Tag Archive for: OPM

If you want to build wealth through real estate, the key is leverage.

In the investing world, leverage is using other people’s money (typically in the form of loans) to build income.

If you master the art of using leverage, you’ll be able to build wealth easily in the real estate game.

Especially at the beginning, it can be tempting to try and use only your own savings for your real estate projects. However, those funds are limited, and it can take forever to save up for a full down payment on your own. Using loans and debt wisely will help you turn larger profits faster, ultimately making you more money, even factoring in the cut of the lender.

Leverage Makes Real Estate Investing Accessible

Especially in the central USA area, other people’s money (OPM) makes real estate investing accessible.

You don’t need to have generational wealth built up in your savings or your parents’ bank account. You just need leverage.

Leverage lets you grow your investing business from little-to-nothing. We see this over and over again in the industry. All you need is the willingness to take a little bit of risk and use OPM.

Types of Leverage and OPM

Leverage comes in many forms. When we talk about using OPM, we’re not implying you need to take up a collection at Thanksgiving dinner. 

These are the most common types of leverage/OPM:

  • Bank loans
  • Private loans
  • Hard money loans
  • Financial gifts

Obviously, in most of these cases, you need to pay the money back (with interest). However, that’s fairly easy to do once you’re selling an improved property.

What Does the Process Actually Look Like?

Most lenders want to see you put a portion of your own money into projects as well. But that doesn’t mean you need an extensive backlog of savings to get started.

Step 1. Buy

Hypothetically, if you wanted to buy a $200K property, you would only need around $10K of your own money. The rest could be covered with OPM. 

Step 2. Improve

If you put $30K-$40K into a property, you’ll significantly increase its value by more than you put in. These improvements can also be covered with OPM. 

Certain loans are created specifically for property-improvement projects, so look into options like DSCR or hard money.

Step 3. Sell 

This is where the money comes rolling in. You pay off your loans, and everything else is money in your pocket.

For our example of a $200K property, after $40K worth of improvements, it’s likely worth closer to $300K. 

That’s a worthwhile investment!

From $10K out of pocket, you end up with around $40K net worth that you’ve created with leverage.

The Long Haul Option

If you don’t want to do a basic fix and flip, you could go the rental route. If you keep a property like that as a rental, you’ll be able to pay the loan all the way down and own the property outright.

In today’s housing economy, hanging on to properties long-term is also a great investment. A property that began as a $10,000 investment could turn into your million-dollar retirement fund!

 

If you have questions about leverage or OPM, reach out to us at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com or fill out a contact card.

You’re also welcome to check out our YouTube channel where we talk about how to WIN in real estate investing.

by

Why You Need to Find Other Money Sources Now

Banks are experiencing a significant decrease of money flowing into the lending pool. This has created a bank collapse that is greatly impacting real estate investors today. As a result, banks are forced to swim upstream in search of the “best of the best clients”, thus leaving investors to find other money sources. What can real estate investors do? We are here to help navigate you through these rough waters.

Private Lenders

A waterfall effect occurs when banks are focused on the “best of the best” clients. Thus, forcing investors to cascade down to private lenders in order to keep their business afloat. The influx of new clients has led private lenders to begin swimming upstream alongside banks in search of new borrowers. These borrowers are more experienced, have more money, and more liquidity. Unfortunately, this is making it harder for many investors to qualify for loans.

Other People’s Money 

In addition to private lending, another funding source is “other people’s money” aka OPM. These are individuals that are within our community and can lend $10,000 to $100,000. By knowing who to ask and where to look, you can easily ride the wave to success. So dive in and discover additional lending options and how to succeed during this bank collapse.

What you need to succeed

Investors can prepare for this lending squeeze by making sure they have cash, high credit scores, and are keeping up on projects. By getting into a deal now and holding it for 2-3 years, it can set you up for success in the near future. We can help guide you through the process of starting your business, increasing your credit scores, finding ways to improve your income, and helping with OPM options.

