren’t always the cheaper path to take.

Happy investing!

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Busting Myths: How You CAN Afford Hard Money

Busting Myths: How You CAN Afford Hard Money

It’s time to start busting myths about hard money, and discover how you CAN afford hard money.

Today, we’re going to bust one of the most common misconceptions about this investor-friendly lending option:

“Hard money is too expensive!”

False!

When you get a hard money loan, it doesn’t mean you have to automatically pay 12% interest or more.

In fact, if you take these 3 steps, the cost of your hard money loan will be drastically reduced:

Prove you have experience.

If you show a hard money lender you’ve completed real estate deals successfully, then they’ll feel more confident in giving you money. And confidence means better rates.

How can you show your experience? The best way is to present a real estate portfolio with before and after pictures, budgets, and profits earned.

Be willing to put money down at closing.

If you have skin in the game, then a lender will likely be more willing to lower the cost of your loan. Why? Because it reduces their risk.

But how much money should you try to put down at closing? Ideally, 10% or more. But even as much as 5% will help lower your loan’s cost.

Maintain a good credit score.

Your credit score matters when it comes to loans. The better your score, the better your rates.

If your credit score is on the low side (below 670), then you can find simple ways to boost it. Here are 3 tips to get you started:

  • Stop using your credit card and start paying it off. Simple, but effective. And when you hit a $0 balance, do NOT close the account. Closing an account that’s in good standing is anti-productive in keeping your score healthy. You want to show you have good credit history. So if you close your accounts, then your history won’t exist.
  • Keep your card balance low. Like, under 30% of its maximum. So, if your card has a maximum credit line of $1,000, then don’t let your balance rise above $300.
  • Pay your credit card bill on time. Again, simple, but effective. If you make your payments on time for the next 12 months, your score WILL rise.

Hard money doesn’t have to eat up all of your profits. We assure you that if you take these 3 steps, you can greatly reduce your costs and actually boost your profits considerably.

Stay tuned for our next video where we discuss the myth of getting trapped in a hard money loan. Spoiler alert, another pitfall that’s easily avoidable if you take a few simple steps.

Ready to chat about your hard money and other lending options? Great! Our team is here to help.

What is hard money? Learn more on our YouTube channel!

Happy investing!

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Busting Myths: What Is Hard Money

Busting Myths: What Is Hard Money

What is hard money?

More importantly, what is it NOT?

Today, we’re starting a new series about busting hard money myths. Because there are so many rumors and misconceptions out there about this type of real estate funding. Unfortunately, most of these are negative.

Real estate investors all around the country say things like:

“Hard money is too expensive for me and my wallet.”

“It’s a trap!”

“Bank lines are so much cheaper.”

“Hard money is a curse!”

First of all, FALSE!

Second, we’re going to bust these myths and show you how hard money is not something to fear or avoid. In fact, it’s something to utilize so you can boost your cash flow and profits.

Yes, boost. Not obliterate.

But, before we dive into each myth in our upcoming video series, let’s talk about hard money.

Here are 3 keys facts you should know:

  1. It’s a special type of loan that’s usually secured by a real asset—aka, real estate. The funds for these loans is typically provided by private investors or companies.
  2. They’re not like normal bank loans that you pay off for 15-30 years. They’re meant to be short-term. Like, 3 to 9 months. You can pay them off quicker or slower than that timeframe, but this is the typical range.
  3. They’re perfect for real estate investors who want to buy value-add properties FAST, because hard money loans can get closed in days, not weeks. They’re ideal for buying discounted non-MLS properties. For example, think about wholesalers and other under-market deals.

Now that you have a better understanding of hard money, we can dig into the myths and misconceptions that revolve around it.

Our new video series busts these myths and show you how it isn’t something to fear or avoid. It’s actually something to use so you can generate positive cash flow and profits.

So, are you ready to talk about your real estate funding options? Great, our team is here to help.

Happy investing!

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How to Get Out of Your Hard Money Loan Now

How to Get Out of Your Hard Money Loan Now

Do you know how to get out of your hard money loan?

Because if you’re a real estate investor and like to buy value-add properties FAST, then these are the types of loans you likely rely on. And if you work with wholesalers (who have tight, strict deadlines), then you most definitely need to use hard money to close your real estate deals.

But that doesn’t mean you want to get trapped in a hard money loan. Nobody wants that! Even as a hard money lender, we don’t want you to get stuck with high interest rates for months and months.

That’s why it’s important to know you have options. Hundreds of them!

