Tag Archive for: real estate investor

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 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: 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 Refinance and Boost Your Cash Flow

Today, let’s explore how to refinance and boost your cash flow.

It’s probably pretty safe to say that in the real estate world, cash flow is KING!  Because cash flow makes life flow.

But what does cash flow mean to you? Because it comes in all shapes and sizes.

What cash flow means to one investor might be very different from another.

Let’s look at an example.

We have 3 real estate investors: John, Jane, and Jack.

John likes to focus on putting less money down so he can keep more money in his pocket.

Jane likes to focus on making consistent monthly income.

And Jack likes to focus on using cash-out refinancing to gain the most leverage.

Today, let’s take a closer look at Jack’s strategy.

It’s a simple one, but popular, especially during a refinance boom.

Essentially, Jack likes to refinance all of his value-add properties every 3-5 years so he can unlock his equity and bring more money into his life. He can use this money for personal or business matters, but it’s usually for something personal.

Now let’s break this simple strategy down a bit more.

So, Jack owns 3 properties.

He bought each one for $100K.

After 3 years, each property gains $25K in equity. So, Jack refinances and takes the $25K out of each property. All because he wants to use the money for…whatever! Maybe he wants to pay off his credit cards, buy another value-add property, or go on an epic skiing trip to the Alps. The sky’s the limit.

Well, mostly.

Once Jack has this money, he relaxes for another 3-5 years. Then, if interest rates drop, or he gains more equity, or both, he’ll refinance again. And, again, he’ll use the money for whatever he needs or wants in life.

The process repeats over and over until Jack decides to sell his properties or find a different cash flow strategy.

Now, Jack’s method of refinancing isn’t for everyone. But it’s definitely a popular cash flow strategy that many investors enjoy using.

Is it the right strategy for you? Our team is here and ready to help you discover the best path for you.

Happy investing!

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How to Make Monthly Income: 3 Methods for Real Estate Investors

How to Make Monthly Income: 3 Methods for Real Estate Investors

Have you always wanted to learn how to make monthly income? Well, today we explore 3 methods for real estate investors.

As a real estate investor, you likely believe cash flow is king. Because why else would you put your hard-earned money into value-add propertied?

Hopefully, a lot of it.

But let’s take a step back and ask ourselves:

“What is cash flow?”

Because, the truth is, all of us have different goals, expectations, and perspectives when it comes to making money off our investments.

There tends to be 3 popular approaches to cash flow. These include:

  1. Putting less money down
  2. Making monthly income
  3. Using cash-out refinancing to gain the most leverage

All of these cash flow methods share two common similarities:

  • Using the BRRRR method.
  • Buying discounted properties (non-MLS listed properties).

Let’s take a closer look at the second cash flow approach:

Making monthly income.

This is probably the most common strategy among real estate investors, because most of them like to create a consistent monthly income. Why? Well, probably because they want to:

  • Replace a full-time job;
  • Supplement their current income;
  • Or create a nice sized nest egg for their future.

Let’s look at an example.

Jane the Investor doesn’t mind putting SOME money down at closing. And, on top of using the BRRRR method and buying discounted properties, she tends to focus on 3 methods to ensure she makes positive monthly income.

What are these 3 methods? Well, let’s take a look.

  1. Focus on maintaining a healthy credit score. The higher your credit, the better your rates, which means you pay less money to the banks and keep more money in your pocket. Every. Month.
  2. Choose investor-friendly real estate lenders who offer options. We’re not just talking about one or two options, but many. More options means better financing. And better financing means, yet again, less money to the bank and more money in your pocket.
  3. Invest in higher quality properties. That means putting some work into a value-add property so it’s, well, nicer. Nicer properties tend to draw tenants who treat the property, well, nicer! They’re more respectful and cause less damage than tenants who rent lower quality properties. Better yet, when a property looks nicer, it tends to be more desirable. That means demand increases and you can charge a higher rent. And higher rent means higher cash flow.

So, there you have it! If you’re looking to generate solid, consistent, monthly income, then this would be a great strategy to take.

Ready to discover how you can make a good monthly income? Great, our team is here to help.

Happy investing!

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