My mother said to keep my mouth shut and don’t cause problems.

At the men’s bible study on Friday someone ask why I looked depressed.

I told them I was frustrated, and what I did for a living and how the job was going.

They asked what was causing all of the frustration, and seemed very concerned about my wellbeing and wanted to reach out and help.  How can we help? You know, we a small group and we help one another!

I said it was because a lot of conversations I’ve had with potential borrowers resulted in them having a poor credit score and I could not help them.

Then I made this comment:

As Christians we should all have 800+ FICO Scores.
We’re not good Christians if we have poor credit scores.

Man that was a big mistake to say that!
Why did I not just keep my mouth shut?

It appears that a lot of Christians have poor credit scores.  The exact opposite of what I thought.

And, man, dude did I just piss off a lot of men in the group and now they were all out to get me!

Oh no!  Big mistake, so I started to back pedal and try to recover from this blunder and defuse the issue, but of course being the dummy I am, I opened my mouth and I made my second biggest stupid comment.

Well, true, Credit Score is an indication of credit worthiness but
really the score is an indication of you integrity,
and your character and tells the world
the type of person you really are!

Did it again, why did I open my mount?

For the next 40 minutes, the men’s group went from a group of caring, loving individuals that wanted to help me, to a group that was now out to get me!

We even went “past the time for the meeting”, and now the men were into overtime, in grinding me down.  Double overtime!

All I saw was red faces, red eyes and I even thought that one person was going to jump over the table and attack.

Ok it was time to bail, head for the door before it was too late, but the men followed me to the parking lot and to the car and wow get out-ta-there dude!

But it did not end there.

Later that day one of the men came to my office and was ready to confront me again.
At least that is what I thought when he walked into my office.  Call Security NOW!

But that was not the case.

He came and told me that I was correct in my comment and felt sorry that the ‘bible study’ turned in to this bad situation.

I asked why “didn’t you stand up and help me out?”

He said “I’m not that stupid to open my month and make
that comment to a bunch of Christians with bad credit”.

One smart dude!

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author:  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 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: credit score,christians credit score

How to Prepare for Commercial Mortgages

There are many steps that you need to take before you begin your search for commercial mortgages. Following a well thought out plan can make your process less stressful and much more successful.

As you prepare to purchase a commercial property there are many steps that you should follow before you submit your loan application. Securing commercial mortgages can take a long time and errors during the process will only make it take longer. But having a strategic plan to follow will help you to avoid any issues that will add more time to the already lengthy process. Your first goal should be learning about the process associated with commercial mortgages including the application process and requirements, the approval process and the terms that you will have outlined in your loan agreement. The more knowledge you have the less difficult and stressful the process will become.

Part of your research will entail learning about the potential lenders that you could be doing business with. Because commercial mortgages are so large and sometimes difficult to secure, many borrowers look at the lender as some larger than life entity. This perspective can make then seem very intimidating. But you need to view the lender as a strategic partner or supplier and nothing more. They are providing you with a service, a loan, and you are simply doing business with them. In a way they should be catering to you as you are their potential client. Fear or intimidation is never useful. Simple professionalism and respect are all that is required to begin to build a successful, professional relationship with a lender.

Going one step further, as you speak to prospective lenders, be honest with them about the financial health of your business and also about your personal finances. Giving them accurate information will allow them to provide you with the most helpful and useful information as you begin to evaluate who might be your best choice as a lending partner.

Invest Your Time in the Process

Understand that as you are getting to know the lenders, they are also getting to know you. In many cases, especially with a first commercial loan request, lenders need to gather a great deal of information. Your business might not have a long financial history so the lender will be basing a large part of the decision on you as the owner. That means that the lender will want to learn more about you than what the numbers on your financial statements can tell them. Don’t be afraid to tell your story and explain why you started your business, how you have managed to grow it to a point where you are looking to purchase a commercial property and what your goals are for the future.

More than Just an Application

It is important for you to remember that there is much more to securing a commercial loan than just successfully completing the loan application. This is a very important step for your business and one that you should prepare for carefully. Having a good understanding of the process and what you need to demonstrate to qualify for a loan will ensure that you are successful in finding the right lender and the best loan to meet your needs.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author:  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 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

The Best Ways on How to Evaluate Commercial Real Estate Financing Options

Before taking a dive into a big investment, it is a good idea to understand all of the difference between all of the different types of commercial real estate financing. Some of these types include office space, retail space and plenty of more properties.

Believe it or not, office spaces happen to be one of the most popular options to invest in. These buildings are broken up into three different classes and include single tenant offices and skyscrapers. If you're thinking of looking into commercial real estate financing for an office space, make sure to do plenty of research so that you know you are making the right decision. You will be able to find plenty of information on the property you are interested in so that you can get a better idea if it is going to be a smart investment.