Need more help navigating these rough waters watch our most recent video!

 

by

Why You Need Private Money for Your Deals

Welcome to your journey in real estate investing! Whether you’re dreaming of flipping houses, building rental property portfolios, or simply exploring the vast opportunities in real estate, leverage is the backbone to success. Today we will be sharing expert tips explaining why you need private money for your deals. With a clear plan and the right approach, you’ll be well on your way to building a thriving real estate empire. Let’s get started!

Building Your Bucket of Money

Leverage Other People’s Money (OPM)

  • Private Loans: Begin by approaching family, friends, or other investors who are looking for better returns.
  • Show Confidence: Most importantly, know your projects well and present them confidently to potential lenders.

Use Business Credit Cards

  • Avoid Personal Cards: In fact, business credit cards don’t impact your personal credit score.
  • Build Your Business Credit: This will surely help you get better loans, as well as better rates in the future.

Finding Great Deals

Work with Wholesalers

  • What They Do: Since wholesalers find undervalued properties, they can offer them to investors at a slight markup.
  • Build Relationships: Therefore building relationships and getting to know wholesalers will help you find good deals.

Network with Real Estate Agents

  • Investor-Friendly Agents: Actually, some agents specialize in working with investors. Begin by finding those who understand your needs.

For Example: The 2008 Crash

  • Pivot to Private Money: Following the financial crisis in 2008, banks stopped lending. Successful investors turned to private lenders.
  • Build Trust: In deed establishing good relationships with private lenders can provide a stable source of funding in the future.

Summary

To put it briefly, by finding the right leverage for you financial needs you will in turn set yourself up for success. After all, the key is to set up your foundation correctly and maintain consistent effort. Do you have any question regarding where to get started or how to grow your empire? Contact us today to find out more! 

Watch our most recent video: Why You Need Private Money for Your Deals 

by

How Real Estate Investors Can Prepare for Bank Collapse

How can real estate investors prepare for the collapse of banks? What does that mean for them, and what does that mean for you as a real estate investor? We will coach you through this lending squeeze by not only looking at the challenges, but also highlighting lending alternatives that will help you stay afloat.

In the lending community, banks are experiencing a decrease of money flowing into the lending pool. Over 190 banks have been placed on the watch list because funds are leaving the bank at an accelerated pace. What does this mean for investors specifically?

There are three main ways this problem is impacting real estate investors today. Let’s dive in and discover more!

Changes to the Banks’ Lending Pool

1. Banks are Lending Less

Unfortunately, with the lending restrictions, banks are being forced to swim upstream in search of the “best of the best clients.” What makes up a perfect client? It’s those who have more cash in the bank, more revenue, and better credit scores. However, those specifications don’t always fit the majority of investors. 

2. Book of Debt

To put it briefly, savings accounts and CD’s that were booked years ago at low percentages are increasing dramatically. What started at a monthly profit of 3% to 4%, has become a deficit of 5% to 5.25%. This situation is forcing investors to sell bonds and get rid of old debt, so they are longer upside down on past assets.

3. Book of Business

Banks who wrote notes to businesses 3 to 5 years ago are now coming due. What started as 3%- 4% interest rates, has skyrocketed to 8%-10%. Unfortunately, because of this, many businesses can no longer qualify. What do banks do when notes become nonperforming? The government requires banks to put in more capital to help cover potential losses. Lending is not in the forefront of banks minds in the traditional sense. The primary option for investors is SBA loans, which are backed by the government, and therefore they do not have the same lending restrictions.  

Investors are Searching for New Lenders:

Why are they looking for new lenders? Investors are forced to explore uncharted waters to locate private lenders because banks are focused on the “best of the best.” This waterfall effect is forcing investors to cascade down to private lenders to keep their businesses afloat. With the influx of new clients, private lenders are also swimming upstream alongside banks, searching for borrowers with more experience, more money down, and more liquidity. Lenders who used to lend 75% ARV are now lending 75% LTV. This could result in investors spending 20%-30% more on each deal if you’re even able to qualify. 

