Monthly Archives: March 2018

How to Prepare Applications for Commercial Real Estate Loans

Not all lenders have precisely the same requirements for commercial real estate loans, but they are very similar. Understanding the documentation which will be required is the first step in a successful loan application.

There are many factors which can dictate your documentation packet contents for commercial real estate loans. These can include the internal policies of the lender, your history with the lender and your financial health. But in general, there is a basic packet of documentation that most lenders will require. Having this information gathered and prepared for all lenders is a good way to create a professional first impression and to reduce your stress level as you pursue your loan.

Information about the size and scope of the project is likely to be the first information that any lender will want to see. This includes but is not limited to a complete description of any improvements or construction, the future use for the structure, drawings and design plans, environmental analysis, potential contractors and a timeline for the completion of the work. Although this might sound like a lot of documentation, it is really only copies of the information you have used to create the project, create the job cost and decide to actively begin the project.

Financial information about the project will also be critical to securing commercial real estate loans. For existing structures, the lender will want to verify the rent roll for apartment type structures or self-storage facilities. Lease schedules will be required for retail, office or warehouse space. In addition to pure occupancy numbers, the lender will want more details about the length of the leases and the types of tenants. This will help to determine the stability of the proposed income from the property.

Full Financial Disclosure

Lenders will also want to understand the borrowers big picture financial position. This is due to the fact that a borrower could hold multiple loans or could own other properties which might be financially challenged. A single poor investment can drag down an entire investment portfolio if not managed correctly. Money generated by one piece of collateral could be syphoned off to pay for the bad investment and put the new loan payments at risk.

Investor Financials

Finally lenders will want to understand the financial position of all investors in the project. This is to see if borrowers would have the personal ability or assets needed to make the loan payments if necessary. In addition, the lender can require investors or company owners to provide a personal guarantee for commercial real estate loans. The lender needs to know that the borrowers providing the guarantee actually have the ability to make good on their promise to pay. Knowing what is required prior to beginning your loan application process will help to reduce your stress and to complete the application more quickly. It will make a very positive and professional first impress to all of the lenders whom you are approaching for a funding.

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

How to Get the Most Benefit from Hard Money Loans

Understanding how hard money loans function is critical to using them successfully. By understanding just a few facts, these private loans can be the key to your financial success.

Most borrowers know very little about the process and characteristics of hard money loans. They understand that the money is provided by a private lender or a group of private lenders and not a traditional bank or lending institution. And they are also aware that the money carries a higher interest rate than traditional loans. But with that very limited bit of information, most borrowers turn away from this very viable and potentially profitable source of funding.

It is very true that hard money loans can carry interest rates in the double digits which is considered to be high. But what most borrowers are not considering is that these types of loans are much more accessible than traditional loans. Long processing time frames, stringent qualification standards and predetermined terms are all facts of life when seeking traditional funding. But a non-traditional loan can offer a much less difficult process for most borrowers.

A private lender is not going to require but a fraction of the documentation that a traditional lender demands during the loan application process. Banks want to see credit history, bank statements, other loan documents, income statements and even documents defining your business and the relationship of the owners of the business. But a private lender is not focusing on that information to determine the risk of your request. So there is much less paperwork involved and therefore much less time wasted during the application and approval process. Borrowers can often have funds in hand in a week or two when working with a private lender.

What Determines a Good Risk?

A private lender is also not going to focus on the borrower’s financial stability when considering a loan request. This opens the door of opportunity for borrowers who have low credit scores or have a high debt to income ratio. What a private lender is going to base the loan approval or rejection on is the value of the collateral for the loan. In most cases the collateral is the property being purchased with the loan funds. The lender needs to be assured that the collateral will always have a greater value than the outstanding loan balance. In the event that the borrower defaults the lender must be able to take possession of the collateral and sell it to recover their investment. For this reason, most hard money loans cannot exceed 70% of the value of the collateral.

Making Private Loans Make You Money

Clearly, private loans can be obtained in a very short time as compared to traditional loans. And these loans can also be obtained with less than perfect credit. If you are willing to pay a little higher interest rate, then a privately funded loan is an option for a borrower who has been denied due to a low credit score or who needs funding quickly to secure a great deal. There is always the option to refinance later at a lower interest rate from a traditional lender. But private lenders can be the answer when time is critical to closing a deal and not missing out on a great money making opportunity.

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

Why small town businesses are finding it hard to get commercial loans

Lenders are withdrawing from less populated areas, and small businesses in rural areas are facing difficulty finding sources of commercial loans.