Retail buildings and industrial buildings are also popular types of commercial real estate properties. Since retail buildings can range anywhere between a tiny 5000 square-foot space to a larger 350,000 square-foot space, commercial real estate financing options can definitely range. Warehouses and other industrial buildings are more commonly involved with investment opportunities.

Another popular commercial property you can invest in our multifamily units like apartments and condominiums. These buildings compared to office buildings or even retail buildings are a little different when it comes to the lease terms. The terms for these units are usually much shorter, so always keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind that usually the best properties are going to be in high demand, so it is best to focus on factors like location and property value.

Commercial Real Estate Financing can come with many benefits if executed right

When it comes to commercial real estate financing, you need to first decide if you want to go at it as an individual or with entities. Entities like corporations, partnerships and developers are often where the majority of investments stem from. But with the right documents and providing impressive numbers, you will be able to complete the application process easily as an individual as well. With the right numbers and documentation, individuals can still receive approval.

When done successfully, commercial real estate financing can be a win-win solution for all involved

Before taking a leap into your next investment, you must remember to take a lot of things into consideration. You need to first decide if you want to go about it as an individual or with entities. Next, you also have to consider if you are going to use the finances for an office space, for multiple units or for another type of property. There are many different options you can choose from and it is best to just evaluate the entire agreement to make sure it is in line with your plans and long-term business goals.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author:  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 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

Many Are Eager to See if Commercial Real Estate Financing Will Finally Bounce Back Towards the End of the Year

With the third quarter coming to a close quickly, many are hoping that the start of the fourth quarter will bring a boost to commercial real estate financing. Due to a slow start at the beginning of the year, the market has not quite recovered and there are a number of reasons that the industry is seeking improvements.

The numbers for the third quarter will be reported soon, but if we take a look back at the second quarter numbers, the commercial real estate financing in New York actually saw a decline, but it was extremely masked by massive size loans that were for just a few number of commercial real estate properties in the Big Apple. And because of the large size of these loans, many people didn’t even really notice the decline.

For example, one of the largest commercial real estate financing deals in New York happened to be the renovation of the well-known General Motors Building. The building is located on famous Fifth Avenue and is now home to an Apple store, which makes it the technology company’s flagship Fifth Avenue location. The deal was completed over the summer in June with a $2.3 billion-dollar price tag for the loan.

In May, the property located at 245 Park Avenue received $1.2 million dollars in commercial real estate financing. These two loans, along with a couple of other also larger loans happen to be significantly larger than any of the other loans approved in the New York City area during that quarter. Meaning that the top five loans in the city in the second quarter went on to total 20% (that is 1/5^th!) of the total loan amount for the entire quarter.

Commercial real estate financing didn’t see successful numbers in the second-quarter, but it also didn’t see a drastic decline

The numbers for the second quarter in New York City technically fell flat according to Forbes. But some of the good news is that after seeing a 12% dip from the second quarter in 2015 to the second quarter in 2016, the market has actually stayed stable, not really seen a declining shift. But considering that the top five loans made up 20 percent of the total loans, the numbers actually do show a slight decline, but nothing too extreme.

High expectations are still set for commercial real estate financing for the rest of 2017

But these numbers shouldn’t get you too worried or discouraged! They don’t necessarily mean that a slump is on the way and will be a common trend. It just means that the market experienced a bad quarter, but can hopefully it can bounce back quickly. The market just need to continue to focus on moving forward, but with caution, and keeping in mind the large amount of loans that are being approved.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author:  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 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

Tips on How to Effectively Find the Right Commercial Lenders for Your Business

Commercial lenders are there to lend a helping hand when companies need extra assistance with financing. But not every borrower is experienced enough to know what to expect when looking for the right lender for their business goals.

Sometimes your company needs some extra financing to restructure or even expand your business. Working with commercial lenders can be different in every scenario, but there are some basics to always remember when looking for extra finance help for your business.

After you have done some brainstorming and plenty of research, it is time to design a detailed plan for how you want to finance your project. It is wise to start this process by looking for commercial lenders in your area. Location is important and looking for local help is extremely beneficial because they will know the area well and understand all of the local regulations when it comes to financing. Dealing with a skillful and knowledgeable professional will help this daunting process go a lot smoother.

At the beginning of the process, after you find someone local to work with, be prepared when you go to meet with them by giving a complete outline of your project plans. The outline should include things like that estimated cost of the project and a summary of all of the future projections along with as much background information as possible of all the properties and people involved in the process. You may think that all of that time making a plan could go to waste since It may not always go beyond the preliminary review. But keep in mind that it is a good way to organize your thoughts and ideas on paper and a denial early on may cause you to reflect on your project to see if any changes should be made. You might be getting denied for a reason!

Commercial lenders should offer their best advice to borrowers

After the review process is complete and the lender is ready to move forward with the rest of the process, they should be available to offer any support and advice that is needed. Every borrower needs to fully understand all of the terms in the agreement. So, it is crucial to look for help from someone you can trust, that is dependable and is able to answer all of your questions.

There are plenty of things to consider when looking for commercial lenders

It can often be a time-consuming and stressful task to look for commercial lenders. Then after you find the right one, you have to go through the whole process of the application and working out the terms. It may seem impossible for this whole process to go smoother, but if you spend some time really thinking about your financial plan and design an outline that will be easy to move past the preliminary review, then you are half way there! Finding the right person to work with your business and your finances is going to be important for a pain free loan process from application to closing.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author:  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 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

A Few Things Borrowers’ Should Consider When Selecting Successful Commercial Lenders

A handful of borrowers are looking for more than just a trusting relationship when it comes to choosing commercial lenders. The whole lending process, from the start of the application to the very last day of closing, has become more of an interview process, with a lot of competition!

Since there are a number of commercial lenders that borrowers can choose from, this is leading to borrowers becoming more and more picky when choosing the right lender to help them with their finances. Borrowers have always wanted to get the best deal or at least a fair price along with reasonable terms, but they are looking at a lot of other variables besides just the best deal.

Being able to have a variety of customizable options plays a big role when it comes to borrowers picking the right lender for them. A one-size fits all plan obviously doesn’t work for every company, and they know this! This then leads to them wanting to see more specific options that will help them reach their business goals. This is where the top lenders come in and will be able to sit and listen to the needs of their borrowers. They are there to give them the best advice and options that suit their business goals.

When it comes to dealing with commercial lenders, the response time is always crucial. We live in a very fast-paced business environment, where technology is at the top of our fingers and constantly changing. Of course, there is going to be various response times, like when it comes to proposal delivery time to the time it takes to deliver all of the closing documents. If a lender can accomplish these steps in a timely and quick manner, then they will stand out from the other lenders.

The trust and dependability of commercial lenders are always benefits that every borrower looks for

Whenever you are dealing with someone and your finances, you want to make sure you establish plenty of trust early on along with dependability. This makes for a strong relationship and even the possibility of a lasting relationship with commercial lenders. Even when the news isn’t always the best, lenders need to be up front and honest with their customers, which in return will earn their respect. It is valuable to find someone you can communicate openly with about your financial decisions.

Commercial lenders need to be the real deal to stand out from all of the other lending competition

Borrowers are looking for relaxed credit terms and low prices, but they take many other factors into consideration when choosing the right lender to deal with. Variables like having options, a fast response time and building a trusting relationship are just as important to borrowers as finding a good deal.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author:  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 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

How to Prepare for When You Need to Work with a Commercial Lender

At some point in your life you may need to think about working with a commercial lender. You want to make sure that you have clear expectations and know what you are doing when it comes to all of your financial decisions. That is why it is best to be prepared and keep an open line of communication at all times.

A commercial lender offers a variety of loans, but they all pretty much have the same factors that all lenders look at when evaluating companies for approval. It usually comes down to the 3 C’s: Character, Cash flow and Collateral. The 3 C’s are an effective and useful way to understand the lending process.

Often times the character of the borrower plays a large role when it comes to being accepted for loans. Lenders want to make sure that the borrower they are lending to is trustworthy and will be able to pay back the loan without much hassle. This is where credit score and bankruptcy history play a big factor in the decision of the approval. If the loan is for a larger amount, your business credit score could also play a role in getting accepted. But, the overall character of the borrower is what will really comes into play during the decision process.

The next C of the 3 C’s of lending is cash flow. A commercial lender never wants to have to be forced to foreclose on a loan, so they need to thoroughly research the borrower’s cash flow. Looking at a borrower’s cash flow is something that every lender will most likely do and will always put into high consideration when deciding on approval. Also, the predictions of future cash flow are going to be evaluated, so be sure to keep your long-term financial goals in mind and always have a plan.

Collateral also plays a large part when it comes to get getting approved for a loan from a successful commercial lender

Luckily, for most inexperienced borrowers, collateral doesn’t really play a significant role in getting a loan approved, even though a commercial lender does take collateral into some consideration. However, all lenders are all different, so some will be more likely to accept deals that come with a stronger collateral. But collateral is very rarely a deal breaker. s long as you can provide the right documents with proof of substantial cash flow and a good credit score, you have a high chance of being approved.

But if a loan is on the verge of denial, a commercial lender might then take collateral into even a higher consideration

Sometimes a financial deal may lack strong cash flow along with a less than impressive character, leaving some loan decisions to rely heavily on collateral. This will of course lead to more expensive financing in the end because of the higher risk. It is a good idea to offer high collateral if for some reason, you think your cash flow and credit score is going to play a role in denial, but make sure to take into consideration all of the terms so that you know that the deal is worth the collateral.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author:  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 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage