Hard Money Facts

If you are someone who regularly works with real estate investors, partnering with the right lender can elevate the value you bring to your clients. Let’s break down what this looks like.

At Residential Capital Partners, we help residential fix-and-flip and rental investors move quickly on opportunities that make sense. This renewed tax incentive adds another lever to boost returns, improve cash flow, and reinvest faster. Here’s what you need to know.

Here are some of the seasonal shifts to keep in mind as you move through the final quarter of the year:

We've outlined some simple strategies to turn contractor relationships into a competitive advantage on every flip!

Here’s a quick guide we've put together to emphasize some of the most important seasonal maintenance tasks you should consider as a fix and flip or long-term rental property investor. 

Here are some key red flags to keep in mind before signing that lease and turning over your property.

Here’s why staging and photography should be part of your flipping playbook—and how to use them to your advantage.

The secret to successful real estate flipping is knowing which improvements attract buyers and enhance the value of the home.

Here are some of the win-win improvements that make buyers and investors both happy.

1. Minimize Costs By Choosing Wisely

The bones of the home, i.e. the basic framework and layout, determine the size of the rehab budget. Jonathan Faccone, Founder, Halo Homebuyers LLC, has this sage advice for flippers: “When choosing a property, look for houses that can be improved without being reconfigured.” That’s particularly true if you want a house with an open concept, or if you envision adding value by adding a bedroom or bath.

Simply put: Painting walls is cheap. Moving walls is another story. If the old adage “you make your money on the buy” is true, then finding a floorplan that works as-is yet needs some love and attention is critical.

2. Cost-Efficient Kitchen Remodeling

A nice, remodeled kitchen is a huge draw for potential buyers. One caveat: It’s easy to go overboard. If you gut an entire kitchen, a mid-range remodel can easily run up to $60,000 — and net you only a fraction of that when the time comes to sell.

It pays to make your kitchen shine when you do it cost effectively:

• Sand and paint cabinets instead of replacing them.
• If paint isn’t enough, try replacing the doors instead of demoing the cabinets
• Instead of a $4,000 stainless fridge, find a tasteful one on sale for $1,000.

Remember: Your hard money loan is generally limited up to 75% of a home’s after-repair value. Choose the remodel projects wisely.

Your contractor can have a profound impact on almost every aspect of your real estate flip: deadlines, quality of work, budget, and return on investment. And whether the overall experience will be energizing or draining can also depend on whom you hire.

So, if you’re funding a flip, or using a hard money lender, it’s important to keep your flip on schedule and on budget. We all know that time is money. But unfortunately, not all contractors understand or care. Follow these steps and you’ll be able to find good contractors and build lasting relationships with the ones who come through for you.