Tag Archive for: #cash flow

Why Realtors Make Good Team Members

Why Realtors Make Good Team Members

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Why Realtors Make Good Team Members

If you want to make the most money on your real estate deals, then you need to create a solid team.

And some excellent members to add to your team are investor-friendly realtors.

But, why do realtors make such great team members for real estate investors?

Well, first of all, they have a constant pulse on the market.

They know what’s happening, where it’s happening, and how it’s happening.

Second, discounted properties also tend to fall into their laps, and they can pass those properties on to you.

So, what type of realtor should you work with?

Well, they should do more than put you on their MLS drip. Any realtor can do this, and nowadays, many of the properties on the MLS get listed on sites like Redfin and Zillow.

So, getting on an MLS drip won’t help investors much…especially when we’re looking for under-market properties. And under-market properties aren’t found on the MLS often. The right kind of realtor will have a lot more hustle. They’ll actually search for under market properties and then go through the numbers to decide it’s worth investing in before they present it to you.

Better yet, investor-friendly realtors connect with professionals in various industries, like bankruptcy attorneys. That way, when investment properties pop up, they’ll be one of the first to know about it. And then tell you about it, rather than making you wait to—hopefully—see it on the MLS weeks or months later.

Most importantly, the right realtor will LOVE working with investors.

Unfortunately, about 95% of the realtors do NOT like working with investors. Or, if they do, it’s part-time and not a high priority for them. These are usually more experienced realtors who have an established client list. They don’t really need your business to make money. They already have a system in place.

But, when you find realtors who are investor-friendly, you’ll know. You won’t be a side gig or a part-time project for them. They’ll be hungry to help you find investment properties and make a lot of money.

Many times, these are newer agents who are willing to be trained. They’ll be the ones looking for business and finding ways to make money with you, not off of you. So, rather than selling 3-5 properties a year, they want to sell an investment property every month.

Now, is it a bad idea to team up with both experienced and new realtors?

Not at all.

In fact, it’s a great idea to work with multiple realtors, because they all have different resources, experiences, and ideas. Plus, if one moves away or quits their job, you don’t need to worry about losing your main resource for finding properties. You’ll have others to fill in the gap.

If you want to create a smooth, easy system with your investment properties, then adding a realtor or two…or three…to your team is an excellent idea. Just make sure they like working with investors and are hungry to make money. The hungrier, the better for both of you!

Happy investing!

How to Make Money Bird Dogging

How to Make Money Bird Dogging

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How to Make Money Bird Dogging

Do you know how to make money bird dogging?

So, let’s say you’re eager to start investing in real estate, but you’re not quite ready to fix and flip or BRRRR. It’s just too big of a commitment or too much of a risk. Or both.

No problem.

You can still make money in real estate with a simple, but effective method called bird dogging.

What is bird dogging?

Basically, it’s driving for dollars. You hop in your car and drive around the neighborhood, city, or entire state and look for potential investment properties. You can even put on your best walking shoes and take a jaunt around your own neighborhood.

So, what does an investment property look like? Well, you should be able to tell it hasn’t been maintained. The paint is chipped, the windows are broken, the lawn overgrown, and so on. Or it’s vacant. Or there’s just something else is wrong with it that makes you think it can be sold at a discounted price.

Then, you collect information about the property. That means you can knock on the door and chat with the owner, take photos, and/or jot down the address. Once you do one or all these things, you can share it with potential buyers.

Buyers are usually wholesalers, investor-friendly realtors, flippers, or other real estate investors. They take the information you provide and follow-up with the owner to see if they’re actually interested in selling their property.

Essentially, you become the eyes and ears of the market.

So, what are some of the biggest benefits of bird dogging?

