Author: Lending Agent

Scaling a real estate investment portfolio comes with unique challenges and opportunities for growth. To achieve sustainable success, investors should focus on two critical areas: assembling a team of the right people and establishing a robust tech stack to streamline operations.1. Building a Team with the Right PeopleAs your portfolio expands, so does the complexity of managing properties, tenants, and financial processes. Having the right team in place allows you to delegate critical responsibilities, freeing you to concentrate on strategic growth.Hire for Skills and Culture: Look beyond technical expertise. Hire individuals who align with your company’s culture and values to…

America’s housing crisis isn’t just reshaping where Americans live — experts say it’s reshaping how some vote.Many of the counties that swung most dramatically toward Donald Trump on Election Day were also among America’s toughest housing markets, according to an analysis of election returns and the NBC News Home Buyer Index. And while voters picked Trump for a variety of reasons, these counties shifted further right than much of the rest of the country.Across the country Tuesday, counties moved toward Trump by a median of 3.1 percentage points compared to the 2020 election. But in the top 10% of counties…

Many Americans have been holding back from jumping into the housing market in the hopes that mortgage rates will decline. So far, they haven’t.The average 30-year mortgage rate has been above 6% for two years — and is likely to stay above that level for the foreseeable future, experts say.A combination of better-than-expected growth and uncertainty about the impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s economic proposals, especially on inflation and the deficit, are combining to keep rates elevated. That’s despite the Federal Reserve’s push to lower its key federal funds rate to make borrowing in the economy easier.“Sixes are the new…

Securing financing for condo investments differs significantly from a traditional single-family home loan. The financing complexity increases when using specialized loan options like DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loans, which have unique requirements. For real estate investors, one of the most critical distinctions to understand is whether the condo is “warrantable” or “non-warrantable”—a classification that can significantly impact your loan approval process and terms.Understanding Warrantable vs. Non-Warrantable CondosIn lending, “warrantable” condos are viewed as lower-risk investments, while “non-warrantable” condos carry more challenges. This designation hinges on factors like the ratio of owner-occupied to rented units, the condo association’s financial health, and…

As real estate investors, we all know the potential of keeping an eye on Pre-Foreclosure Property Acquisition opportunities. These opportunities often involve properties in need of repair, alongside homeowners facing financial hardship, which can lead to attractive deals for investors. But what does it take to successfully acquire a property in pre-foreclosure in a judicial foreclosure state? Let’s dive in and explore 4 key tips for navigating the acquisition process successfully.Tip 1: Identifying Pre-Foreclosure – Look For Other Clues of Financial DistressIdentifying pre-foreclosure opportunities isn’t always straightforward. Not all lenders operate on the same timeline, and foreclosure processes vary by state.…

U.S. homeowners are sitting on a record amount of equity, but higher interest rates over the past two years have made them reluctant to tap into it. That is finally starting to change.In the third quarter of this year, mortgage holders withdrew $48 billion of home equity, according to ICE Mortgage Technology — the largest volume in the two years since the Federal Reserve started hiking its benchmark interest rate. While mortgage rates don’t exactly follow the Fed’s rate, home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs, are tied to it. The Fed cut its rate by a half percentage point in mid-September.Despite the bump,…

Rent costs have long weighed on lower-income households — now it’s coming for the middle class. Nearly 4 in 10 middle-class renter households are burdened by costs, an NBC News analysis of Census Bureau data found. That’s up almost 20% since 2019, while the already high share of cost-burdened, low-income households rose just 2%.A cost-burdened household is defined as one paying 30% or more of pretax income on rent and housing costs. This figure is widely used as a threshold for affordability: the Census Bureau measures housing costs against it, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development has used it…

Timonium, MD – In the heart of Timonium, Maryland, a father-son team is transforming a mid-century home, breathing new life into the neighborhood. Tom Kane, a seasoned real estate investor, and his son TJ Kane are flipping a 1,332-square-foot ranch built in 1958. What drew them to this property? For Tom, who lives just a mile away, it’s all about location. “I know the area really well,” Tom says. “It’s a great school district, an in-demand area, and ranchers are especially popular here.”Breathing New Life into a Mid-Century RancherThis property stands out with a 4th bedroom—a rare find in an…

For years, real estate investors have favored off-market deals, auctions, and private sales over the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) due to limited inventory and high competition. However, recent market shifts indicate that the MLS is making a comeback as a viable resource for uncovering investment opportunities. Here’s why and how to leverage the MLS effectively.Why the MLS is Making a ComebackMarket Adjustments: The September rate adjustments by the Federal Reserve, changes in DSCR loan pricing, and shifts in bond yields have created a recalibration in the market, yielding a climate favorable for investors. Because traditional buyers are more selective, properties…

Sales of previously owned homes fell 1% in September compared with August, to a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 3.84 million units, the slowest pace since October 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors.Sales were 3.5% lower than in September 2023. Sales fell in three out of four U.S. regions, with just the West region seeing a gain.This count is based on closings, representing contracts signed likely in July and August. Mortgage rates started July near 7% on the 30-year fixed and then fell slowly through August to just below 6.5%. Rates are now more than a full percentage…