Learn To Be A Fix & Flip Investor

Friday, March 3, 2017

Business Purpose Loans – Providing a Helping Hand

If you are trying to get any business up and running, the one thing you simply cannot do without is money or rather commercial financing in this instance. So you might be asking yourself, at this point, where exactly do you even start?

Whether you are trying to secure business purpose loans for a larger start-up or trying to get your small business where it needs to be, you can always benefit from a practical guide to all things business. So, let’s quickly cover a few of the basics. For starters, business purpose loans may or may not be your solutions to your financing problem. In other words, business purpose loans typically involve using the equity in one’s home as collateral.

If you are wondering why you need collateral or should consider using your house as collateral the answer is very simple—collateral makes it much easier to not only get approved for your loan but to secure a loan option that might otherwise be out of reach without said collateral. Generally, business owners that choose this particular commercial loan do so because who in their right mind doesn’t like lower interest and quick approvals?

Thus, if you have the ability to move forward on a potential commercial loan with the equity in your home then it almost goes without say that you need to make sure you are leveraging your collateral with your best interest in mind. This means keeping detail records of assets and being clear on the true value of assets or collateral i.e. do not guestimate. You would be surprised how many bright-eyed entrepreneurs rely on outdated information. Do not be one of those entrepreneurs instead do yourself a favor and contact an appraiser for an accurate as well as an up-to-date record of your property’s value.

Advice on Collateral

Now, that you have a rough idea of what and why collateral matters with these particular kinds of loans, let’s go over you next move when you simply do not have enough collateral or rather not enough equity in your home. In the event that you cannot get approved with your current collateral, you need to start thinking creatively. This means finding exactly what your other lender options are, researching online lending, comparing your offers, thoroughly vetting your potential lenders and so on. Ultimately, the goal is to get the right kind of financing for your needs, therefore you should never let a lack of collateral or equity stop you from accomplishing your goals.

Long-term Benefits

By now you know that more research you do, the better you under the risks and the better prepared you are to pitch your plans to your potential lenders, the better off you will be in the long run. Moreover, you do not have to do any of this alone and more importantly, you shouldn’t so use all the resources at your disposal. The truth is starting a business or expanding a business is never easy and you need to stay on your toes every step of the way.

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: business purpose loans,business purpose loan

Is It Time for a Business Loan?

You probably know several successful business people who decide it was time for a business loan one day and the next day their business took off. You may also know people who decided it was time for a loan and absolutely regretted it down the line, so how do you really know when it’s time?

You would be surprised at how many people in your life will have an opinion on you securing a business loan. So who do you listen to? How do you know the time is right? Well, despite having probably dozens of people to discuss these things with, the real answer is you need to know when the time is right for you and your business, which is often easier said than done. Moreover, it is important to remember that the people you should be listening to are those with your and your business best interest in mind, which may or may not be other people in your industry.

Clearly, the best option is to speak with your potential lenders, your business attorney and your accountant since this is not an everyday kind of decision. But, nevertheless, you more than likely came here for some clear cut guidance so let’s get to it then. For starters, the best way to know if it is time for a business loan is to ask yourself, why you are even considering securing additional financing in the first place? Are you not sure? Well, then back away from the application.

Typically, there are at least six good reasons to get additional financing for your business and they include your company or business is ready to expand its physical location, you want to start actively building credit for the future, you are in need of additional equipment for your day-to-day operations, you are interested in purchasing more inventory, your business needs fresh talent or maybe you have stumbled upon a business venture that you simply cannot miss as the benefits will ultimately outweigh the incurred debt. Ultimately, this is when it is in your best interest to seek additional financing. Of course, that’s not to say these are the only reasons but rather the most beneficial reasons.

Staying Successful

Deciding it is time for a commercial loan or more financing is obviously a big step that if taken wrong can make or break a small company. Thus, it cannot be stressed enough that in order to stay successful as a small or larger business you need to take your time with this decision. Remember, the main and only goal of securing additional financing for your business should be improving your bottom line. If you can clearly see that this financing will help you achieve that goal then by all means full-steam ahead.

Reap the Benefits and Risk Less

With that being said, you still want to ensure that you will have the ability to pay back your secured additional financing when the time comes regardless of the outcome. So, be confident in your business decisions but remember to always be thinking long-term.

Technorati Tags: business loans,business loan

Thursday, March 2, 2017

The Pitfalls of a Short-term Business Loan

Are you thinking about getting a short-term business loan in the near future? If the answer is yes then it’s important to know just you are getting into.

Practically, every business at some point or another needs additional financing or a business loan. But, what many business owners simply do not realize is the important differences between short-term loans, standard bridge loans, hard money loans, etc. In fact, many business owners often go into the situation relying solely on what their potential lenders tell them or have promised; this, of course, can lead to confusion down the line as lending, at the end of the day, is also a business.

Clearly, you do not want to be one of those business owners who secure additional financing without all the facts i.e. you will do the necessary research to find the most advantageous business loan you can. If you have already done your research then congrats, you are one step ahead of the game. But, ask yourself this— are you sure that you know everything you need to know about short-term financing for businesses? The truth is, obviously, you cannot know all there is to know about anything. But, that’s why the question asks if you know everything YOU need to know. In other words, do you have enough information to make an advantageous and informed decision that is right for you as well as your company? Do you understand the pitfalls of short-term financing? Well, these are things you absolutely need to know in order to move forward with this particularly kind of business financing.

Of course, if you need financing sooner rather than later and do not necessarily have loads of time to spend comparing offers, interest rates, and terms then the very least you can do is become clear on the potential pitfalls. Thus, without further ado, let’s go over the major pitfalls of short-term loans for businesses.

The Real Deal on Short-term Financing

The major pitfalls of short-term financing are unsurprisingly the over-the-top interest rates and ultimately how this extremely expensive financing will affect your company’s bottom line. For example, you will see fairly quickly how needing even an extra month or two can significantly impact the amount of interest you will end up owing i.e. a loan of $50,000 at a three percent interest rate not only will run about $1,500 in interest but with that extra month or two the number quickly increases. Moreover, many lenders often penalize or add additional fees for extensions. In regards to your company’s bottom line, if for whatever reason you are unable to meet the terms or obligations of your short-term loan you can very easily put your business and its future at risk.

A Little Business Advice

Ultimately, if you are the position to secure a short-term loan and you are fairly positive that you will be able to cover future terms or obligations in spite of very high-interest rates and you have explored all your options then this kind of financing may be, in fact, right for you.

Technorati Tags: business loans,business loan

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

When is a Business Loan Right for You?

Are you considering a business loan, but aren’t quite sure if the timing is right loan for your business? If so then you’ve come to the right place to help you figure it out.

The hard truth is that if you are a large business, in many ways, the world of lending is your oyster. However, if you are a small business not only do you have fewer lending options you probably do not have a clue of where to begin or in this case when to begin. Well, that’s okay. Statistically speaking, most small businesses (newer businesses) or rather more like only half of small/ newer businesses in the US apply for financing. So as you can see you are not alone in be wary or fully apprised when it comes to applying or securing a business loan.

Moreover, you are not alone in your uncertain quest for the right business loan because when asked most small business owners admitted to believing that financing was just too hard to find due to the mainstream or traditional lending options available. Well, the truth is they are not completely wrong. Small business owners do, in fact, have a harder time of securing financing generally if they do not explore non-traditional lending options or if they do not truly take the time to understand what’s required of them since they are small business borrowers.

In other words, if alternative lending options are not your thing per se and you are still looking for additional financing then it’s time to understand your eligibility as a small business. In general, you should also decide what are your top priorities are i.e. money today or better terms and a lower interest rate. By simply doing these two things, you can put your small business in the best position in the short-term as well as the long-term. With that being said, let’s go over what it means to be eligible for additional financing as a small business.

Understanding Your Eligibility

Unsurprisingly, most traditional lenders and alternative lenders look for specific factors when approving a business applicant such as your revenue, the age of the business, your personal FICO score, how you plan to use the additional financing as well as the amount you are requesting i.e. the size of the proposed loan. One factor, in particular, that many small business owners tend to not give too much weight to is the age of the business. But, in reality, this factor matters and it matters a lot. Generally, most lending institution will offer you better options if your business has been operational for more than two years.

Timing Is Everything

Thus, it almost goes without saying that the best for securing additional financing is when your business has been successfully operating for at least two years. Are you curious as to why two years is the lucky number? Well, you shouldn’t be. It is because a significant number of small/newer businesses fail in the first two years and even more fail in the first three. Thus, you can see not only is it your best interest, in general, to getting your footing as a business it is also advantageous when it comes to additional financing.

Technorati Tags: business loan,business loans

Hard Money Lenders—Dallas Rehab Financing

By now, you know that there are reputable lenders in practically every state, especially hard money lenders. Dallas lenders of hard money, in particular, are some of the most reputable lenders you can find, even when dealing with rehab financing and rehab projects.