Local banks have been consistently closing in rural areas. The in-person service, which was once so crucial for small business financing, is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Banks are relocating to more populated areas, and larger banks continue to consolidate smaller community banks. These larger banks use algorithms, rather than personal relationships to evaluate a borrowers creditworthiness.

This trend is making it harder for many rural borrowers to qualify for business loans.The value of small business lending in rural areas is now half of its 2004 peak. Much of this decline is a result of the recession, but the amount of small business lending in urban areas only declined by a quarter over this same period. The numbers demonstrate that business owners in more populated areas are not facing the same difficulties as their rural counterparts.

The decline is having a drastic impact on business activity in less populated areas. Research by Colorado State University economist Stephan Weiler demonstrates a link between the reduction in small business loans and new business formation in rural areas two to three years later. His research did not reveal a similar pattern in urban areas.

Community banks have been leaving rural areas for decades, making commercial loans harder to find

There has been a measurable decline over the past 20 years in the number of smaller community banks in rural areas. These community banks were once the sole source of credit for many small businesses in these areas. 625 of Americas 1,980 rural counties have no locally owned community bank. 35 rural counties in America have no bank at all, and 115 have only one branch.

Lenders cite specific difficulties in rural areas.”It’s very hard to find highly competent commercial loan officers who want to live in these small towns and can produce an adequate amount of production,” said Jerry Rexroad CEO of Carolina Financial Corp.

Rural businesses also lack the detailed information which is used by many larger banks to assess the creditworthiness of borrowers. However, economic difficulties in rural areas make it harder for banks to do business.

Economic difficulties are making commercial loans harder to find in many areas

Rural areas face unique economic challenges. Employment growth suffers due to weak school systems. Local businesses suffer due to competition with big-box stores and few small business owners have seen their credit situation improve since the recession. Business lending in rural areas has not picked up since the recovery began. Although new small dollar loans have been on the rise, rural areas have only seen a modest increase.. Only 10 percent of new small business loans, roughly 22 billion, have been issued in rural areas since the recovery began.

It remains unclear whether the banks themselves or the economy in these areas are to blame these hardships. Nonetheless small town businesses will face difficulty securing financing for the foreseeable future.

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

How You Can Solve Your Commercial Loan Woes with the Help of Hard Money Lenders

If you can get a loan, you can catapult your business into the next echelon, so why not shoot for the stars? When you are having trouble getting your commercial loan approved, it might be time to seek the assistance of hard money lenders to get you the cash you need.

Whether you are a first time investor looking at purchasing a property or a new business owner that needs cash fast to get your business off the ground, commercial loans can be a godsend. However, sometimes as a first time borrower, traditional lenders might be a little skeptical of loaning funds. That’s when hard money lenders come in handy. Just when you think you might not be able to get a loan at all, you’ll see that they can help you make your business and investment dreams come true.

Just as with any loan situation, there will be challenges that arise along the road. You will need to be prepared to handle any situation by working closely with your hard money lenders to find a win-win solution. Sometimes it’s a matter of finding the right lender for the type of investment or business you have. Sometimes it’s a document or statement you’ll need to provide. Be flexible and patient, while the process can at times be frustrating, it’s important to have a lender you can trust to guide you through it all.

For investors and new business owners looking to purchase property, there are many types that these lenders specialize in like foreclosure properties, “fix and flips”, short sales, construction loans and land loans. These loans are also beneficial for business relocation that needs to happen fast as well as for borrowers that do not have the best credit score or history.

These lenders are very different than conventional bank lenders.

It’s important to know that dealing with conventional lenders are a totally different story – their application process is very detailed and often quite lengthy. There is a lot of bureaucracy and “red tape” that can be avoided with hard money lenders. If you’ve applied for this type of loan in the past, you know the road can be long and arduous. Luckily, that’s not the case with non-traditional lenders and alternative lenders offer many benefits – including an easier application process and quicker turn around time.

It starts with the right lender.

The lender is just as important as the loan itself. It becomes something of a partnership, so finding a lender you can rely on is very important. You will want to ensure they can guide you through the process but also won’t take advantage of you either. Ask around to see if business associates or friends can refer a great lender they’ve worked with in the past. Look for a local lender and don’t be shy about meeting with them and asking questions prior to agreeing to move forward. Once you find the right lender, the road to getting your loan will be much smoother!

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

Triple Your Chances for Getting Hard Money Loans

Using a few tips can greatly improve your chances for securing hard money loans. You might also find that these same tips will increase your profit as well.

