Author: Lending Agent

Private lenders and traditional banks represent two distinct avenues for obtaining financing, each with its own set of characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks. Here’s a concise comparison:Flexibility:Private Lenders: Typically more flexible in terms of loan terms, repayment schedules, and eligibility criteria.Traditional Banks: Tend to have stricter lending criteria and standardized loan offerings.Speed of ApprovalPrivate Lenders: Often provide quicker approval processes, facilitating faster access to funds.Traditional Banks: Approval processes can be more time-consuming due to comprehensive assessments and regulations.Personalization:Private Lenders: Offer more personalized lending solutions tailored to the specific needs of the borrower.Traditional Banks: Provide standardized loan products, offering less room for…

The rise of platforms like Airbnb and VRBO has transformed the short-term rental industry, changing how people travel and find accommodations. What began as a way for homeowners to earn extra income by renting out spare rooms or properties has evolved into a lucrative business model for real estate entrepreneurs, driven by the high rent per square foot these rentals can command.Market Growth and Concerns:The short-term rental market experienced rapid growth over the past decade, with Airbnb being founded in 2008. Entrepreneurs seized opportunities to generate higher rental returns by offering unique and specialized properties to cater to specific niches.…

Rental properties have historically been an attractive investment for those looking for steady cash and long-term growth. The rise of new homes built for rental use, known as build-to-rent (BTR), created another rental product for a previously under-served market. Given national housing shortages and shifting societal trends, BTR investments enjoyed a surge in demand over the last few years.However, the rapid rise of interest rates may have you wondering – is BTR still a viable investment? We’ll explore the opportunity set for BTR in this challenging funding environment and how you can still build for this expanding asset class.Tracing the…

The recent years have been transformative for the real estate market, especially for those leveraging a cash-out refinance rental loan. Between 2020 and 2021, property values surged, and rental rates followed suit, providing investors with a significant influx of equity and income from their portfolios. However, there’s a looming factor causing apprehension amongst real estate enthusiasts—high-interest rates that have risen to around 8% and are predicted to remain high well into 2024.The prospect of borrowing at such rates can be intimidating and is leading some investors to press pause. However, no matter your outlook, cash-out refinancing is one of the…

Affordable housing and community development are essential elements for fostering vibrant neighborhoods and promoting inclusivity. For instance, in the heart of Baltimore City, an initiative known as the Developing Affordable Starter Homes (DASH) Fund has been making strides toward transforming communities and enhancing the lives of residents. One notable project that models the DASH Fund’s mission is the rehabilitation of 815 Washburn Ave., led by dedicated real estate investors Peter and Rosamon Forbes.The DASH Fund’s Vision for BaltimoreThe DASH Fund launched in 2021 as a public-private partnership focused on revitalizing Baltimore City neighborhoods. It empowers small developers through an innovative…

The Fed’s rate hikes exposed weaknesses in real estate financing, leading to March 2023 bank failures. “Tightening until something breaks” became a reality.The first was Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), which failed on March 12. Three days later, Credit Suisse – one of the largest and oldest banks in the world – was bought by UBS. They were followed by Republic Bank in May. Together, these bank failures matched those of 2008 in terms of assets purchased and Fed support required. So, how did we get here, again?The answer, as in 2008, has to do with interest rates and mortgage-backed securities. Silicon Valley…

Jungfrau A. Bietschhorn This region is a magnificent area with high mountain ranges, glaciers and is actually the most glaciated part of the European Alps. Visiting this area can be done relatively easy by car and if you want to go up, by train up to 3,400 metres above sea level, the highest train ride in Europe, the Jungfrau Railway is very impressive (and expensive!). The area is on the UNESCO World Heritage list because of its unique and wide range of flora and fauna and geological importance regarding the creating of the High Alps.

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, assesses the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cook’s “sitting is the new factor” line. Diana saves Steve Trevor who has crashed on Themyscira. He warns her of the great war, World War I, raging across the globe. Wonder Woman…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, assesses the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cook’s “sitting is the new factor” line. Diana saves Steve Trevor who has crashed on Themyscira. He warns her of the great war, World War I, raging across the globe. Wonder Woman…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, checks the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cooks “sitting is the new coolness” line. What we like: What we dislike: It achieves this by means of an accelerometer, a heart rate sensor and GPS. There are already many smartwatches on the market such…