Tag Archive for: lender

For any project you do, you need money. We refer to this collection of money as your money bucket

The money in your bucket comes from two sources: 1) a lender and 2) you.

Both of these areas of funding are going to come together and fill the bucket to finance your project. 

Lenders

This is the part most people think about the most when it comes to real estate investing.

As an investor, it’s important that you’re attractive to lenders. Lenders, as a rule, want to lend you money, but it’s important to understand what they’re really looking for as well as how you can diversify your money bucket to maximize your success. 

Sometimes you need hard money, sometimes you need a bank, sometimes you need conventional loans. Sometimes you just need gap funding. 

Lenders offer a variety of options, and you should shop around to make sure you’re finding the right option that fits your project.

You

When it comes to the part of the money bucket you’re responsible for, there are two important areas for you to consider:

Credit Score

The better your credit, the more options you’ll have. 

Impact of Credit: Banks love clients with high credit scores. The higher the score, the more options they’re likely to offer. 

As with finding a loan, the more options banks offer, the more likely you are to find a great deal.

Personal vs. Business cards: Using personal credit for investing can quickly turn into a problem. 

Using personal credit cards or lines of credit for business projects can drive people’s scores down.

We strongly recommend using business credit cards for your real estate investing. You still should make sure you’re paying everything on time, but that business credit card in your name isn’t going to be reported on your personal credit report.

This keeps your credit score higher as you’re looking for loans.

Lines of Credit: Having a variety of credit lines, and opening those strategically, will help you fill  your money bucket. Lines of credit in business credit cards, HELOCs, etc. can get you more prepared for down payments, earnest money, repairs, and more. 

It’s helpful to have backup lines of credit that are ready for when you need money for time-sensitive deals. 

Fill your bucket and your options. 

Other People’s Money

When trying to fill your money bucket, you shouldn’t overlook your friends and family. 

Look out for real people in your life who are willing to invest in your project. Even if they only want to invest $10K, that can still help you cover your earnest money or smaller payments.

A lot of people are looking for private investments that offer better returns than traditional banks. Working with the real people in your life can make a huge difference in your ability to fund your project.

If you need help with navigating those personal investments, we’re happy to help. We have a lot of experience working with diverse money buckets and know how to keep notes for your financial records so those private loans are correctly accounted for.

Read the full article here.

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How To Make More Money with More Lender Options

How To Make More Money With More Lender Options

Let’s talk about how you can make more money with more lender options.

Because one of the biggest problems that impacts your cash flow is getting too comfortable with a single lender.

We’re talking about thousands-of-dollars-kind-of-impact.

Let’s face it. Sometimes it’s just easier to keep using the same lender for all your loans. But here’s the truth: Sticking with the same lender will suck money out of your pocket every month and make banks fatter.

Stop giving the banks your extra money every month!

That’s money you should be using to make your life easier and more enjoyable. If you want a leg up on most real estate investors, then spend an hour or so and shop around for lenders who can get you the best deal on each loan. Why? Because not all lenders are made the same or have the same products available. Or, worse, they think mainly of how much money they can make and not how much they can increase your monthly cash flow.

Let’s look at two examples that cost our clients thousands of dollars. All because they didn’t want to shop around or change their current lenders:

Example #1

Our team recently spoke with two couples who purchased a fix and flip together and decided to keep it. Neither had tax returns that made the cut to qualify for a traditional loan. So, they needed to use a non-traditional loan that qualified them using bank statements for income.

An important side note: Once you venture into non-traditional loans, rates can vary greatly between lenders. There are fewer lenders who offer these products, which leads to them charging higher fees.

So, back to our example! Our two couples entered a loan for $575,000 that had a 5.8% interest rate. They stuck with this loan for two weeks until they called us to chat about other options.

Our team priced the same loan 1.5% lower. That cheaper rate saved them hundreds of dollars every month, which means they enjoyed a huge boost to their monthly cash flow.

Example #2

A real estate investor reached out to us to chat about a rental property he wanted to purchase.

His current hard money lender offered him a loan that wouldn’t require him to use his tax returns, because he writes everything off and doesn’t show taxable income.

He decided to call us to see if he had other options. Using just market rents and a good credit score for approval, we were able to quote him a rate 1.125% lower than the lender he was currently working with.

Again, this was a big cash boosting move on his part. All because he chose to shop around rather than stick with who and what he knew.

As the markets tighten, there ARE ways to increase your positive cash flow. And there ARE ways to get the best rates and loan products for your unique situation.

Often times, it pays to avoid hitting the easy button for your loans. We understand comfort zones are a big deal for a lot of real estate investors, especially when it comes to funding their value-add properties.

But if you don’t break out of your comfort zone, you and your cash flow won’t grow the way it could (or should). So do your due diligence and spend the time shopping around. Go ahead, and discover your lender options. If you do, we can guarantee you’ll see your cash flow soar.

Ready to chat? Great, our team is here to help. We’re excited to set you on a path the helps you make the kind of money you need to live the life you want.

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How The Cash Flow Company Can Help You Make More Money

How The Cash Flow Company Can Help You Make More Money

Discover how the Cash Flow Mortgage Company can help you make more money!

Attention all real estate investors! Investor Real Estate Loans has changed its name! We’re now The Cash Flow Company.

Our new business name represents exactly who we are and what we focus on: Cash flow!