Applying for any type of loan can be stressful, and one of the best ways to avoid that unnecessary stress is to be well prepared. Knowing what to expect and how to best present your request can not only reduce your stress level but can increase your chances of getting hard money loans.

The first item that you need to understand is that a lender is only going to consider the loan request if the amount is within the industry standard 65-75% loan to value range. This means that the loan cannot exceed 75% of the value of the property. With that in mind, you need to be prepared to pay any additional cost above that 75% in cash. Understanding the LTV concept allows you to ask for a reasonable loan amount and also prepares you for the down payment which will be required. You will appear very well prepared and professional when the lender mentions the down payment amount and you tell the lender that you already have those funds available.

Another important question that you need to be ready to answer is about your exit strategy. Every lender wants to know what your plan is for the property and how you plan to achieve your goal. This could be completing a renovation and then renting the property or it could mean selling it after a renovation. But this is basically you explanation about how you plan to be able to repay the loan.

Compare Your Offers

The final strategy is to seek several hard money loans in an effort to have multiple offers to choose from. This is the same method that you would use to select any service provider and it allows you to shop for the best terms and overall cost of the loan. Be sure to calculate any loan origination fee, funding fee or early payment penalty that might be included in the terms of each offer to determine the true cost of each option.

Improve Your Chance for Success

There is a lot of information that you need to understand before securing hard money loans. But if you are willing to invest the time, then you can secure multiple offers. This allows you to select the best loan offer to meet your needs. In addition, preparing to answer the questions of the lender about your exit strategy and down payment funds is a good opportunity to fine tune your business plan for the project. Planning for the down payment and your exit are both smart business decisions that will help you to land a loan as well as increasing your potential profit at the end of the deal. It can be tempting to rush into a purchase when you find a great property with a lot of potential. But investing a little time in the planning phase will provide a great foundation for the project and better potential for your return on investment.

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

How to Qualify for a Commercial Real Estate Loan

With all the varying requirements, it can be confusing understanding what one needs to do and expect when trying to qualify for a commercial real estate loan. Here’s a few of the basic documents and experience you need when applying for a loan.

No matter which type of lender you are working with, most will prefer that the borrower focus on a property when assessing a loan. This information should include the address and location, purchase price, intended use of structure, amount and scope of work, timeline for rehab, contractor bids and projected after-repair-value (ARV). The more information you can bring to the table, the better, such as drawings and environmental analysis.

The financial information regarding the project includes the rent roll or schedule of leases which basically amounts to the amount of income that can be expected from the property. If the property is under construction, a lender will want to see the general health of the particular market including the area’s vacancy rates and your plan for obtaining tenants. Having pre-leasing in place can be a big checkmark on the “yes” side when trying to obtain a commercial real estate loan.

They will also want to know what type of experience you have and any past investment projects in this specific segment of real estate. Some lenders will check the borrower’s qualifications such as credit history and bank statements. They will want to know your financial situation. Do you have other projects currently in the pipeline? If so, just how much debt are you currently faced with? If you have partners, the lender will want information on them as well. This will be their go-to in case of default.

Pro Forma

Other lenders require a pro forma for a commercial real estate loan. This includes the net operating income (NOI). Also known as EBIT or Earnings Before Interest and Taxes, it is, just that, and helps lenders understand what kind of cash flow you’ll be expecting. It equals all revenue from the property minus all operating expenses. The debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) is also part of this documentation and is calculated by dividing the Net Operating Income by the Annual Debt Obligation. The internal rate of return and cap rate are the final pieces of the pro forma puzzle. The internal rate of return is the rate of growth a project is expected to generate while the cap rate is the ratio of Net Operating Income to property asset value.

Conventional commercial real estate loans from banks and credit unions must adhere to strict rules and guidelines when it comes to financing an investment. For this reason, they are often more difficult to obtain loans from than one provided by a private hard money lender.

Traditional lenders will need to check your credit score as well as your creditworthiness. Hard money lenders, on the other hand, do not require income verification or credit references. These short-term loans usually fall into the one to three-year mark, though some will issue loans up to 5 years and allow extensions. Some lenders assess a prepayment penalty, usually 1 to 3 percent, while others do not—Important considerations when funding your project. It is much easier to qualify and faster to obtain funding for hard money real estate loans making them the loan of choice for many investors.

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

How to Finding Reputable Hard Money Lenders Can Benefit You

Do you wish you could find a trusted hard money lenders to help you obtain the funding you need to take your business to the next level? Level 4 Funding knows that when you need cash fast, not all lenders are created equal — here’s how to find the credible ones.