Yes, you heard that. YOU have options, even if you don’t have:

  • Tax returns
  • Income
  • A business partner
  • Or a company name

So, as a real estate investor, why do you need hard money?

Well, as we mentioned above, it’s great for buying discounted, value-add properties, and then renovating and renting them. It’s also great for taking advantage of the free equity you get from discounted or wholesale properties.

But what can you do when you’re in a hard money loan and you’re ready to get out (meaning, you’ve already renovated and rented the property)? But you can’t get a traditional/conforming loan because you don’t qualify for a bank’s strict requirements?

The bigger question: How can you stop your hard money loan from eating up all of your positive cash flow? What can you do to stop giving your lender all of your profits, rather than yourself?

Well, here’s the thing. Both banks and lenders don’t like to tell you that you have OPTIONS.

Just because you haven’t been self-employed for more than 2 years, or you don’t have tax returns to show (or you don’t want to use them), you can refinance into a more affordable loan. And with that new loan, you can:

  • Keep it away from your credit score (because the more loans you have, the more it impacts your credit score).
  • Put it under your LLC’s name.
  • Have unlimited projects.

To find that affordable, flexible loan, all you really need are 2 things:

  1. A good credit score (if you need boosting tips, check out these videos on our YouTube Channel).
  2. A lease that will cover the rental payment.

Trust us when we say, you don’t need to get stuck in a hard money loan. Every real estate investor has options.

If you’d like to discuss your options, our team is ready to help!

Happy investing.

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How to Buy a Property with ZERO Money Down

How to Buy a Property with ZERO Money Down

Did you know you can buy a real estate property with zero money down?

It’s true! Just check out these 4 key steps:

If you want to buy a property and put less money (or no money) down, then check out these 4 steps.

Buy discounted properties.

You might be able to find discounted properties on the MLS. Maybe. But you’ll probably have more luck finding them via a wholesaler. Especially when it comes to value-add properties (i.e. fix and flips and rentals).

Set up your loan properly.

This is an important 2-Step Process. The trick is to purchase with a hard money loan, and then quickly refinance with a long-term loan. That way you can get the highest loan amount possible. It all starts with discovering what you qualify for on the long-term side. Once you know what that loan looks like, you can match that number to your hard money loan.

Use rate and term, NOT cash out.

Okay, deep breath.

We’re not going to get into the nitty gritty of these mortgage terms, but we are going to highlight the significant differences.

Setting your loan up as a cash out can be very tempting. You get money at closing. What’s better than that, right?

Well, did you know when you set up your loan as a cash out, you:

  • Pay higher costs
  • Take a lot longer to refinance out of your expensive hard money loan
  • Qualify for lower loan amounts

With a rate and term, all of that changes. You:

  • Spend far less cash up front
  • Refinance out of pricey hard money loans a lot faster (like, we’re talking months faster than a cash out)
  • Enjoy lower rates

Better yet, your cash flow will multiply because you get to do more with your money when you pay less for your loans. This is actually a simple process to set up if you work with someone who can help you with both your hard money and long-term loans.

Put zero money down by finding the right lender

To seal the deal, find a lender who can handle these kinds of loans.

Unlike most other lenders, our team has the expertise, knowledge, and ability to handle everything from hard money to conventional loans. Plus, we treat you like a teammate, not a number.

With our help, you can start buying your properties with no money down today. Let’s chat!

Happy investing.

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The Smart Way to Invest in Real Estate

If your goal is to make money and generate positive cash flow, then you need to be smart about the way you invest in real estate.

And one of those ways is finding the RIGHT lender for you. Especially if it’s a lender who can help you with both your hard money and long-term loans.

At the Cash Flow Mortgage Company (previously known as Investor Real Estate Loans), our dedicated, hardworking team focuses on 3 important steps:

Offering OPTIONS

Whether it’s hard money, bridge loans, refinances, or 30-year mortgages, we have the skills, knowledge, and credentials to handle every step of your real estate deals.

Providing a fast and efficient system.

Speed and efficiency are pivotal in the real estate business, especially when it comes to value-add properties. If you can’t close quickly, then you will likely lose precious opportunities…and a lot of money.

Why?

Well, because when you use multiple lenders, you’ll waste time shopping around, getting rejected, filling out the same paperwork you filled out for the last lender, and dealing with countless other obstacles.

We’re here to help you get off that frustrating hamster wheel once and for all. We focus on streamlining your system so you can take advantage of every opportunity and leave your competitors in the dust.

Helping you make a lot of money!

