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Wednesday, February 12, 2020

How Car Sales Can Determine Real Estate Strength

Keep an eye on car sales to help inform your real estate decisions when you borrow from a hard money lender.

Real estate investors are savvy when it comes to the housing market, but when they’re ready to borrow from an Arizona hard money lender they will pay attention to the bigger picture to make important decisions about their portfolio.

There are two large financial indicators of the economy because they are the two biggest purchases most people will make: cars and houses. So how do car sales inform real estate investors of the strength of the real estate market?

When car sales change drastically, it can be a foreshadowing of a bigger economic upturn or downturn. Recently, car sales for the big brands like Toyota and Honda have dropped drastically. If consumers aren’t making large purchases like cars, the real estate trends will tend to follow, and vice versa.

As the economy trends that direction, consumers will become wary of other big purchases like homes and real estate investments. Why is that?

Consumers Hold Their Breath

We all remember the big real estate bubble that burst in 2008 and buyers and sellers are anxiously awaiting another large sway in the market. Though we may see something similar, we won’t see a burst to that extent anytime soon.

That being said, some owners are wanting to sell their homes before that tide does turn. That means we may see an influx of homes on the market after the new year. That’s the time for real estate investors to get their hands-on homes to fix and flip, or to buy and hold.

If you have any questions about how to use a Arizona hard money lender like Level 4 Funding to help you make a purchase for your real estate investment portfolio, reach out to us to find out what we can offer.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC
Hard Money Lender
Hard Money Loans
Hard Money Loan
Arizona Tel: (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel: (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com
Dennis Dahlberg Broker/RI/CEO

NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave | Austin | Texas | 78701
About: Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 43 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.
© 2019 Level 4 Funding LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

How to Fix and Flip in a Seller’s Market

Hard money loans can help you fix and flip a property. In a seller’s market it can be difficult to find affordable inventory.

So you’ve got your Arizona hard money loan proposal almost complete, you just need the perfect property. That can be hard to find if it’s a seller’s market which means prices are inflated and inventory is low. Here are some ways to keep your fix and flip business going through the highs and lows of real estate.

Look for FSBO Properties

FSBO means for sale by owner. Some sellers won’t use an agent to list their property so it won’t hit the online home sites. You may only find them by driving by and seeing as sign. That makes them more difficult to locate, but it gives you the opportunity to negotiate directly with the seller and you’ll be able to explain your offer face-to-face, getting the most for your hard money loan. This can also save money on your deal because they most likely won’t be paying a commission to sell.

Have a Realtor On Your Side

Realtors also have the opportunity to see properties that may be a good investment for you by seeing what is going into foreclosure soon so you can swoop in and make a cash offer to keep that person from going under on their home and losing it to the bank. This is an opportunity to get the house for what they owe, rather than having it marked up and potentially getting in a bidding war on a home that’s already listed.

Inflated prices due to a seller’s market can make it difficult to keep your profit margins up so it’s important to find other ways to get your hands on a house that will provide a good return on your investment. The tide will turn eventually, as real estate always does, and you’ll have the opportunity to scoop up properties much more easily, but it’s important to be prepared for when inventory is low so that you can keep your business afloat.

When you’ve found that property, whether it be a FSBO or a pre-foreclosure home, bring your investment strategy to a lender like Level 4 Funding to discuss your Arizona hard money loan and how we can help you achieve your fix and flip goals.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

How to Get Started with Arizona Construction Loans

If you’re building a new home or business, you’ll be looking for Arizona Construction Loans rather than mortgages. Get to know the basics beforehand, so you can move forward without delays.

Contrary to popular belief, getting approved for Arizona Construction Loans isn’t necessarily difficult, but the process is different than going to get a traditional mortgage. People use them all the time when they’re building new structures or doing major renovations, and you don’t need to have perfect credit or be a builder to get one.

Before you attempt to get approved, though, you’ll want to make sure you have three key things in place; the plans, a comprehensive budget, and permits. In other words, if you aren’t a builder or a contractor, you’ll need to have one on your team before you get started. All aspects of the build will need to be outlined with estimates from the contractors or subcontractors who will be handling each task. The plans will also be necessary to get permits, and the permitting process usually takes a few weeks by itself. Having an experienced contractor pays off here because someone who routinely works in your area will know exactly what the review process entails and what inspectors are looking for, so permits are issued promptly. However, the permitting process can stretch out longer if there are questions or if the project is especially complex.

You’ll also want to take some time to get your finances in order beforehand. Depending on how you go about getting financing, you’ll need to address how you’ll make a down payment, check your credit score, prove financial strength, and demonstrate that the build will be a financial success.

Find Out What Form of Lending is Right for You Before You Begin

It’s difficult to get Arizona Construction Loans through banks because they don’t make a whole lot of profit off them, and so they heavily restrict who they’re willing to lend to. You have to be an incredibly low-risk borrower in order to get approved, and even then, the terms might not be great. That doesn’t mean a bank won’t help you, only that it’s worthwhile to explore multiple funding options before your start paying for plans and permits out-of-pocket.

If banks won’t help, you can get your project off the ground with hard money.

One alternative to bank Arizona Construction Loans is hard money. With this method, you’ll still need to have some of your own cash in hand to get started, but you can get up to 90% LTV. Best of all, you can make interest-only payments on the loan during construction, and then either sell the property or approach a bank for a conventional mortgage after the build is complete, when they’re much more likely to help you out. You’ll still need to have plans, a budget, and permits to qualify, but things like your personal credit are less of a concern with hard money, so it’s much easier to qualify and get your project moving forward fast.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Top 3 Tips for Getting First-Time Arizona Rental Property Loans

Getting Arizona Rental Property Loans as a first-time investor can be a challenge. With a little outside-the-box thinking, you’ll increase your odds of success.

We’ve come a long way since the market crash. Home values are climbing virtually everywhere and interest rates are low, making it a great time to purchase investment properties. However, if you’ve started looking into Arizona Rental Property Loans, you’ve probably noticed they’re not easy to get, particularly if this will be your first investment property. The good news is, you can still get financing, but you’ll have to be creative to make it work.

1. Have a sizable down payment. If you’re attempting to get bank financing, 20% is still the norm for owner-occupied homes. Once you get into investing, banks start to look for at least 25% before they start offering favorable terms. Owner-occupied borrowers can also sometimes get a second mortgage to help them cover the 20%, but it’s very difficult to get one for investment properties.

2. Demonstrate strength. Lenders look for financial strength in three key areas. Having a good credit score is one. For traditional lending options, you’ll likely need to top 740 to get good terms. Lenders will also consider your reserves. They’ll want to be sure you can afford to make good on the payments even if your property is vacant for a period of time. The loan-to-value (LTV) matters as well. This is the amount of the loan compared to the value of the property. For example, if you’re taking out a $60k loan on a $100k property, your LTV is 60%. The lower the LTV, the more likely you’ll be to get financing and good terms.

3. Skip the big banks. The reality is, most people looking into investment properties aren’t going to be able to bring a big down payment or demonstrate strength in the ways big banks want. Chances are, you’ll have more luck with a neighborhood bank or by going with some form of alternative lending.

Hard Money Can Make Your Investment Dreams Come True

One form of alternative lending is hard money, and it works well for Arizona Rental Property Loans, even if you’re a first timer. Hard money can be used to purchase properties for short-term renters, such as those listed on Airbnb or HomeAway, on traditional homes, and on multi-unit properties too. While LTV still comes into play, things like your credit score matter less, so it’s easier to qualify.

Once you’re successful, you can move onto a conventional loan with greater ease.