As a mortgage company, we help clients achieve positive cash flow success through 3 key strategies:

  1. Reducing finance costs (we can help you do this monthly or over the life of your loan).
  2. Lowering down payments so you can keep more money in your pocket.
  3. Using quick, proven strategies to raise your credit score. Because better scores equal better rates. And better rates equal better products.

Our team continuously focuses on these 3 pillars of our business, because we want to make sure you have plenty of options to increase your cash flow.

Speaking of options, we offer real estate investors plenty of flexibility, too. For example, if you don’t have tax returns (or don’t want to use them), we provide a variety of loan products. Or if you need a real estate portfolio, we can show you how to build one. Or if you want to invest in real estate without breaking a sweat, we can teach you about OPM (Other People’s Money) and other hands-off investment options.

It’s all about finding ways to make you the most money possible. Because when you have positive cash flow, you can kick back and relax a lot more often.

Ready to chat? Great! Our teams is here and ready to help you out. We’re all eager to set you on a path that helps you make the kind of money you need to live the life you want.

Happy investing!

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Busting Hard Money Myths: Why Hard Money is a Cure, Not a Curse

Busting Hard Money Myths: Why Hard Money is a Cure, Not a Curse

Today, we’re going to wrap up our Busting Hard Money Myths series, and talk about why hard money is a cure, not a curse.

But, first, be sure to check out our YouTube channel in case you missed any of our other hard money myth busting videos.

So, this past month, we’ve explored the important question of, “What is hard money?” That means we’ve busted myths and revealed how it:

  • Can be acquired for cheaper rates than most investors believe.
  • Are NOT a trap if you create a plan ahead of time.
  • And can be cheaper than bank lines.

As you can see, hard money is far from a curse.

It’s a cure.

A cure to:

  • Buying properties faster and cheaper.
  • Keeping your real estate investment projects moving along so you can sell or rent ASAP.
  • Boosting your cash flow.
  • Tackling more value-add properties than you ever could with a traditional bank loan.

Look, hard money gets a bad rep because so many real estate investors have serious misconceptions about it. But if you address each myth and see that that’s all it is—a myth—then you can transform your investments and generate positive cash flow.

No longer will you be limited to conventional loans that are harder to qualify for, and far more time consuming. Now you can buy fast, renovate fast, and either sell or rent fast.

Remember, time is money.

And hard money is the key to keeping your real estate deals moving along—AND keeping money flowing into your bank account.

Ready to chat about your hard money and other lending options? Great! Our team is here to help. We’re 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 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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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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How to Avoid Lender Rejection: 5 Ways to Get Approved

How to Avoid Lender Rejection: 5 Ways to Get Approved

Do you know how to avoid lender rejection? Today, we show you 5 ways to get approved.

Because, rejection stinks any which way you look at it.

It can really stink when it comes from a lender.

It’s taken you months, but you’ve finally found a value-add property that you want to buy, renovate, and/or refinance (or all of the above). But no matter how hard you try, you can’t find a lender willing to help you out.

Grrrr!

Well, guess what? You don’t have to experience the frustrating cycle of rejection any longer. No more searching and applying for loan only to get a big fat “NO!” Nope, that’s over!

Just follow these 5 tips:

Understand that lenders are different.

Understand that every lender is different. No two lenders will offer the same products or focus on the same types of customers. So, do your research before applying. Because Lender A might have what you need, but not Lender B.

Find out a lender’s focus.

Some lenders focus on first-time homebuyers, while some focus on commercial properties. You want to find a lender who’s focused on real estate investors.

Make sure a lender has options.

Some lenders have a very small, very strict list of requirements. Others are flexible and offer a variety of options. No taxes? No income? Iffy credit? Some lenders are okay with that. But many will need all those things. So, know what you bring to the table before you talk to lenders. The ones with more requirements will be more prone to rejecting you.

Know your numbers.

Knowing your numbers will help you know what your options might be. Your numbers include things like:

If you know this information, it will help you and your lender find the right loan for you.

Tell the truth.

Let a lender know if you’ve had a bankruptcy, maxed out your credit card, or missed a payment. Don’t be scared about doing this, because if you do, a lender WILL find out and they will lose all trust. And that means you might lose your loan.

Ready to chat? Great, our team is eager to help!

Happy investing.

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Deals and Closings

One of the key factors to making more on your investments is working with a lender who can handle your short-term AND long-term loans. Or rather, being able to quickly buy and quickly refi a property.

Why find a 2-Step Loan Program?

Well, most investors don’t have the luxury of closing a deal in 30+ days. They need to close as fast as possible, especially if they’re buying from a wholesaler with a strict deadline.

However, many investors are nervous about using non-traditional funding to close a deal upfront. What if they get stuck in a hard money loan for months and months? What if they can’t get approved for a long-term loan and get stuck with an expensive loan?

That’s why it’s so important to work with a lender who can handle both sides of the coin. And not just any lender, but a lender who has experience with short and long-term loans.

When you work with an experienced lender who offers a 2-Step Loan Program, you’ll:

  • Be able to quickly buy and quickly refinance a property.
  • Maximize your return on credit.
  • Maximize your refinance.
  • Enjoy less confusion and stress.

Think of a 2-Step Loan Program like a one-stop-shop for all of your real estate loans.

Less work, less hassle, more money.

Ready to learn more? Contact us today to get the ball rolling.

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