Getting into Fix & Flips? Read This Appraiser’s Advice First

 

When people hear about Level 4 Funding and the work we do, they often wonder exactly how people put hard money loans to use and create real value with them. Oftentimes, those we help work in the “fix-and-flip” business, rehabbing houses. Of course, the next flurry of questions usually surrounds who does that and how they make it work. We’ve been lucky enough to get a few professional home rehabbers to open up a bit about their work and are highlighting their stories. Jason Maze of Maze Enterprise and Amazing Appraisals was kind enough to give us some insights.

Jason Began as an Appraiser

Working in real estate appraisals, Jason routinely helps home buyers and sellers, as well as other parties such as lawyers and accountants, determine the value of a home. While this is often done in advance of a sale, appraisals are routinely performed anytime knowing the value of a property is beneficial, such as during a divorce or while handling estate planning. Over the years, he really got to know the numbers and specific areas. When the market crashed in 2008, he noticed an interesting trend. Canadians were heading into the area and buying en masse. “We can do that,” he decided. With his experience in value and his wife Jennifer’s lifelong affinity for design, the two ventured into the fix-and-flip business.

He Offers Some Tips for Those Getting into Home Rehabs

We asked Jason what advice he’d give someone who was considering getting into the business. “Go for it,” he says. “Make sure you have crunched your numbers. Buy low, sell low.” Although Jason may have the upper hand in valuation because he’s been in the field for decades and now does about ten flips per year on top of it, he says anyone can get a better idea of the numbers by hiring an appraiser before they purchase a property or prior to selling one.

There are Highs and Lows in the Fix-and-Flip Business

So far, Jason says his and Jennifer’s most rewarding project has been a historic home. With Jennifer’s designs and Jason’s fiscal sense, the outcome was great. However, the icing on the cake was when HGTV contacted the couple and asked about airing it on a show. This particular property, aside from celebrity status, was a bit of a rarity for the duo, as they typically aim for “newer” homes, or those built in the 1970s through now. Jason says they “learned their lesson” about dealing with older homes the hard way by purchasing one sight unseen. When they finally got their hands on it, they realized it was built with mud and straw, then covered in plaster, as opposed to modern building materials. This, he adds, isn’t uncommon for the period. Many homes throughout the southwestern US, particularly in the Phoenix area, were built this way because it’s what the earliest residents had on hand and helped make the desert heat more bearable. Still, it was an unexpected surprise they had to overcome and added a few extra challenges to the rehab.

Jason and Jennifer Have Big Plans

Despite the occasional blip, the fix-and-flip business has been good to the Maze family. The pair does about two homes at a time, continuously adding to their impressive portfolio. This still allows plenty of time for Jason to grow his appraisal business. Jennifer, on the other hand, has been balancing managing the design of their rehab properties with a nursing career, which she may soon leave behind in favor of branching out on her own offering design services to others. Of course, the family is still allowing plenty of time for fun and new adventures together as well. Chat with Jason About Appraisals or Get Info on a Fix & Flip Loan.

If you’d like to chat with Jason about his appraisal services, go to Amazing-Appraisals.com.

You can also visit Level4Funding.com to learn more about loans for your next fix-and-flip project and even begin the application process right on the site. We’ll be sharing more stories from home rehabbers like Jason too, so pop back in soon for the next installment.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Office:  (623) 582-4444
dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027

What to Expect With Hard Money Loans Arizona

Hard money loans Arizona offers real estate investors a great tool. But, that tool is only useful if the investor understand the process and knows what to expect.

Hard money loans Arizona represent a good opportunity for many real estate investors. But knowing what to expect from the process and how to prepare are critical to a successful request and having the loan funded. Knowing what the lender is looking for will let you present him or her with the desired information and be prepared to meet the requirements of getting the loan.

Hard money lenders are going to want to see that the borrower has some money in the bank as a safety net in case there are issues with the property or the future transaction. Being cash poor is going to make it difficult for you to pay insurance, invest in repairs to the property or even maintain the property. So it is always wise to create a nest egg before beginning your search for hard money loans Arizona.

As a first time hard money borrower, it is also important that you do your homework. Understanding the terms for hard money loans Arizona is very important. The interest rate is definitely going to be higher than a traditional loan and the terms are going to be much shorter. But that is the price of doing business in the hard money world. However, the advantage for you is that all of the terms on hard money loans Arizona are negotiable. You simply need to work with the lender to agree to terms that meet both your needs and his or her needs.

What to Ask For

The loan to value rate is simple the comparison of the amount that you are asking for and the current market value of the property. In most cases a hard money lender will never fund over 70% of the cost of the property. So you need to be aware of this “magic” number and limit your request accordingly. In addition, you will need to be able to demonstrate your ability to provide the remaining amount of the purchase price for the down payment on the property.

Have a Planed Exit Strategy

All that the lender is really interested in is recovering his or her investment and interest on the hard money loan. But the lender understands that for you to pay off such a large loan in a short period of time, then you will most likely need to resell the property for a profit. So the lender will want to know how you plan to accomplish that task. And because it is only on a very rare occasion that things go perfectly, it is best for the lender and for you, to have more than one exit plan. You might want to do a quick flip on a residential property. But if you can’t find a buyer then a reasonable backup plan it to rent the property and seek a traditional loan to pay off the hard money loan.

Knowing what to expect and being prepared will not only help you to secure a hard money loan but it will also help you to be successful in profiting from that loan.

Spotting a Business Loan Arizona That Is Too Good To Be True

Spotting a Business Loan Arizona That Is Too Good To Be True

(Looking for a great deal on a business loan Arizona is smart. But you need to be able to determine which offers are legitimate and which are actually a scam.)

When you are searching for a business loan Arizona, it can be difficult to tell which lenders are legitimate and which are actually running a scam just to collect fees from unsuspecting potential borrowers. But completing your due diligence will reveal some information that will give you a good indication of which firms are legitimate and which are scams. There are some legitimate lenders who do request a processing fee when you submit your request. So that is not always a sure sign of a scam but there are a few dead giveaways.

When researching lenders to submit loan applications to, it is wise to always eliminate any that are outside the United States. This will greatly help to reduce the number of shady or fake lenders that you will be speaking to. Any lender who is outside the country is not going to be forced to follow any U.S. laws and that greatly increases the potential for you to become a victim of a scam or to have your personal information and identity stolen. In addition, if you are working with a firm who claims to be in the United States and then in fact is not, stop all transactions. A business who is hiding their location is more than likely not legitimate.

If you are told that there are no qualifications to be met for business loan Arizona approval, you are likely dealing with a fake company. These “firms” are likely to say that they charge a somewhat substantial fee for the loan request to be processed but then the fees are applied to your loan points. And that it is just a formality because there are no criteria that you must meet to get approved. These are all lies to get you to pay the fee. Once you pay then the lender never calls you again and will not return your calls or emails.

Don’t Be Fooled By an Office

Even if the company has a nice office in a respectable neighborhood there is no guarantee that they are legitimate. In most cases the office is in another state or city and all that you are seeing are pictures on a website. Not only is the office likely to belong to someone else but the entire business could be nothing more than a person who is running a website and collecting application information to sell as well as bilking borrowers out of application fees.

There Is No Free Loan

You are never going to find a legitimate business loan Arizona that is offered without any fees or interest. Lenders are in business to make money just as you are. So always look very closely at the entire contract and all of the fee and payment structure of any loan that appears to be too good to be true.

 

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Office:  (623) 582-4444
dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027

Owner Occupied Borrowers Can Get a Private Hard Money Loan From Lenders

Welcome we offer Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans in Arizona up to 80% LTV.  Our Arizona owner occupied hard money loans program makes it easy for you to get the new home you need despite not having credit, having bad credit, or even if you’re not from the United States.  Owner occupied loans have easier requirements than investor loans and can even benefit from our cross collateral 100% LTV loan option.

Owner occupied hard money loans are also considered Principle Residence Loans, alternative financing, and private money loans.

We continuously stay up to date on all regulation required to offer owner occupied hard money loans.

Poor Credit, BK, Foreclosure, TIN Numbers, Self Employed YES we can!

No Up-Front Fees and No Cost to Apply.

Quick and simple to Apply for a Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan

Reasons Why Borrowers Use Owner Occupied Loans using Private Money

Bad credit

Hard to prove income

Dealing with a problem property

Cannot qualify for conventional or FHA/VA financing

Common Uses Of Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loans Arizona

Buying first or second home

Refinance an existing loan

Cash out for repairs or remodeling

Cash out for debt consolidation

Hard Money Owner Occupied Loan Program Options

100% FINANCING AVAILABLE if the borrower has another property that is free and clear or has a small mortgage in relation to value (substantial equity) to pledge as additional collateral.

We are a Private Hard Money Lender in Arizona, making real estate loans to both Investors & Owner Occupants in Arizona.

NO PRE-PAYMENT PENALTY

We have no pre-payment penalties on our loans.

PURCHASE - REFINANCE

Down payment: 20-30%

Can accept co signers

Allow seller carry back for the Down Payment

Up to 70% or 80% of appraised value

Up to 100% financing with a 2nd free and clear property.

Interest Rates from 9.5% for Owner Occupied Private Hard Money in Arizona.

Requirements for Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans

Income verified – 3 months banks statements or tax return.

BK, Foreclosure, INN, Self Employed YES we can!

Apply for an Owner Occupied Hard Money Loan

If you are interested to see if you qualify for an owner occupied hard money loan in Arizona, give Jamie a call today at 623-582-4444 or fill out our loan application to get started.

What is an Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan?

These types of loans are considered consumer loans. This means that they are for the individual home owner not an investor or corporation. These loans are for borrowers who will live in the home as their primary residence home. These are loans where the borrow will use the funds for consumer purposes, such as paying down debt, buying a boat, debt consolidation or paying a tax lien. The funds are going to be used to help the consumer. When you are applying for a consumer Private Hard Money home loan there are a lot of requirements that the lender must do to make sure that the borrower fits the loan. These are recent requirements, but the main requirement is that the Private Hard Money Lender Lending for an Owner Occupied Homes needs to make sure that the borrower can make the payments. They call this verifying the ability to pay the loan. Since this a Private Loan, these requirements are easier and more relaxed that the traditional lender. Additionally, Arizona Private Hard Money for Owner Occupied Loans usually have a lower credit requirement. Another requirement is that the loans must be ‘fully amortized over 30 years’ and cannot have a balloon payment. The advantages of a Private Hard Money Lender are that the loan is completed quickly, and the borrower can move fast. Typically, the lender is private individual that will look at the property and make a quick decision. Rates on the loan are higher that a traditional loan, but usually range from 6-12%.

A few other reasons for a Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Consumer Loan:

Self-employed

Trouble documenting income

Inconsistent income history

Credit issues due to a recent loan modification, short sale or foreclosure

Bankruptcy

Client already owns the home and needs to refinance, the purpose is consumer in nature, and there’s no purchase component.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Applewood Funding  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Office:  (623) 582-4444
dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027

The Benefits of Hard Money Loans Arizona

Hard money loans are not as intimidating as many borrowers have come to believe. Understanding the benefits of hard money loans Arizona will clarify why they are a very useful financial tool.

Many borrowers view hard money loans Arizona as some type of shady deal that operates on the fringe of the legitimate lending world. But nothing could be further from the truth. Hard money loans are a completely legitimate and legal way to seek funding when a traditional lender or bank is not able to meet your needs. In addition, there are a number of benefits that are specific to a hard money loan.

Time can be an investor’s greatest enemy when a deal needs to move quickly to avoid a lost opportunity. Completing a tradition loan application can take days and then there can be weeks or even months of waiting to receive a final decision. All of this time is an open door for another investor or buyer to swoop in and steal a deal. But the process of applying for hard money loans Arizona is much faster. This is because the lender is really only interested in the current market value of the collateral being used for the loan. The lender is not going to do a deep dive into the borrowers business or personal finances to determine creditworthiness and debt load. So a simple property appraisal and evaluation can be completed very quickly in comparison.

In addition to the fast turnaround for funding, the other terms of hard money loans Arizona are also more favorable to many borrowers. Unlike the long terms of a traditional loan, hard money loans can offer terms as short as three months or as long as two to five years. This flexibility is perfect for the investor or flipper who is going to purchase, renovate and resell quickly. Builders are also fond of these terms as it allow time to build on a piece of property and then sell within the year and move on to the next project.

Credit is Not an Issue

The final benefit is to those borrowers who have no credit or less than perfect credit. Having no credit is almost as bad as having bad credit. But in the case of a hard money lender, neither of these issues is a deal breaker. The lender is only going to look at the value of the collateral to determine if he or she is willing to fund the loan. Credit is not going to be an issue, so hard money loans offer an opportunity to many borrowers who just don’t meet the high standards of the traditional lenders.

A Financial Tool

There is no one all-purpose tool for everything and finance is the same concept. Not everyone can meet the criteria for a traditional loan nor can they wait for a bank to approve the long form application. In some cases, a hard money loan is just simply a better option than a traditional loan.

 

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Office:  (623) 582-4444
dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027

Private Hard Money for Owner Occupied Borrowers in Phoenix

Welcome we offer Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans in Phoenix up to 80% LTV.

Our Phoenix owner occupied hard money loans program makes it easy for you to get the new home you need despite not having credit, having bad credit, or even if you’re not from the United States.  Owner occupied loans have easier requirements than investor loans and can even benefit from our cross collateral 100% LTV loan option.

Owner occupied hard money loans are also considered Principle Residence Loans, alternative financing, and private money loans.

We continuously stay up to date on all regulation required to offer owner occupied hard money loans.

Poor Credit, BK, Foreclosure, TIN Numbers, Self Employed YES we can!

No Up-Front Fees and No Cost to Apply.

Quick and simple to Apply for a Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan

Reasons Why Borrowers Use Owner Occupied Loans using Private Money

Bad credit

Hard to prove income

Dealing with a problem property

Cannot qualify for conventional or FHA/VA financing

Common Uses Of Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loans Phoenix

Buying first or second home

Refinance an existing loan

Cash out for repairs or remodeling

Cash out for debt consolidation

Hard Money Owner Occupied Loan Program Options

100% FINANCING AVAILABLE if the borrower has another property that is free and clear or has a small mortgage in relation to value (substantial equity) to pledge as additional collateral.

We are a Private Hard Money Lender in Phoenix, making real estate loans to both Investors & Owner Occupants in Phoenix.

NO PRE-PAYMENT PENALTY

We have no pre-payment penalties on our loans.

PURCHASE - REFINANCE

Down payment: 20-30%

Can accept co signers

Allow seller carry back for the Down Payment

Up to 70% or 80% of appraised value

Up to 100% financing with a 2nd free and clear property.

Interest Rates from 9.5% for Owner Occupied Private Hard Money in .Phoenix

Requirements for Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans

Income verified – 3 months banks statements or tax return.

BK, Foreclosure, INN, Self Employed YES we can!

Apply for an Owner Occupied Hard Money Loan

If you are interested to see if you qualify for an owner occupied hard money loan in Phoenix, give Jamie a call today at 623-582-4444 or fill out our loan application to get started.

What is an Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan?

These types of loans are considered consumer loans. This means that they are for the individual home owner not an investor or corporation. These loans are for borrowers who will live in the home as their primary residence home. These are loans where the borrow will use the funds for consumer purposes, such as paying down debt, buying a boat, debt consolidation or paying a tax lien. The funds are going to be used to help the consumer. When you are applying for a consumer Private Hard Money home loan there are a lot of requirements that the lender must do to make sure that the borrower fits the loan. These are recent requirements, but the main requirement is that the Private Hard Money Lender Lending for an Owner Occupied Homes needs to make sure that the borrower can make the payments. They call this verifying the ability to pay the loan. Since this a Private Loan, these requirements are easier and more relaxed that the traditional lender. Additionally, Phoenix Private Hard Money for Owner Occupied Loans usually have a lower credit requirement. Another requirement is that the loans must be ‘fully amortized over 30 years’ and cannot have a balloon payment. The advantages of a Private Hard Money Lender are that the loan is completed quickly, and the borrower can move fast. Typically, the lender is private individual that will look at the property and make a quick decision. Rates on the loan are higher that a traditional loan, but usually range from 6-12%.

A few other reasons for a Phoenix Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Consumer Loan:

Self-employed

Trouble documenting income

Inconsistent income history

Credit issues due to a recent loan modification, short sale or foreclosure

Bankruptcy

Client already owns the home and needs to refinance, the purpose is consumer in nature, and there’s no purchase component.

Tips for Success When Considering Hard Money Loans Arizona

Every industry has its good and bad participants and hard money lending is no exception. But following a few tips can help to ensure success when seeking hard money loans Arizona.

As with any loan, careful evaluations should be completed for each lender and the terms for all hard money loans Arizona. If you are not familiar with the process or the loan documentation it is always a good idea to have your lawyer review any documents before you sign them because a hard money loan document is legally binding. In addition, there are a few other tips that can help you to ensure that your entire loan application and funding process goes smoothly.

There can be a few legitimate upfront fees that a borrower is asked to pay when requesting hard money loans Arizona. But be cautious of any extremely large fees that you are presented with prior to being approved for the loan. In most cases, these fees are being charged by a third party or a “broker” who is not actually the lender but is trying to get a fee and masquerade as a lender. Not only is there a good chance that you will not get funding from this person but there is also a good chance that they will sell your identity or personal information to others for an additional profit at your expense.

When you are presenting information to a potential lender, assume that they will find out any “little secret” that you might know about the property. Do not try to hide information about the title, tax liens or any issues that could become a problem in the future. A lender is going to fully investigate the property and will not look kindly on any borrower who has attempted to be dishonest or take advantage of them.

Know the Current Rates

Not all lenders are dishonest just like not all used car dealers are dishonest. But that are a few in every crowd. So be sure that you have polled several lenders and are well aware of the current rates and terms for hard money loans Arizona. This will let you know immediately if a lender is trying to take advantage of you and you can cease the relationship immediately.

As for A Detailed Fee Breakdown

In the end, all you are really shopping for is the loan with the best overall cost to you. So it only makes sense to clearly ask for a list of all of the fees and costs that you will be paying for the use of the lenders money. Having this clear list of the total cost will allow you to easily compare all of your offers without having to sort through various terms and jargon that can be a part of a loan document.

Using these few tips will help you to more easily determine which hard money loan is the least expensive and will allow you to get the best return on your investment.