Additional Aspect for Fix and Flip Properties

In regard to fix and flip properties, investors need to consider the current interest rates for homes. When rates go up, the ability for a buyer to buy a house goes down. In just two years’ time, a house for $295,000 in 2021 is now $500,000. The affordability of properties has stretched what investors can fit into their budget, and what they are able to qualify for depending on the DTI (debt to income). 

Managing the Lending Squeeze

How real estate investors prepare can will result in success when navigating these rough seas. The goal is to make sure you have cash, high credit scores, and that you are keeping up on projects.  Get into a deal now and hold it for 2-3 years to set yourself up for success.

Open your eyes to additional lending sources, such as “other people’s money” aka OPM, to fund part or even all of your projects. These are individuals within our community that can lend anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000. They are out there! It’s just a matter of knowing where to look and who to ask.

Money and credit are going to be your keys to making sure that you are in the game as the rates continue to increase. We can help guide you through the process of starting your business, increasing your credit scores, finding ways to improve your income, and helping with OPM options.

Need more help navigating these rough waters watch our most recent video!

We’ve raised millions of millions of dollars over the past 15 years by bringing in money from other investors who are just looking for a return. If you need coaching or help taking advantage of these opportunities give us a call! 

by

When the real estate market tightens up, you need to be prepared with leverage so you can take advantage of investing 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 Buckets

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 money 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 fill those buckets.

3 Key Strategies For Better Loans in a Bad Real Estate Market

Our goal is to help you figure out how you can get more money from lenders so less is coming out of your pocket.

1. Get Your Credit Score in Line

In the past, 660-680 used to qualify you for an okay loan. Not anymore! As lenders tighten up, most will be looking for scores closer to 750-799+. 

Lenders are depending more and more on credit scores. Make sure your credit score isn’t holding you back!

If you’re using personal credit cards for your investing projects (using them to buy supplies, pay vendors, etc.) stop now

Personal credit cards aren’t made for that level of usage, and most cards will drop your credit score if you’re using too much of your balance on a regular basis.

This can lead to a significant usage issue. There are two things you can do to help fix this problem:

Once you raise your credit score, make sure you maintain it. Since lenders look so closely at your score, you should too!

2. Fill Your Bucket With More Money

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 money 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 money bucket, reach out to us. We’ve coached many new investors through this process.

3. Be Picky With Your Deals

Don’t feel rushed. Be selective.

As you shop around for investment properties, look for ones that are under a 70% After Repair Value (ARV). 

This is a good time to be picky, especially if you’re new to the game. Choose safe deals that will guarantee you a solid return when the market heats up again.

If you do it right, finding the deals that are 70% ARV or below can open up many more deals and transactions in the future.

In five years, when everything is back to normal, those properties are going to have great value and you could create significant wealth.

We’re Here to Help You Navigate This Real Estate Market!

If you take the time to get your credit score and money buckets in order now, you set yourself up well to move quickly when you do find the right deals for you. 

If you need help figuring out where to start or you want to discuss loans or investment strategies, reach out to us at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com or fill out a contact card.

We also have many free tools and resources that you can check out. Our goal is to help you feel equipped as you enter your investment journey, and we are always happy to help.

by

Expert Tips for Starting and Growing Your Real Estate Empire

Welcome to your journey in real estate investing! Whether you’re dreaming of flipping houses, building rental property portfolios, or simply exploring the vast opportunities in real estate, starting strong is crucial. Today we will be sharing expert tips for starting and growing your real estate empire! It all begins by setting up your business correctly. This can make all the difference in how lenders and partners view you, and ultimately, in your success.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through essential steps to set up your real estate business. First, we’ll discuss choosing the right name, then we’ll move on to securing funding and finding great deals. Additionally, we’ll share practical tips and real-life examples to help you understand and apply these strategies effectively. With a clear plan and the right approach, you’ll be well on your way to building a thriving real estate empire. Let’s get started!