Cash flow is king in this business and we want you to rule the areas you invest. By giving you multiple options and helping you streamline your process, we’ll help you double, triple, or even 10X the amount of money you make. And we’ll help you do it with a lot less stress and frustration.

The Cash Flow Company is all about you and making you money. Because cash flow makes life flow.

Ready to chat about your loan options? Great, we’re here and ready to help.

Happy investing!

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We’re so impressed with this Multi-Unit Fix-and-Flip in Ohio!

 

While we’ve seen a good share of motivating investor inspo over the past few weeks, we never get tired of seeing the incredible transformations from our clients. Check out these awesome Before-and-After photos of a multi-unit fix-and-flip from one of our clients in Columbus, Ohio!

 

Multi-unit fix-and-flip exterior

Multi-unit fix-and-flip

While seeing these awesome before-and-afters is certainly inspiring, it also requires some cash to pull off similar results. If you’re looking for ways to fund your future fix-and-flips, we have a solution for you!

Give us a shout!

 

Hard Money Mike is a lender based in Colorado. We lend money on all types of commercial-based properties. So whether your dream deal is a fix-and-flip, vacant land, whole-tailing, or requires a builder bridge loan, we’ve got you covered. We offer services in several states, including Ohio.

Call Mike Bonn at: 303-539-3000 or email Mike@HardMoneyMike.com

*All non-commercial and construction loans offered by TNS Loans NMLS #1719349

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Dallas Fix-and-flip exterior

Nobody does fix-and-flip curb appeal like these Dallas clients.

Check out these amazing Before-and-After photos of this Dallas Fix-and-Flip!

 

Dallas fix-and-flip living room

These clients did an amazing job transforming this living room into a much more liveable space.

Dallas fix-and-flip bedroom

From dark and cave-like, to light and inviting, this bedroom looks pretty dreamy to us!

Dallas fix-and-flip kitchen

From cluttered to cool, this kitchen got a pretty serious glow-up.

Dallas fix-and-flip bathroom

Not even the bathroom escaped noticed in this impeccable flip!

We’re still in awe of this amazing fix-and-flip investment deal from our Dallas area clients. A little imagination and some investment capital can go a long way towards transforming a haggard house into an updated future home!

We never tire of watching our clients change the face of their neighborhoods in a positive way. This property is a shining example of what the real estate investing community is all about: improving a neighborhood and enjoying a profitable rehab!

Looking for a hard money loan to fund your own flip? Look no further.

How do you take the guesswork out of getting your deals funded for rehab projects like this one? Simple: By partnering with Hard Money Mike.

Hard Money Mike is a lender based in Colorado. We offer a large pool of lenders so we can be sure to find the right fit for your project. We regularly lend money for all types of commercial-based properties. So whether your project is a fix-and-flip, land, whole-tailing, or a builder bridge loan, we have you covered.

If this flip has you feeling inspired, we want to know about it! Contact Mike Bonn at 303-539-3000 or email Mike@HardMoneyMike.com to start exploring your lending options!

Want even more awe-inspiring investor inspo? Check out what some of our other clients have been up to…

*All non-commercial and construction loans offered by TNS Loans NMLS #1719349

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If you’ve been watching the mortgage industry reports over the past few weeks, it shouldn’t come as a shock to you that the banks are quickly closing their doors to investors. In fact, if you run an investment property business and have relied solely on traditional funding, it’s practically impossible to find money to close your deals the old-fashioned way. 

 

But don’t give up hope just yet. We’d like the chance to introduce you to your new funding partner: Cash money.

If you need funds to close your deals, the quickest way to secure it in these unprecedented times to STOP relying on banks and traditional financing options. Believe it or not, there are tons of other sources of investment capital out there, and they just so happen to already be in your phone’s contact list.

 

When it comes time to fund your next deal, instead of turning to the bank and patiently waiting to be shot down, why not place a call to a potentially willing partner instead? Whether it be a grandparent, a fellow real estate investor, your golfing buddy, or your next-door neighbor, chances are you already know someone who might be looking to make their savings balance work a little harder for them (and therefore, you!)

Asking acquaintances or friends for funds can be a tricky subject, but with the right approach, it’s perfectly possible to do so while keeping it legal, safe, and honest – not to mention PROFITABLE – for all parties involved.

Don’t be beholden to banks. Money is king, so take back control of your financial future and put yourself where the money is.

We can help you start the conversation with our Guide to OPM Funding Webinar series! Get more info and signed up here >>>>

 

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