  • First off, it’s great for beginners who want to learn more about real estate investing. Maybe you’re not ready to flip or rent homes now, but you want to in the future. Bird dogging is a great introduction to both.
  • Unlike flipping and renting, bird dogging also doesn’t require any money to start. You don’t need to worry about classes, training, loans, or anything else that requires cash out of your own pocket.
  • Bird dogging is also something you can do when you have the time. So, it’s easy to fit into your schedule, be it during your lunch break, after you drop off the kids at school, or during your Sunday stroll. Really, whenever works for you!
  • Better yet, bird dogging can create multiple streams of income. You can make money when you find an investment property, when a wholesaler or realtor sells it to a flipper, and—if it’s a flipper—when they sell it after renovating it.

So, there you have it! Bird dogging is something you can do whenever and wherever. Just hop in your car or put on your shoes and go exploring. Find those properties that are in disrepair and share them with buyers.

3 Problems That Cause BRRRR Confusion

3 Problems That Cause BRRRR Confusion

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3 Problems That Cause BRRRR Confusion

Today, let’s talk about three big problems that cause many investors to experience BRRRR confusion.

Have you been thinking about investing in real estate using the BRRRR method? But you’ve hit a roadblock?

Unfortunately, you’re not alone.

A lot of real estate investors, both new AND seasoned, have heard about BRRRR, but haven’t used it.

Because they’re confused.

They’re confused about how to buy, rehab, rent, refinance…or all of the above.

So, to help unravel and debunk some of your confusion, let’s address some of the biggest questions we hear from our own clients about the BRRRR method.

#1: Is BRRRR real?

Yes. BRRRR is real.

There’s a reason why our team created this video for you. We’ve helped many clients succeed using the BRRRR method. But, just like you, many of those clients started their journey confused. Because they didn’t understand the entire process either.

And what they did understand wasn’t always accurate or true. Because they were working with bankers, lenders, or realtors who fed them misinformation or were simply out of the BRRRR loop.

#2: “Can you really find properties that work for BRRRR?”

Again, yes. Absolutely.

Even in our current, competitive market, there are properties that work perfectly for the BRRRR method. The trick is to find the right area to invest in. That might mean leaving your own town, city, or even state to find properties that produce solid cash flow.

And, trust us, those areas exist.

You can start your search by talking to wholesalers, investor-friendly realtors, or even other investors to see where they’re buying properties.

Of course, searching for cash flowing properties requires some time, effort, and patience.  But, if you think about it, all you’re doing is looking for one to four properties a year. Don’t you think it’s worth a little work to change your financial future? We think so.

#3: “How much money do I need to make BRRRR work?”

This is possibly the most crucial question we get. Not only is it a crucial question, but it also leads to the most confusion. Because it involves math, and most people don’t like math.

It also involves financing chit-chat, and again, a lot of investors don’t like talking about financing…even though the entire BRRRR process relies on good, solid numbers with good, solid loans.

But here’s the thing: once you grasp how to properly set up your BRRRR deal, then you can spend little to zero dollars on your properties.

Now, unfortunately, most investors don’t believe this, because, yet again, they’ve been fed misinformation by lenders, realtors, or other investors. So many people believe that have to bring a big down payment to closing.

And that’s because cash-out refinancing has been promoted as part of the BRRRR method. This isn’t a lucrative strategy. Not when there are other types of refinances that allow you to put little to no money in your deals.

The BRRRR method is an excellent real estate investment strategy. And, yes, it can be confusing when you get started. Because there’s a lot of chatter and misinformation flying around. Plus, nobody really likes math or financing. It’s true.

But if you’re willing to learn and do some work, then it’ll become easy. Very easy! And, better yet, lucrative. Because if done correctly, the BRRRR method can be repeated as many times as you want, as quickly as you want. Which means you’ll able to make the kind of money you want.

Happy investing!

What is BRRRR?

What is BRRRR?

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What is BRRRR?

Did you know you can buy properties with as little as zero down? It just takes an easy investment strategy many investors call BRRRR.

Although the term “BRRRR” was coined by Bigger Pockets in recent years, the investment strategy has existed for decades. Some call it zero down, some call it Quick to Buy, Quick to Refi. Whatever you want to call it, it’s all based on buying properties with as little as zero down.

So, what is BRRRR?

Well, let’s break it down piece by piece so you understand how to approach each step. That way you can generate the highest cash flow possible.

The B in BRRRR stands for “Buy.”

Now, how do you buy properties correctly when using the BRRRR method?

First, you need to buy under market properties with a short-term loan, like hard money. You shouldn’t buy retail properties that are already fixed up and ready for tenants. These are supposed to be value-add properties, meaning you add value to them. That way you immediately create equity in the project.

Second, you need to be able to buy properties FAST. The faster you can buy, the better the deals. Because sellers want to sell fast. Even if you bid lower than three other investors, you can still get the property if you can close quickly. Because speed nearly always wins.

The first R in BRRRR stands for “Rehab.”

The properties you buy using the BRRRR method will need rehab to bring them up to rental grade. That means simple, but durable renovations. You don’t need to aim for high end finishes like granite countertops or new, expensive cabinets.

Even so, the work you do should add value to the property. That way when an appraiser shows up, they can see you’ve improved it and now it’s worth more than what you bought it for. Again, think about creating equity. Equity is key!

The second R in BRRRR stands for “Rent.”

The moment you decide you want to try the BRRRR method, you should start researching rental numbers immediately. Go onto Zillow, Craigslist, or Rents.com and find out what other people in your target neighborhoods are charging for rent. That way you’ll know if a property will produce good cash flow BEFORE you buy it.

And once you know what your numbers are, go ahead and start accepting applications for tenants. It’s okay to look for quality, trustworthy people to live in your home even before you have the home ready for them.

The third R in BRRRR stands for Refinance.

Refinancing into a cheaper, long-term loan is the next step in the BRRRR method…and it’s where you get to capture the equity you created in the “Buy” and “Rehab” steps.

How?

Well, if you did those first two steps right, then you bought an under market property and then renovated it to add value. The gap between the buy and the rehab is your equity. And you can use that equity (rather than the money in your own pocket) to pay for your new loan’s down payment. That’s how the zero down portion of this strategy works.

Finally, the fourth R in BRRRR stands for Repeat.

The whole benefit of BRRRR is that you can repeat the process over and over…and over. As long as you find good, under-market properties and create good equity, you don’t need to wait to save up for a 20% down payment. You can complete this process whenever you want and however often you want.

And, at the end of the day, always remember your lender matters. When it comes to BRRRR, you want a lender who can help you maximize your hard money loan, and help you refinance into a traditional loan FAST.

So, if you’re ready to jump in and try out the BRRRR method, our team is always here to help.

Happy investing!

Flip-It, Prof-It Contractor Partnership Program

Weekly Chat: Flip-It, Pro-Fit Contractor Partnership Program

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Weekly Chat: Flip-It, Pro-Fit Contractor Partnership Program

Are you a contractor? Good, because we want you to make more money doing what you love.

That’s why we’ve created the Flip-It, Pro-Fit Contractor Partnership Program.

Join us (online) next week to learn more about this special program that’s ONLY for contractors.

Flip-It, Pro-Fit Contractor Partnership Program

We fund. You flip.

The Flip-It, Prof-It program is easy. We’re looking to partner with contractors who want to stop doing work for flippers and start doing work for themselves. 

We’ll handle all the funding and paperwork, and you’ll handle the renovations.

It’s as simple as that. 

Hit the easy button.

When you partner with us, you don’t need to sweat the “business” side of the deal. Instead, you can do your work and enjoy:

  • Less paperwork
  • More Money
  • No payments
  • Help creating a “bank worthy” portfolio

In a nutshell, you do not need to worry about the business side of the deal. We’ll take care of that while you take care of the house.

Some basic qualifications.

  • 3-5 years experience as a contractor
  • A crew/team
  • Properties that sell for $250K or less AFTER they’re repaired
  • A no BS attitude!

If you can say yes to those, then tune into our free chat to learn more about the Flip-It, Pro-Fit Contractor Partnership Program?

You may register for FREE here.

Again, here’s when and where the chat will take place:

When: Wednesday, September 29th, 6 PM MST

Where: Virtual nationwide.

Register for free at https://my.demio.com/ref/lw8s3Krd8n4vKXqo

Mike and the rest of the Hard Money Mike team looks forward to seeing you on Wednesday! Because we want you to make the kind of money you need to live the life you want.

If you have any questions about the program, our team is here to answer them any time.

Happy investing!

How to Find a Good Contractor

How Your Contractor Can Make or Break Your Deal

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How Your Contractor Can Make or Break Your Deal

Having a good contractor can make or break your deal.

But how can you find a quality contractor with a good reputation to complete your fix and flip, rental, or other value-add property?

Get Referrals

One of the easiest ways to find a good contractor is to ask friends and other investors for referrals.

Word of mouth is a powerful thing in this business. If someone had a good experience with a lender, title company, or, well, contractor, then it’s worth investigating.

When you ask friends and other investors about their contractor, make sure to ask them if they were happy with their contractor’s:

  • Work
  • Reliability
  • Communication
  • Overall experience

Interview

Once you collect a list of potential contractors, then it’s time to interview them.

Yes, interview.

Because, again, choosing the right contractor to help you fix up a property can be the difference between making a big or small profit.

Or no profit at all.

So, what kind of questions should you ask during each interview? Well, here are some of the most important ones to consider:

  • How many employees do you have?
  • How long have you been in business?
  • Do you have a referral list with current and past customers? Make sure to get phone numbers so you can verify this list.
  • Are you insured? With this one, remember to ask for a copy of their policy binder page showing their name and coverage. They should have General Liability and Worker’s Comp.
  • Who will be doing the work? Will there be any subcontracting, or will you and your team do all the work?
  • Has your company ever been sued or had a lawsuit against it?
  • Have you ever sued a client or filed a lien against a property?
  • Have you ever declared bankruptcy or had a company under a different name?
  • If the project falls behind schedule, what happens?
  • Has your company ever had a serious accident on the job?
  • Who will be at my house and when? Be sure to ask if background checks have been completed, and if there’s a set schedule.
  • May I have a written contract? You’ll want your attorney to review it before signing. Make sure the contract spells out timeframes, as well as how and when the contractor gets paid.

We suggest making a list of all the questions you’d like to ask ahead of time. That way you won’t forget anything during the conversation.

Red Flags

Once you find your ideal contractor, it’s important to stay alert and watch for red flags.

For example, if your contractor demands 25%-50% upfront, find someone else. Because a good contractor should have enough reserves to cover minor expenses to get the job started, except for materials. As for those, you should order everything and have it delivered to your property.

If your contractor has a problem with this, find a different one. Or tell them to purchase the materials themselves (pre-approved by you, of course). You can always compensate them when the job’s done.

They should also have pre-set dates for payments and money for materials.

Above all else, never assume anything. Get everything in writing. It’s your only resource if you need it later.

At the end of the day, it’s all about having a contractor that will respect you and your property. They should:

  • Be trustworthy and treat you fairly
  • Complete the job on time
  • Meet your budget
  • And provide quality work

This might seem like a lot of work to do before the real work begins, but trust us, it’s worth it! If you take the time to find the right property, the right lender, and the right contractor, then your flip or rental project will be a lot easier.

And the payoff will be much greater.

Ready to chat? Great! Our team is always here to help.

Happy investing!

How to Find and Value Properties

Last Chance: How to Find and Value Properties

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Last Chance: How to Find and Value a Properties

Do you know how to find and value properties? If not, here’s your second chance to participate in this week’s Money Chat with Mike Bonn.

Mike will be hosting an encore Money Chat tomorrow, Thursday, September 16th at 11 a.m. MST. 

During tomorrow’s chat, Mike will answer all of your questions on how to find and value a property.

Because it’s important to understand how to invest in good, cash flowing properties before putting your hard earned money into real estate deals.

So don’t miss out! This is your second chance to join other like-minded real estate investors and ask all of your questions to a lending expert.

how to find and value a property

If you’d like to join Mike’s Money Chat tomorrow, then you can register for FREE here.

During the virtual call, Mike will answer common questions like:

  • How do I find properties in my area? 
  • How do I evaluate a property to make sure it’s a good investment? 
  • What resources can I use to help me out with this process?

By the end of the Money Chat, you should have a much better grasp of how to find and value your real estate investments, including fix and flips and rentals.

Can’t make it to tomorrow’s chat? No problem. Let us know and we’ll set up more Money Chats on how to find and value a property. Or you can reach out to our team and schedule a time for a one-on-one call. That way you have an opportunity to ask all of your questions on how to find and value properties.

But, if you’d like to tune in LIVE tomorrow to listen and participate with other real estate investors, then here’s your chance.

When?

Tomorrow at 11 AM MST

Where?

Virtual nationwide.

Register for free at https://my.demio.com/ref/lw8s3Krd8n4vKXqo

Mike and the rest of the Hard Money Mike/Cash Flow Mortgage Company team looks forward to seeing you tomorrow!

If you have any questions about our weekly Money Chats, then our team is here to answer them any time.

Happy investing!

Wisdom Wednesday: What's a Good Investment

Wisdom Wednesday: What’s a Good Investment

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On this Wisdom Wednesday, we want to focus on what a good investment looks like.

Because, the truth is, good investments are pretty simple. It all boils down to cash flow.

Good Investment

As long as you have more cash flowing in than flowing out, your investment is a good investment. ~Robert Kiyosaki

Yep, it’s really as simple as that. This concept might seem pretty obvious to most investors. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many clients fail to evaluate their deals in a way to ensure they generate positive cash flow.

What are some of the most common mistakes we see? Here are just a few:

Fail to shop around for the right lender.

Maybe an investor gets comfortable using the same lender over and over again, or they only call one lender and decide to go with their product. Whatever the case, when real estate investors fail to shop around for the best loan with the best rates and terms, then their cash flow can take a major (and unexpected) hit.

Use their heart more than their head.

Too many investors fall in love with a property and refuse to accept it’s not a good investment once they crunch the numbers. Remember, this is a business. You’re not buying a house for you or your family. You’re buying an asset that’s intended to make you money. So try to use logic rather instead of emotion.

Calculate bad numbers.

Real estate investing comes down to numbers. Pure and simple. But when investors use the wrong numbers, then they use the wrong math. And the wrong math means big consequences for their cash flow. Some common missteps with math include inaccurate comps, underestimated renovation budgets, and hidden lender junk fees. (If a lender promises amazing rates and terms, then it’s probably too good to be true. Ask them about additional fees after closing. For example, will they charge you to withdraw money from your escrow account?)

Those are just a few of the common mistakes new and seasoned real estate investors make. And those mistakes can make a dent in their cash flow. So, their good investment is suddenly not-so-good.

Ready to talk about your next deal to ensure it’s a good investment? Great, our team is always here to chat.

Happy investing!

Low Credit Score: A Quick, Easy Solution

Low Credit Score: A Quick, Easy Solution

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Low Credit Score: A Quick, Easy Solution

Do you have a low credit score? If you do, then it’s likely making a big dent on your cash flow. Because a low score means paying higher rates. And higher rates mean less money in your pocket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Hard Money Mike, one of the main questions we hear from real estate investors is, “What credit score do I need to get a loan?” And when they hear the answer, many of those investors are unhappy about it.

Because they have a low score…too low for a traditional loan, at least. And traditional loans have some of the lowest interest rates available.

But, why is your credit score so low?

Well, there’s some common issues you probably already know about (ex: unpaid bills, late payments, etc.). But did you know one of the biggest issues is high credit card balances?

 

Yes, even if you pay some of your credit card off each month, as long as you maintain a high balance, then it’s going to ding your credit score.

For example, if you have a maximum credit line of $8,000, and you maintain a $6,000 balance, then creditors think you’re a high risk. Therefore, they penalize you by taking points off your credit score.

To make matters even more frustrating, many real estate investors have to use their credit cards to pay for renovations on a value-add property. Otherwise, their project might stall.

What can you do?

Well, technically, the best solution is to get a loan to pay off your credit cards.

But, if your score is too low, you won’t be able to get a loan.

AHHH!

Yeah, it can be a real conundrum. And we’ve seen it impact our clients countless times. So, here’s our suggestion:

Take your loan private.

Don’t go to a bank or another traditional lender. They will just reject your application. Instead, find someone (like Hard Money Mike) who can help you repair your credit score by setting up a private loan. That way you can:

  • Pay off your credit cards
  • Raise your score
  • Get an affordable loan AND rate

After you pay off your credit cards with a private loan, you can resume normal business. Just remember to keep your credit card balances as low as possible. In other words, don’t use more than 20-30% of your credit line. If you exceed that threshold, then quickly pay off what you can to drop it back down and protect your credit score.

Because a good credit score will lead to the best loan products. And the best loan products will produce the highest cash flow possible.

Happy investing!

How Your Credit Score Can Make You Thousands of Dollars

How to Make Money with Your Credit Score

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How to Make Money with Your Credit Score

Today, let’s chat about how to make money with your credit score.

Your credit score is kind of like a baseball game. With it, you can knock it out of the park and enjoy great success with your finances. Or you can strike out, and--well--lose (ouch).

 

When you “win” the credit score game, you win countless opportunities. These include:

  • The best interest rates
  • Affordable loans
  • And, in the end, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Yes, you read that last one right. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because a good credit score means cheaper rates. Which means cheaper bills. Which means you save A LOT of money over the years.

Before we go on, let’s talk about what a “winning credit score” look like.

Winning Credit Score

Most lenders like to see scores in the 700’s or higher. Anything lower will likely lead to rejections and expensive rates.

But what if you have a score under 700? Nobody wants to walk up to the plate and strike out, right?

Well, let’s take a look at 3 strategies to help you prepare for this financial ballgame.

Increase Your Available Credit

Pick up the phone and call your credit card company so you can apply for a higher limit. Why? Because then it’ll be easier to keep your credit usage at or below 30%.

What do we mean by that? Well, let’s take a look.

If your credit card balance is $8,000 and you have a maximum credit line of $10,000, then creditors can see you’re using 80% of your available funds. Yikes! In their critical eyes, this means you’re a risk--a BIG one--and you might not be able to meet your financial obligations (i.e. you won’t be able to pay them back).

Not good.

Now, if your credit card balance is $3,000 and you have a maximum credit line of $10,000, then creditors see you’re only using 30% of your available funds. That’s much, much better. In fact, it could be a home run in the eyes of lenders.

Because when you manage your credit usage, creditors will think you’re financially responsible. AKA, you pay your bills. And that will lead to more loan approvals and lower rates.

Yay!

Pay Extra

A large chunk of your credit score revolves around your monthly reported balances to the credit bureaus.

So, it always helps to pay extra on your credit cards before your next statement. If you do this, the credit bureaus will be happy with you. Very happy! That means your score will rise.

Now, if those first two strategies don’t work for you, then you can always take a more creative third approach (one we’ve recommended to many clients).

Get a 60 to 90 Day Note

Basically, you can get a loan to pay down or pay off your credit cards. You can get one from a bank, a family member, a friend, or a private lender. This way you can keep your real estate projects moving along and your cash flow, well, flowing.

Make Money with Your Credit Score

If you take one, two, or all three of these steps to boosting your credit score, then you’ll have a much better chance of getting lower rates and generating thousands of dollars over time.

And if you play the game right, you can knock it out of the park and make hundreds of thousands of dollars!

Happy investing!