Setting Up Your Business for Success

First: Choose a Business Name

  • Search for Availability: Immediately start by checking with your state to ensure the name is available.
  • Avoid Real Estate Specific Names: More importantly, opt for a generic name like “John Smith Consulting” instead of “John Smith Fix and Flip.”

Second: Obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number)

  • Apply with the IRS: The EIN is actually a social security number for your business. It’s essential for not only tax purposes, but even for opening a bank account.

Third: Set Up a Business Bank Account

  • Separate Finances: Immediately separate business finances from personal finances. Keep your business and personal finances separate in order to make things clear for lenders.
  • Use Your EIN: Again, this is required to open a business bank account.

Forth: Establish Your Business Presence

  • Create a Website: By creating a simple website, it can show lenders as well as partners that you’re serious.
  • Get an Office Address: To clarify, even a virtual office can help establish credibility.

Building Your Bucket of Money

Leverage Other People’s Money (OPM)

  • Private Loans: Begin by approaching family, friends, or other investors who are looking for better returns.
  • Show Confidence: Most importantly, know your projects well and present them confidently to potential lenders.

Use Business Credit Cards

  • Avoid Personal Cards: In fact, business credit cards don’t impact your personal credit score.
  • Build Your Business Credit: This will surely help you get better loans, as well as better rates in the future.

Finding Great Deals

Work with Wholesalers

  • What They Do: Since wholesalers find undervalued properties, they can offer them to investors at a slight markup.
  • Build Relationships: Therefore building relationships and getting to know wholesalers will help you find good deals.

Network with Real Estate Agents

  • Investor-Friendly Agents: Actually, some agents specialize in working with investors. Begin by finding those who understand your needs.

Growing Your Empire

First 90 Days: Lay the Foundation

  • Research and Networking: Spend time not only finding finding properties, but more importantly lenders as well.
  • Set Up Systems: By setting up a system, you can ensure that you have all your business basics in place.

Ongoing: Improve and Expand

  • Consistent Effort: Regularly look at properties and evaluate deals.
  • Learn and Adapt: Each project will teach you something new, which will actually make future projects easier and more profitable.

For Example: The 2008 Crash

  • Pivot to Private Money: Following the financial crisis in 2008, banks stopped lending. Successful investors turned to private lenders.
  • Build Trust: In deed establishing good relationships with private lenders can provide a stable source of funding in the future.

Setting Yourself Up to Win

  • Think Long-Term: By setting up your business correctly from the start it makes future growth easier.
  • Be Realistic: Understand that while the process takes effort, it will easier over time as you build experience as well as a network.

Summary

  • Get Organized: From your business name to your EIN and bank accounts, make sure everything is set up properly from the very beginning.
  • Find Funding: Use a mix of business credit cards, private loans, and other funding sources.
  • Network: Build relationships with wholesalers, as well as real estate agents in order to find the best deals.
  • Stay Consistent: Regular effort and learning will lead to success and growth in your real estate empire.

To put it briefly, by following these steps and staying committed, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful real estate business. After all, the key is to set up your foundation correctly and maintain consistent effort. Do you have any question regarding where to get started or how to grow your empire? Contact us today to find out more! 

Watch our most recent video: Expert Tips for Starting and Growing Your Real Estate Empire

by

Lenders want to see your own money going towards your projects through personal investments. 

In real estate investing, leverage comes from using other people’s money to generate wealth and income. 

The better your leverage, the easier and more profitable real estate investing becomes. 

But how do you find the right loans that can give you that leverage?

One of the things lenders look for is whether or not you’re personally invested in what you’re asking them to put money into.

Use Personal Investments to Demonstrate Commitment

If you’re also investing your own money in your project, lenders know you’re serious about the job. 