If you are a newcomer, you may not know that lenders that provide rehab financing are, in many ways, just niche hard money lenders. Dallas lenders who specialize in hard money rehab loans, however, are not necessarily on every corner, therefore, you need to know what to look for when it comes to these particular kinds of hard money lenders. Dallas rehab projects, similar to other rehab ventures, are held up to a higher standard in the world of hard money lending, so let us discuss what that standard entails.

For starters, these particular niche lenders, if you will, consider several crucial things when deciding whether or not to approve your hard money financing. For example, what you paid for the particular piece of property is always a discussion topic. These lenders want to ensure that their investment, as well as their investor’s stake in your project, is protected. In other words, if you purchase the property and do not make any improvements there needs to be protections in place.

Similarly, your lender and potential investor will be highly concerned about your rehab project’s upside potential. Of course, this is not to say this will factoring into your loan to value ratio, but rather that it will help everyone determine how potentially risky extending financing may be. In addition to these factors, your lender will want to fully understand the nature and extent of your rehab project, as well as the ins and outs of your personal financials.

Other Things to Consider

Besides the above-mentioned concerns, your future niche lender will also want to ensure that you meet your repayment terms for your rehab loan. Thus, you will quickly see that though you are securing your rehab project via hard money, there are expectations and firm commitments that you won’t often see with other kinds of financing. Of course, there is no need to panic all this means is that you need to work within the timeframe or rather fixed period. However, if you are unable to work within your set time period for whatever reason, then you have to deal with prepay penalties. Prepay penalties are typically standard when dealing with rehab loans, so it is important to keep them in mind when moving forward with your hard money financing.

How to Make Money with Rehab Financing

Ultimately, if you play your cards right you can secure hard money financing for your rehab project or venture fairly easy. It is all a matter of knowing what to expect from your lender, understanding the market and ensuring that your rehab project has what it takes to turn a profit while allowing you to avoid any prepay penalties or fees. Remember, you can earn a sizable return with the assistance of a rehab loan, so if you don’t know where to start your lender search ask around!

Happy senior business man making his notes at work 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: hard money lender dallas,hard money lenders dallas

Business Purpose Loans –Line of Credit vs. Term loans

So, you have decided that business purpose loans are what you are after, but, you aren’t clear on the difference between choosing a line of credit or a term loan or which option is best.

If you are like most people seeking business purpose loans, you’ve more than likely come across dozens of lengthy and complicated applications or required forms. On the rare occasion, you may have come across a straightforward application and let out a sigh of relief. Maybe, next, you happily grab your pen to fill in the blanks or began clicking on the appropriate boxes on your computer till suddenly you realize that you are halfway through one of the most straightforward application for business purpose loans you had ever seen.

But, more than likely just as you believed that you could fill out this particular application without any obstacles or feelings of anxiety, you came across the loan request information section. There in that section, you were innocently asked to fill out your primary purpose (working capital, purchase inventory or equipment or real estate, debt restructuring, accounts receivables, improvement or other) –no biggie. But, then suddenly almost out of nowhere or just right next to the primary purpose boxes, you see it—loan type requested, check the appropriate box for a line of credit or a term loan.

At first, you may have wanted to clearly check the term loan box; after all, it is all you’ve known when it comes to loans. But, maybe you liked the way “line of credit” sounded in your head. Well, snap out of it. This is your business, though, you do not have the luxury to kid around or make decisions based solely on the way the sound. So, what can you do? Well, first stop filling out the application i.e. put the pen down or stop typing if you haven’t already and let’s go over whether you are in the market for a line of credit or a term loan.

How to evaluate your Loan Type
The best way to evaluate which loan type is right for your business is to first and foremost understand what these terms truly mean. A line of credit, in regards to these particular kinds of loans, is very much still like any other line of credit. This means you have access to a specific amount of business-use only financing. It also means that you are not required to make any payments or deal with those pesky interest rates until you actually use the funds—think of it like a credit card. Term loans, on the other hand, means lump sum financing that you pay back over agreed upon period of time (amortization period).

The Real Deal
So who do you choose? Well, term loans are best if you are talking about specific long-term investments like making improvements or buying equipment. A Line of credit is more about having access to financing when you need it the most i.e. think short-term here. With that being said, mull it over some more, do your research and think about your priorities then you can check your appropriate box.