Hard money Arizona Rental Property Loans aren’t a permanent solution, but they’re a great way to get your foot in the door and start generating income. Many people use them to purchase fixer-uppers, make repairs, and get tenants in before going for a conventional loan. By approaching it this way, you can build up your cushion for the 20-25% down, increase your reserves, and increase the value, so you’re a strong buyer with cash ready. If you’re ready to get started generating a steady stream of income, consult with a broker who works with hard money.

Monday, January 27, 2020

Harvard Study Shows You’re Approaching Private Money Lenders in Arizona Wrong

You want to put your best foot forward when approaching Private Money Lenders in Arizona for funding, but research out of Harvard Business School suggests most people are approaching business situations totally wrong. Catering to people and bragging will not help you get ahead, but authenticity just might.

Prepare to be mind-blown. A collaborative study including researchers both Harvard and Wharton suggests you’re approaching business deals wrong, but then again, most of us are. The study looked at two distinct areas; how people view humblebragging and how they view catering. Both techniques are routinely used in business as a form of self-presentation. People use them as tools to make a good impression, and most people believe they’re effective at getting others to like them.

To test the impact of humblebragging, researchers had more than 100 students answer a fake job question regarding their biggest weakness. Over three-fourths responded with a humblebrag. These are the well-rehearsed lines we’ve all been trained to give in interviews. For example, “I’m a perfectionist and it can be irritating,” or “I’m so driven that I sometimes forget to take breaks,” or “I graduated Ivy League, so my peers can sometimes be intimidated by me.” You probably have your own humblebrags as well; for social media, business meets, interviews, and so on. Unfortunately, these kinds of phrases actually sends the message that the speaker is not self-aware and puts the individual in a less favorable light. In follow-up studies, the researchers discovered that people prefer outright braggers and even complainers over humblebraggers.

The group also tested how catering to someone impacts likability. The situation here, however, was just like what people do every day with Arizona private money lenders. They tested how entrepreneurs were received when they approached investors and asked for funding. In some cases, the entrepreneurs catered to the investors by demonstrating that their interests were aligned or by trying to behave in a manner they felt the investors expected. Although most people believe that catering will make them more likable or trustworthy, the inverse is actually true, according to the study. Those who catered were evaluated more poorly than those who did not.

You’ll Be More Successful if You’re Authentic

Regardless of whether you’re approaching private money lenders, an interviewer, or even your friends on Facebook, people prefer that you’re authentic. Being authentic, in spite of any flaws or shortcomings, may actually be the thing that lands you your next job or gets your next deal funded. That’s because people can see through your attempts to present yourself a certain way and it brings everything else into question.

Temper your bragging with self-awareness for the best results.

There are times it’s ok to brag. For example, if you’re approaching Private Money Lenders in Arizona and you have a great track record with fix-and-flips, show off your successes. Don’t hesitate to demonstrate your skills. However, if you’re asked about shortcomings or challenges you’ve faced, you’ll likely do better to give an honest assessment of yourself, minus the humblebrag.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

3 Reasons Residential Arizona Hard Money Lenders are Avoiding You

Are you eager to get into the fix-and-flip game, but discovering residential Arizona Hard Money Lenders aren’t exactly jumping to support you? It probably comes down to one of three reasons, and the good news is, they’re totally fixable.

1. You’re inexperienced. People new to real estate investing make more mistakes and don’t have the experience to know how to handle surprise issues that surface during a project. Bear in mind, there will always be unexpected events that try to derail a project. At the very least, lack of experience costs money. At worst, it can leave residential Arizona Hard Money Lenders totally holding the bag. The best fix for this is to work for someone with experience in the industry for a while or to bring on a partner with experience who will make the person financing your deal more comfortable.

2. You want the lender to assume all the risk. Fix-and-flip loans of this nature are asset-based, meaning your loan amount will be based on the value of the property. Experienced rehabbers with a good plan and property can get up to 90% of the value, but as risk increases, the less you’ll be able to get. You’ll get more financing offers if you’re putting more of your own money into the deal because it builds confidence with the lender that you’ll see the project through.

3. You haven’t done your homework. People who are successful with fix-and-flips know the numbers like the back of their hand, and they either get there through experience or by building a team of professionals who are knowledgeable in the areas they aren’t. For example, if you aren’t a contractor, don’t try to guess what it will cost to fix a leaky roof. Bring someone in who knows. If you aren’t an appraiser, bring someone in who can accurately establish value.

When Investors Risk Less, They’ll Work with You More

The reality is, residential Arizona Hard Money Lenders want to fund a project, earn alongside you, and then put their money into another project quickly. When they see risks to this model, they’re more hesitant to cover projects. If you’re struggling to get financing, the best way to overcome it is to reduce or eliminate their risks, which creates a win-win situation for both of you. In fact, many prefer to work with the same rehabbers time and time again because they have faith in their capabilities.

Increase your eligibility and get better terms by working with a knowledgeable broker.

If you’ve got the knowledge and the team behind you to complete a project successfully, there’s almost no reason why residential Arizona Hard Money Lenders won’t work with you. However, it also helps to have someone in your corner who understands what your lender is looking for and can help you shore things up before trying to get funded. Work with a broker who can examine your plans and will find you the best terms possible, so you can get funded fast and get top ROI on your project.

Saturday, January 25, 2020

If You Can Write a Listing, You Can Make Money with an Arizona Airbnb Loan

Taking out an Arizona Airbnb loan may seem like a risky prospect. However, it doesn’t take much beyond knowing how to post a listing to make money using the platform.

In the early days, peer-to-peer marketplaces for home-sharing and rentals were little more than couch-surfing sites. Born out of necessity due to market conditions, these sites thrived because homeowners needed to generate extra income to make ends meet and travelers needed less expensive accommodations. Ergo, most of the rentals listed were either a single room in an occupied home or just a sofa in someone’s Livingroom.

These options still exist, but as the market has improved, peer-to-peer rentals developed too. Nowadays, people not only rent out second homes, but purchase properties with the express intent of renting them out. Data from Savilles concludes the average second home brings the owner a cool $21,000 per year in rental income and most people use a mortgage or Arizona Airbnb loan to fund the initial purchase. Interestingly, the average home is rented out just 17 weeks per year as well, meaning you could easily use yours as a vacation home as well or increase marketing to improve your revenue stream. If you do the math, it works out to $1,235 per week or over $64k annually if you’re fully booked.

The catch: you need to select a property that will rent out and you need to market it well in order to increase your ROI. The good news is, Savilles also researched what people are looking for in their short-term rentals, so it’s easy to pick a place that will get booked and stay booked.

Match Expectations to the Property and You’ll Be Successful

Coastal locations, towns/ cities, and mountains are your best bets as you shop for a property, according to Savilles, and your guests will prefer detached villas/ homes, apartments, and townhomes, in that order. Guests also look for basic features, such as broadband internet and air conditioning while booking, and if you’re in a coastal area, they want easy access to the beach. If your property doesn’t already have special features, it may be worthwhile to use your Arizona Airbnb loan to add them, so demand for your property increases. Not all features will give you ROI, though, so spend wisely. For example, guests aren’t generally looking for golf courses, marinas, and access to water sports, nor are they over-eager about sports facilities, gyms, extra land, and home automation systems. That’s not to say these features aren’t beneficial, but they aren’t as likely to increase your bookings or allow you to charge more as cultural activities and good parking.

You’ll make readers eager and increase ROI by highlighting the best features in your ads.

The secret to making money with an Arizona Airbnb loan is to keep your space rented out and get the most from each rental. Spend time crafting the perfect ad that demonstrates which features the property has as well as its proximity to local attractions and transit. Be sure to include photos and experiment with the wording. When the property starts off with good features, generating income with it is nothing more than good writing skills.