If you need cash and you need it fast, hard money lenders are your people — they can help you get the loan you need. This is beneficial for real estate investors to small business owners. Unfortunately, some of these lenders aren’t as professional and ethical as you would hope. It’s important to find a lender you can trust. So here are a few things to remember:

Getting a handle on exactly what hard money loans are is the first step. These loans can be defined as short-term loans in which you can get cash fairly quickly after the approval process — this can sometimes even be the same day as application approval. Next, when you are in search of a lender, it’s a good idea to look for one that specializes in your company’s field of has experience working with a similar type of company as your own. Always make sure the lender is licensed — and that he can prove it. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Take your time when selecting hard money lenders – meet with a few until you get a good feel for one that seems like they really believe in your dream and can help you obtain it via a loan.

When you meet with lenders, be sure to ask a lot of questions — including that what types of fees are associated with the loan, as well as terms and rates. Sometimes hidden fees can creep into the documentation, so be sure to review if carefully and even have a lawyer take a look as well.

Find out as much as you can about these loans — and these lenders — prior to meeting.

Research local hard money lenders in your area to make sure you find a reputable one to work with. Remember, it’s almost as if you are interviewing them for a position so there is no need to feel intimidated and you should take the upper hand by asking questions about their areas of expertise, their current and past project portfolio and anything else you want to ask that you feel would help you make an educated decision as to whether or not this is the right lender to work with.

Once you do find the right lender – it’s important to treat the relationship as a partnership.

So meet them halfway in the process, meaning find out what they need from you, in terms of financial documents, and more to make the application process as smooth as possible. Come prepared with your business plans, current credit report, any collateral you are prepared to put up to secure the loan, and other business or personal finance information. Remember that he is there to help you achieve your business dreams, but you’ll need to do some work too. When you work together and find out as much as possible about how you can obtain approval, you’ll be well on your way to your business’ next phase!

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

Why Hard Money Lenders Only Fund 75% of a Property’s Value

Understanding why hard money lenders will only finance 75% of a property’s value will allow you to be better prepared for requesting a loan. It will also help you to understand what other factors can make your request more desirable to lenders.

Loan to value ratio is the most critical factor to all hard money lenders when they are evaluating a loan request. In general, the loan amount cannot exceed 75% of the current market value of the property. This is because the property is being used as the collateral for the loan, which is not unusual. Home mortgages are secured by the home being purchased as well. But in the case of commercial properties there is more information that must be taken into consideration.

Unlike home values which are fairly static, commercial property values are much more volatile. There are several events which can impact a commercial property’s value which are not considered to be factors in residential property values. The economy has a much greater impact on commercial properties the residential. A downturn in the economy or a single industry does not extend to every consumer who owns a home, but it does have an impact on every business. And as competitive as industry is in the country, a slight downturn in the economy is certain to cause some businesses to fail.

Likewise, a downturn in a certain industry would not cause all of the homeowners in a neighborhood to sell their homes or abandon them. But it could result in many businesses closing in a single area which would quickly drop the value of commercial properties in the area. All of these factors must be considered when a commercial property is being used as collateral.

The Hard Money Lenders Thought Process

Knowing that the value of commercial properties can fluctuate a great deal and can change very rapidly, the lenders want to be certain to always have a way to recover their investment. This means never having the current balance of the loan near the current market value of a property. Over the years, the 25% margin has become an acceptable industry standard among hard money lenders.

How to Use This Knowledge

Knowing that the market value of a property is critical to getting hard money approved, there are ways that you can build additional confidence with a lender. Selecting a property in an area that is thriving is always smart. Also, selecting a property which is not dependent on a single industry is helpful. Knowing that any business could use the property provides more options to rent or sell the property at a better price in the future. In addition, location can have a huge impact on the perceived value of the property and therefore its actual value. Being easily accessible is important for any business who relies on consumers visiting their location. So a property near an expressway or major street is more desirable than a location in a rural area or one that is difficult to drive to. Consider all of these factors and try to select a property which will hold its value well. This will make your loan request much more appealing to a lender.

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

How to Find Hard Money Lenders

There are various reasons that people turn to hard money lenders, but knowing the benefits is only half of the challenge. Now, you have to find the one that is right for you.

Hard money loans are often issued by individuals or companies. At one time, they were considered “last resort” loans for people or businesses with imperfect credit. In today’s world of fix & flip investors and contractors in need of quick funding, they are a part of most businesses and individuals lending portfolios. People often turn to hard money lenders when they are in need of a bridge loan that keeps them afloat until a property sells or is renovated. Other’s use this type of loan due to time constraints and when initial capital is required in a matter of weeks instead of months, such as when a hot property hits the market.