Using other people’s money (OPM) also demonstrates that your friends and family are willing to invest in your project. Lenders like to see you have skin in the game, even if it’s as simple as borrowing from a line of credit.

Especially if you’re a newer investor, the less you ask of lenders and the more at risk you take on, the more lenders will be attracted to you.

Personal investments demonstrate your commitment to follow through and finish a project — just what lenders are looking for!

Learn More

Read the full article here.

Watch the YouTube video here:

by

Here are 3 cons of private money to keep you informed.

Private money (money from real people) is one of the most valuable tools a real estate investor can keep on-hand.

It’s flexible, it’s cheap, it’s easy… But finding and keeping lenders is the hard part.

Here are 3 cons to private money you should watch out for.

Cons of Other People’s Private Money

There are plenty of positives, but it’s wise to be aware of some potential trouble spots too:

  • It’s harder to find lenders. You can’t walk into a bank to get this kind of money; you just have to find the right individuals. Your OPM lenders don’t necessarily have to be millionaires, but they do have to have a good chunk of free money available for you. It can take time to find these people.
  • Keeping OPM lenders can be difficult. It’s takes a lot of time and attention to nurture your real private money lenders. You need to keep their money secure, pay them on time, and provide them with good opportunities. It’s best to have multiple OPM lenders available to you.
  • Finding other people’s money means selling the people on it. People who would most benefit from being a private lender might not even know what it means. If a doctor, dentist, teacher, etc is keeping their life savings in a bank account or IRA, then they might get a better return doing private lending. However, people outside of real estate might not understand how it works. It’s your job to explain how their money gets secured and how the process works.

The funding itself may be easier, faster, and cheaper, but with private money, finding and managing a relationship with a lender can be the hard part.

Just remember that anyone with money is looking for a stable return. If you can prove you’ll provide that, funding opportunities will start rolling in.

How to Get Other People’s Money

To avoid cons, how does the process work once you find other people’s money?

If you need help finding, attracting, convincing, or setting up an OPM lender, let us know. For the last 15+ years, we’ve raised millions and millions of dollars through OPM. Send us an email at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com with any questions.

Download our free real private money checklist here.

Read the full article here.

Watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/CyS9V9Z7zBQ

by

Private money in real estate has its pros and cons. Here’s what you gain from using it.

Private money, other people’s money, real OPM.

Aka… funding from real people, not institutions.

With real other people’s money, there is no box. You create all the terms.

Depending on the individual OPM lender, you can get small gap loans, or large loans for an entire project. Other people’s money can be short-term, long-term; down payments, carry costs; the options are limitless.

Private Money in Real Estate: The Pros

In addition to the total flexibility of other people’s money, here are some other benefits to this style of funding:

  • Firstly, it’s great for beginners. You don’t need experience, and you don’t need the qualifications required by most traditional lenders.
  • No (or limited) red tape. They won’t check your credit score, income, tax returns, or require an application.
  • It’s cheaper. There are almost never fees, and the interest rates are comparable to a bank’s (on the lower end for financing).
  • You can close quickly. You don’t have to wait for an appraisal to happen or for an application to be processed. Funding is a phone call away.
  • Do any deal. OPM lenders won’t have a box for you to fit in. As long as they get their return, most people could care less what type of property you invest in.

Why Would Someone Give You Private Money in Real Estate?

Is it too good to be true? Why would a random person want to give you their money?

The thing about using real other people’s money is it’s an easy win-win scenario.

People with a lot of cash are always looking for a good place to put it, but:

  • Most people don’t want to be in charge of their own real estate investments.
  • But, banks have a very low rate of return.
  • Also, the stock market is unpredictable. (A good source of real OPM is older individuals who are nearing retirement. Stocks give a good rate of return in the long term, but when someone plans on retiring soon, they’ll be looking for shorter-term stability).

These people are looking for you as much as you’re looking for them. It’s just a matter of attracting (and keeping!) the right people.

More Info:

Download our free real private money checklist here.

Read the full article here.

Watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/CyS9V9Z7zBQ

by

The pros and cons of using other people’s money in real estate investing.

When we say real private money, we’re not talking about companies who’ve just changed their name from “hard money lender” to “private money lender.”

We’re talking about real people. Actual individuals who want to lend you money on a real estate transaction. Real money that’s cheaper, easier, and faster than any funding you could get from an institution.

Let’s go over how other people’s money can be used to fund your transactions, plus the pros and cons.

How Does Other People’s Money Work?

Real private money is the ultimate flexible funding for your real estate investments. Once you have a relationship with a lender, funding a deal is as simple as calling them with a closing timeline and the amount you need.

Remember, we’re not talking about big Wall Street companies that call themselves private money lenders. These types of lenders have strict guidelines and an underwriting process. They have a box you have to fit in.

With real other people’s money, there is no box. You create all the terms.

Depending on the individual OPM lender, you can get small gap loans, or large loans for an entire project. Other people’s money can be short-term, long-term; down payments, carry costs; the options are limitless.

Benefits of Real Private Money

In addition to the total flexibility of other people’s money, here are some other benefits to this style of funding:

  • It’s great for beginners. You don’t need experience, and you don’t need the qualifications required by most traditional lenders.
  • No (or limited) red tape. They won’t check your credit score, income, tax returns, or require an application.
  • It’s cheaper. There are almost never fees, and the interest rates are comparable to a bank’s (on the lower end for financing).
  • You can close quickly. You don’t have to wait for an appraisal to happen or for an application to be processed. Funding is a phone call away.
  • Do any deal. OPM lenders won’t have a box for you to fit in. As long as they get their return, most people could care less what type of property you invest in.

Why Would Someone Lend You Money?

Is it too good to be true? Why would a random person want to give you their money?

The thing about using real other people’s money is it’s an easy win-win scenario.

People with a lot of cash are always looking for a good place to put it, but:

  • Most people don’t want to be in charge of their own real estate investments.
  • Banks have a very low rate of return.
  • The stock market is unpredictable. (A good source of real OPM is older individuals who are nearing retirement. Stocks give a good rate of return in the long term, but when someone plans on retiring soon, they’ll be looking for shorter-term stability).

These people are looking for you as much as you’re looking for them. It’s just a matter of attracting (and keeping!) the right people.

Downsides of Other People’s Money

So, what are the cons to using real private money? There are plenty of positives, but it’s wise to be aware of some potential trouble spots:

  • It’s harder to find lenders. You can’t walk into a bank to get this kind of money; you just have to find the right individuals. Your OPM lenders don’t necessarily have to be millionaires, but they do have to have a good chunk of free money available for you. It can take time to find these people.
  • Keeping OPM lenders can be difficult. It’s takes a lot of time and attention to nurture your real private money lenders. You need to keep their money secure, pay them on time, and provide them with good opportunities. It’s best to have multiple OPM lenders available to you.
  • Finding other people’s money means selling the people on it. People who would most benefit from being a private lender might not even know what it means. If a doctor, dentist, teacher, etc is keeping their life savings in a bank account or IRA, then they might get a better return doing private lending. However, people outside of real estate might not understand how it works. It’s your job to explain how their money gets secured and how the process works.

The funding itself may be easier, faster, and cheaper, but with private money, finding and managing a relationship with a lender can be the hard part.

Just remember that anyone with money is looking for a stable return. If you can prove you’ll provide that, funding opportunities will start rolling in.

How to Get Other People’s Money

So how does the process work once you find other people’s money?

If you need help finding, attracting, convincing, or setting up an OPM lender, let us know. For the last 15+ years, we’ve raised millions and millions of dollars through OPM. Send us an email at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com with any questions.

Want some more information right away? Download this real private money checklist for free. You can also check out the videos on our YouTube channel.

by