Hard Money Facts

Panic is the enemy to your investment strategy. Choosing the right hard money lender might just be the antidote.

As any neuroscientist can tell you, humans make poor decisions when they panic – and property investors are no exception. Panic literally disengages our pre-frontal cortex – the area of our brains that brings logic and flexibility into decision-making. Under duress, our brains instead rely on the amygdala – the part of your brain that responds to instinct, emotion, and the impulse otherwise known as “fight or flight”. You know, the stuff any seasoned real estate investor will tell you to avoid when making an investment.

Any hard money lender worth their salt will tell you to avoid these very same impulses when a crisis hits while offering sage advice such as “your safest bet is to stay the course” or “maintain objectivity”. So why is it so many lenders haven’t taken their own advice, and either stopped giving out new loans or inflated their interest rates in response to Coronavirus?

Perhaps it’s not so easy for lenders to walk the talk without prior experience lending during a turbulent economy.

Finding a trustworthy fix and flip lender can be the start of a beautiful, mutually beneficial business relationship.

But a misleading lender can lose you time and money. Lenders don’t like to turn away business. So, if your deal isn’t a solid, unwavering “yes,” you may hear, “I’ll see what I can do” or “we’re still working on this.” Sometimes, this templated response comes long after the initially promised deadline. Why? Often, the lender is working behind the scenes, trying to make a deal happen for you — even if it’s in the form of an exception.

Bottom line: Don’t leave your investment property loan pending on empty words. Look for a lender who will give you a quick answer and an honest assessment of your deal.

Before you sign — or pay — anything, look for these three qualities in rehab lenders.

#1. They’re Available.

Questions can arise quickly in this business, and you need answers ASAP. Getting in touch with your lender should be easy. A good lender will give you multiple points of contact, and they’ll answer your questions in a timely manner.

#2. The Terms of the Loan Are Clear.

Having clear, easy-to-understand loan terms is simply good business. A trustworthy lender will outline any fees and loan terms before you get to the closing table. Murky fix and flip loan terms can lead to unrealistic expectations of a deal. A reliable lender will willingly help you understand what you’re signing. 

For many real estate investors, rental properties deliver a dream come true: passive income. Done right, your rental property will produce mailbox money. Your tenants pay rent, you provide maintenance here and there and your property appreciates while you enjoy the financial security of a cash-flowing asset. Even more, you can have pride in knowing you put your money to work for you.

But, to do it right, you’re going to need to do your homework and watch out for common flipping mistakes so you don’t fall victim to a bad rental property investment. Here are the 4 most important things to consider when investing in rental properties:

1. Invest in Neighborhoods You Understand

Warren Buffet famously proclaimed, “I only invest in things I understand.” The same rule applies to the single-family rehab and rental business: invest in places you know and understand. You’ll be familiar with details others might overlook, such as the rumored expansion of a large corporation nearby, or the addition of an upscale grocery store around the corner. How walkable is the area? What is the school district like? Is there a college nearby?

For help on your journey from rehab to rental, download this free investment rental property neighborhood checklist

Conventional wisdom says that late spring and early summer is the best time to sell a home or an investment property, but real estate investors and hard money lenders alike know that winter poses its own special opportunities, and that the colder months can be an ideal time to make your move.

Aside from the fact that hard money loans or property investment loans are also available in winter, there are other reasons why the winter months could be prime time to finance a house flip.

1. Less Competition From Home Buyers

For most people, winter is a time for family and holidays. Their cash is likely to go to presents and travel. Any major moves, such as the purchase of a new home, are often put on hold.

Because of this, you can approach sellers in the winter months knowing that the market is slower than usual. In the US, the annualized price of the average home can fluctuate 5-7%, depending on the time of year. In active markets like Dallas, the fluctuations have been recorded as high as 12%. And, almost without exception, the point at which prices hit their lowest level occurs during winter months.

2. The Timing From “Fix to Flip” Is Perfect.

Statistically, the best time to sell a house is in May. Houses sold during the first half of May typically sell 18.5 days faster than other months and go for 5.9% more money. On a $200,000 house, that could be a cool $11,200 bump in profits.

If you purchase a property in December, you can shoot for a completion date of May to bring your renovated property to market. It’s as simple as that: Buy during the slow season, and sell during the peak season. That’s a simple yet very effective way to maximize your profits.