So, just where do you go to get these quick-to-fund loans? Ideally, it’s best to work with a lender that specializes in your specific business model or real estate segment. For instance, a hard money lender that understands construction loans will offer monthly quick-payout draws as well as interest-only payments, both of which are designed to take the stress off you and your company as you progress through the building process.

There are also hard money lenders that specialize in the fix & flip or buy-and-hold real estate segments as well as multifamily, office, warehouse and storage complexes. If you do not have a direct reference from a fellow business associate, you can turn to the many listings on the internet. If using this approach, be sure to look for recommendations from established businesses and don’t be shy when addressing your concerns. If you find a qualified lender that you can trust and has a large rolodex of private lenders to draw on, you will most likely find yourself turning to this funding source time and again for many of your capital needs.

Things to Consider When Interviewing Lenders

There are a few basic questions that you will want to address when undergoing an interview with a potential lender. One of the most important is their loan-to-value ratio (LVR). Because hard money loans are asset based, the loan value is determined by the appraised value of the property. Some lenders will use the potential value of the property once renovation has been completed, otherwise known as the after-repair-value or ARV. This approach, however, is very risky and, for those lenders willing to take this chance on you and your abilities, will often mandate a higher-than-average interest rate. Many lenders stick to about a 70 percent loan on the value of the property.

At Level 4 Funding, our loan-to-value goes as high as 90 percent with 100 percent of rehab for fix & flippers.

Of course, loan-to-value is just part of the equation. The other all-important consideration is the interest you’ll be paying on your loan and the terms the lender offers. At Level 4 Funding, our interest rates start at 7.99 percent with terms anywhere from 3 months to 5 years. Call us today for a no-obligation quote.

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

Why You Should Repair Your Credit Score to Obtain Commercial Loans

If you can rebuild your credit score, you have a much higher chance of getting approved for commercial loans. Most lenders want to see a clean credit history and a high credit score, so Level 4 Funding offers ways to build and restore your credit to help you get the loan you need.

Before you can repair your credit, you need to know what state it’s in. First, obtain your current credit report from one of the three recognized credit bureaus. You should be patient and take plenty of time to review your credit report and history. You should also look at your previous business patterns and habits. Do you continue to make the same bad decisions? If you can recognize a pattern with the way you handle your finances, you can change your habits for the better… and begin to improve your credit score. If you have less than desirable credit, it’s going to be a lot tougher to obtain approval for commercial loans, so you should really put all your effort in here. You need to take some time to review your credit history by obtaining your report from one of the three recognized credit bureaus. Really scrutinize your business habits that have led you to earn less than desirable credit. Seeing the report can also help you recognize how you can break these patterns so you can make progress towards improving your credit.

Yes, most people in America have debt and it’s okay — and even good — to have some debt. But too much is… too much. It will make lenders wary about your ability to pay back their loan, and that’s not good when it comes to trying to get loan approval. Try to pay down debts and the amount you owe as much as possible. Take a close look at your financials, your budget and figure out how you can tighten things up so you don’t have to get too far into debt. You can also consider having all your outstanding credit combined onto one card to you can consolidate payments and perhaps even negotiate a better interest rate for your commercial loans. Having just one payment can help you keep track of on-time payments as well.

If you have good business relationships with your suppliers and vendors talk to them about your loan plans and ask them to make a report on your behalf. Make sure you make timely payments to supplier and vendors because being in good standing can help your credit score improve.

If you have any unused, paid off accounts, closing them can affect your credit score too – this can improve your chances of getting approved for your commercial loans needs.

Once again, review your finances, see which accounts you have paid off but that are still open and then for any of those that you are no longer using, send a request letter for those to be closed. You can ask for a return letter from the creditor that proves your account balance is zero and that the account is now closed.

It’s not a quick route to perfect (or near perfect credit).

The bottom line is it takes time to build or repair your credit. However, it’s a lot easier to secure commercial loans via traditional lenders if you have stellar credit. Ultimately, it will benefit you and your business, as you will be in a better position to negotiate better rates. Making some big changes in the way you handle your business finances is a must when repairing poor credit. Start small and make little changes that will eventually pay off in a big way. It’s not impossible and though it may take some time, it is worth it once you’ve got your credit on track and you are able to move head with your business with a loan that you secured with your new high credit score!

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
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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: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage