Tag Archive for: traditional loans

Real Estate Investing: How Important Is Your Credit Score?

Categories: ,

Many real estate investors ask “how important is your score?” when looking at financing options. In a nutshell, your credit score is like your real estate reputation. It tells lenders how trustworthy you are when it comes to paying back loans. But how much does it really matter in real estate investing? The answer: it depends on your goals and the type of loans you need.

Financing Options:

For example, if you want a traditional mortgage, your credit score plays a big role. A high one could mean lower rates and better terms. But if you’re using a loan like a DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loan, lenders focus more on the property’s income than your personal credit.

The Power of Cash Flow:

Let’s say you’re buying a rental property with solid cash flow. Even if your score isn’t perfect, a DSCR loan might still work for you. On the flip side, if you’re planning to fix and flip homes, hard money lenders may prioritize the deal itself over your credit.

Save Money Today:

While your credit score isn’t everything, it can save you money. Higher ones often unlock lower rates, meaning smaller payments over time. But don’t let a low score stop you. Real estate investing has many paths, and you can find one that fits your situation.

So, how important is your credit score? It depends on the path you take, but knowing where you stand is always a smart first step.

Contact Us Today! 

How important is your credit score based on your investment goals? Contact us today to find out more about common mistakes and how you can get back on track.

Free Tools For You! 

We also have free tools available! Download the Credit Score Checklist to see if your credit score is in the right place for your investment needs.

Learn more!

Visit our YouTube channel to learn more about real estate investing and how you can get on the fast track to success! 

by

Can I Get a DSCR Loan Faster Than a Traditional Loan?

Categories:

If you’re diving into real estate investing, you’ve probably heard of DSCR loans. One of the most common questions we get is: Can I get a DSCR loan faster than a traditional loan? The answer is usually yes! Let’s explore the three main reasons why DSCR loans often close quicker, helping you start growing your wealth sooner.

1. No Tax Returns Needed

One of the biggest hurdles with traditional loans is the paperwork. Most banks require personal and business tax returns to prove your income history. This can be a problem if you haven’t filed taxes recently or if you’re new to the business.

With a DSCR loan, there’s no need to provide tax returns! That means you can qualify even if you’ve just started your business or recently moved to a new city.

Example:

Imagine you just launched your real estate investing business. You haven’t filed taxes yet or moved from another city. With a traditional loan, you’d need to wait two years to prove your income. But with a DSCR loan, none of that matters—they only look at your property’s potential to make money.

This quick qualification makes a DSCR loan much faster than a traditional loan, allowing you to get started right away.

2. No Business History Required

Traditional lenders usually want to see a solid business history. If you recently switched from a W-2 job to being self-employed or changed your field of work, they might not approve your loan.

DSCR loans don’t have these strict rules. They focus on the income from the property, not your past job or business experience.

Example:

Let’s say you used to work a 9-to-5 job but decided to switch to a freelance role. Traditional lenders might say no because you don’t have a long history in your new career. But with a DSCR loan, all that matters is that your rental property can cover its costs or even generate cash flow.

This flexibility speeds up the process, making DSCR loans a smart choice when you’re eager to invest.

3. Start Building Wealth Faster

The biggest advantage of DSCR loans is how fast you can start building wealth. Traditional loans often force you to wait two years or more to prove your income on paper. In contrast, DSCR loans allow you to begin investing right away.

With a DSCR loan, you can start now and use your rental income to qualify. This means you don’t have to wait to grow your portfolio and start earning passive income.

Example:

Suppose you found the perfect rental property that’s ready to go. Instead of waiting years to build up your tax returns, you can use the property’s rental income to qualify for a DSCR loan today. This way, your journey to financial freedom starts now, not later.

Use Our DSCR Calculator to Plan Your Investment

At The Cash Flow Company, we offer a DSCR calculator to help you see if your rental property will cash flow. This tool lets you run the numbers on your potential investment, so you know if it’s a good fit for a DSCR loan. Visit our website to give it a try!

Conclusion

If you want to grow your wealth faster and start investing without the long wait, DSCR loans are a great choice. They’re perfect for new investors or anyone looking to build a rental portfolio quickly. While traditional loans might hold you back with their strict rules, DSCR loans let you focus on what matters most—the property itself.

So, why wait years when you can start now? Explore DSCR loans and see how they can help you achieve your real estate goals! Contact us today to find out more!

Watch our most recent video to learn more about: “Can I Get a DSCR Loan Faster Than a Traditional Loan?”

by

DSCR Loan vs Traditional Loan – What’s BEST For You?

Categories:

DSCR Loan vs Traditional Loan – What’s BEST For You?

There are a variety of loans available to investors. Some of these include a traditional 30 year fixed, hybrid 40 year fixed, 5 year interest only, 10 year interest only and even adjustable. Depending on your cash flow and what you are needing, you can create the flexibility you need to succeed. Today we are going to discuss DSCR vs traditional loan. What’s best for you? Let’s take a look!

What is a prepay penalty?

When applying for a DSCR loan vs a traditional loan you need to take into consideration that a DSCR has prepay penalties.These are standard 3 or 5 year prepay penalty that will be charged if you refinance, sell, or pay the loan off in full before the 3 or 5 year mark. This is normally a 3, 2, 1 structure. Just to clarify, 3% would be charged if the loan is paid within the first year, 2% the second year, and 1% the third year. Traditional loans however do not have a prepay penalty. Instead investors can come and go as they please. Before considering a DSCR loan, take into consideration the duration that you will need the loan for. It could potentially cost you a significant amount to get out of the loan if you decide to pay it off early.

Understanding rates for a DSCR vs a traditional loan.

When we are looking at a traditional loan vs a DSCR loan the rates will vary. A DSCR loan could be up to a half point higher than a traditional loan. A DSCR loan typically has a higher interest rate. This is because the lender does not verify your income when you apply. Instead they calculate whether or not the property will cash flow. A traditional loan on the other hand does verify your income over a two year period. This provides them the security they need to offer a lower rate. Income verification is difficult for many real estate investors because they write as much off as possible on their taxes. A DSCR can help these investors to get a good loan as long as they have good credit.

Would you like to learn more about DSCR loans? Contact us today to see if a DSCR loan is the best for you! 

Watch our most recent video to find out more about DSCR Loan vs Traditional Loan – What’s BEST For You?

by

Traditional vs. DSCR Loan Comparison

Categories:

This loan comparison can help you figure out what loan is right for YOU. 

Whenever we’re talking about rentals, we’re always going to come back to cash flow, and it’s important to find the best cash-flowing loan. 

We want to look at the pros and cons of each type of rental loan to help you understand which might be the best option to help your cash flow for a specific deal. 

Traditional Rental Loans

Pros of Traditional Loans

1. It’s a 30 Year Mortgage. This standardized timeline is reliable and consistent across most traditional loans.

2. No Prepay Penalty. Without a prepayment penalty, you can get out of the loan whenever you want. This is great if you anticipate a changing market and might want to sell early.

3. Lower Interest Rates. Between DSCR and traditional rental loans, you’re often looking at at least a whole point difference in the interest rates. While a single percentage might seem small, when you’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars, the interest adds up very quickly, and you should consider it during loan comparison. 

Interest rates affect everything from your cash flow to your credit score to your debt ratio. Depending on where you’re at financially, lower interest rates can be a huge point in favor of these traditional loans.

4. Home Hacking. With traditional rental loans, you’re actually able to do an owner-occupied loan. This allows you to live in one of the units you’re working on. Especially if you’re working on multiple units, you can move from one to another as needed.

Sometimes these owner-occupied loans have lower down payments and better rates, so they’re often worth looking into.

5. Same Rules Nationwide. Traditional loans are consistent across the country. No matter where you go, the guidelines are the same. This makes them predictable although they often have stricter guidelines than other loan types.

Cons of Traditional Loans

1. Property Limits. With traditional loans, you’re limited to 10 properties or 10 units. So while they do often have the best rates, you’re limited in how many properties they cover.

2. Need Income Proof and Good Credit. Not all loans need proof of income, but traditional loans certainly do. Your rates will also be limited by your credit score.

3. Cannot Close in an LLC. Unlike other loan options, traditional loans require you to close in your personal name because you cannot own the property when you’re going through a purchase or refinance in an LLC.

An LLC typically works to protect individuals from the financial effects of a business. However, because of the limits of traditional loans, you can’t use that protection in this scenario.

4. One Year Seasoning. You’re not allowed to refinance until after a full year has passed. This is especially important to consider if you’re doing a BRRRR and want to tap into some equity with a full refinance or purchase.

DSCR Rental Loans

DSCR stands for debt-service coverage ratio. You’ll often see these loans come up for anything from a single family home to a larger multi-unit property.

Pros of DSCR

1. Flexibility. While traditional loans find strength in their consistency, investors sometimes find themselves needed a lot more flexibility. That’s where DSCRs come in. 

DSCRs are significantly more flexible because lenders and investors can negotiate unique terms that fit a project’s specific needs. When doing your loan comparison, consider how much flexibility you’ll need.

2. Ease! The biggest benefit of DSCR is ease. It doesn’t matter if you’re employed, what your tax return says, or how much income you have flowing. DSCR lenders only care about the rental property and whether it has the potential to produce cash flow.

3. Close in an LLC. Another big thing in the real estate investor world is closing in an LLC. Unlike traditional bank loans, you can both buy and refinance in an LLC, so you’re protected all the way through.

4. Available in all 50 States. No matter where you are, you will be able to find available DSCR rental loans. However, the details might vary.

Each lender offering DSCRs have their own terms, guidelines, etc. This makes it incredibly important to shop around to make sure you find the right fit.

5. Unlimited Number of Properties. You will find so many options in the DSCR world. You can find loans for specific properties or do a blanket loan for $50 million that could cover as many units as you wanted.

Always make sure that the lender and loan are the right fit for you, and remember that there are a ton of options available!

Cons of DSCR

1. Prepayment Penalties. The number one downside of DSCR loans are the prepayment penalties. If you’re looking to get in and out of a property within the first three to five years, there’s a prepayment penalty unless you buy it out.

2. Higher Rates. Rates for DSCRs typically run anywhere from 1%-3% higher than traditional bank loans, depending on credit score, size of loan, etc.

3. Might Disappear or Change Quickly. DSCR loans are prone to change quickly. When shifts happen in the real estate market, they might even disappear for a brief time before showing up again.

While traditional bank loans are more slow-moving, DSCR moves quickly, and sometimes that can become an issue to real estate investors.

4. Can’t Home Hack. DSCR also does not allow you to live in any of the units you’re working on as you could with an owner-occupied traditional loan.

 

Read the full article here to learn more about loan comparison.

Watch the YouTube video:

by