Monthly Archives: February 2019

Cannabis Business Loans: Finding the Help That’s Right for You

February 19, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Arizona cannabis business loans are hard to come by, if you want to find financing for your “growing business,” you’ll need to get creative.

The bank is off-limits when it comes to the marijuana industry because you are distributing federally controlled substances. For this reason, a bank risks losing FDIC coverage if they lend to a medical or recreational marijuana business. So what if you don’t take out a loan in your company’s name? What’s the risk for the bank if they give you a personal loan to buy your first facility?

Technically, if you are in the marijuana industry under federal law you are a drug dealer. If a bank associates with you even on a personal level, they put themselves at risk of “money laundering.”

So how do all those other cannabis startups get the funds they need to “grow,” their businesses? Maybe they have rich uncles, but more than likely they made use of one of the following:

• Crowdfunding

• Equity funding

• Hard money

Here are some sources of Arizona cannabis business loans you might consider:

Let us consider the first option: the fabled “crowdfunding.” Hopefully, you have a passing notion about how Kickstarter works. Before pinning all your hopes on crowdfunding, ask yourself, “how interesting is growing marijuana?”

There is only one way to grow cannabis, and the prospect doesn’t exactly capture the public’s imagination. If your Kickstarter proposal doesn’t engage potential investors, it is going to be a long time until you get the money you need.

So, crowdfunding is not a reliable way to start a “growing” business.

The other option is equity funding, in this situation you sell a stake in your business to a like-minded investor. With equity deals, you’ll be obligated to give your partner a fixed percentage of your profits into the indefinite future.

Equity funding is the most expensive way to start a business, that 10 percent you pledge for that pitiful 100 grand or so might be worth millions in a few years. So funding your first growing operation remains a quandary, the bank is off limits, crowdfunding is not reliable, and equity funding might be too expensive for your tastes. What if there was a way to buy your first growing facility that was both reliable and less expensive?

So far we haven’t discussed the last item on the list, hard money.

Arizona hard money lenders can help fuel the cost of your cannabis startup

Many ignore hard money as a means to fund startups. These loans are asset-based, high-interest and short-term. You don’t want a bunch of high-interest debt when you’re just starting a business right? Well think of it this way, the faster you can pay off the debt, the lower the expense to your new business. So in a way hard money is almost tailor-made for the cannabis industry. You know when your crop is going to mature. If you play your cards right you can line up a buyer ahead of time and your initial profits should pay off your initial debt.

With hard money and cannabis startups, it’s wise to follow these steps:

• Borrow against the value of your first grow facility, plant your first crop

• Wait a couple of months as your product matures

• Sell your crop (which if done right, pays off your initial loan)

In the end, you own your grow facility free and clear. With hard money, you didn’t have to wait on crowdfunding, and you still have full ownership of your business. Don’t overlook the benefits of hard money for your “growing business.”

Dennis Dahlber Broker Ri CEO Level 4 Funding LLC Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC
Hard Money Lender
Hard Money Loans
Hard Money Loan
Arizona Tel: (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel: (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com
Dennis Dahlberg Broker/RI/CEO

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 43 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Arizona Fix and Flip Loans: Make the Most of Your Investment

February 19, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Arizona Fix and Flip Loans provide the cash, but you have to turn that cash into a quick turnaround by making your property a must have. Here’s how to make your property a must-have amongst buyers.

Arizona Private Money Lenders will provide your Arizona Fix and Flip Loan, but what do you do once you’ve secured your investment property? Now you’ve got to actually perform the fix and the flip. Unless you have experience in home and interior design you may be at a loss for how to make your property stand out amongst the others on the market. Here are some tips on how to make sure you’re making the right design choices for your investment property funded by an Arizona Fix and Flip Loan.

Stand out, get offers

You don’t want your property to be so cookie cutter that there’s no differentiation between yours and the one down the street. Think about a red door that will attract buyers passing by. Splurge on the countertops so buyers don’t walk in and think about how much they’ll have to spend on upgrading the kitchen. One or two stand-out features can be a deal maker for your fix and flip home.

Look for trends

Standing out is great when it comes to marketing a home and this tip may sound counterintuitive to what we just told you, but trends are trends for a reason. Gone are the days where buyers want to walk into a stark white home. Paint an accent wall in a noticeable, but still neutral tone. Add some Edison bulbs to exposed light fixtures. If you spend fifteen minutes on Pinterest you will see the top trends in homes today and you can easily pick out a few quick, cheap trends to include in your renovation and decorating to make sure your fix and flip is on trend with what people want today.

Invest in staging

A blank home can allow buyers to envision what they would do to the home to make it theirs. A staged home allows buyers to picture themselves already living in it, sitting on that couch, sitting on that patio, having family game night by that fireplace. You don’t want to overdo the staging to where buyers are off put if the style doesn’t match their own, but it should be enough that it doesn’t feel as if they are walking into a bare bones home that they can’t picture themselves living in.

Fix and flip properties require a sense of style and what’s on trend to sell for top price. Picture a model home in new-build neighborhoods. Does it have the lowest end fixtures? Does it have stark white walls and zero personal touches? No, that’s because it needs to feel like a home, not just a building. If you put a little extra money into your finishing touches you can make more on the sale. If you have any questions about Arizona Fix and Flip Loans, call Setabay LLC and we can walk you through the process.

Mi Casa, Su Casa: Rental Property Loans

February 18, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

You can make money purchasing homes that can be used as rental properties, giving you passive income. Arizona Hard Money Lenders give you the cash on an Arizona Rental Property Loan so you can purchase quickly

Have you ever been a renter? Have you made monthly rental payments that went into the pockets of the home owner or a rental management agency? Being a rental property owner can be a lucrative business, but how do you get your hands on that first rental property if you can’t secure a big bank loan? Big banks aren’t the only way to get investment cash to purchase a rental property. Arizona Rental property loans can also be serviced by Arizona Private Money Lenders , also known as Arizona Hard Money Lenders.

Rental property loans will allow you to scoop up investment properties quickly so you don’t have to front your own money to make the purchase. That being said, there are things that can stand in the way of you getting that funding to make the quick purchase before the perfect rental home flies off the market. You can be the majority of the way through the approval process when a big bank decides that you’re “too risky” to fund.

Big bank decisions are based on hard and fast qualification rules that can keep you from having your loan paid on day one, or the day before escrow. We service rental property loans based on your propensity for success, not for your ability to make a credit card payment on time. Here’s why Arizona Private Money Lenders are the way to go for rental property loans.

We’re investor friendly lenders

We are there to service investor loans so we understand the timeliness needed and why Arizona rental property loans need to be treated differently than traditional home loans. We won’t be shopping around for the perfect lender, we ARE the perfect lender. That cuts out time and road blocks that could keep you from getting the property you want.

We offer an alternative to traditional investments

Rental home loans enable you to diversify your wealth through non-traditional means. For some people, the security of an IRA account or 401(k) is what works best for them. But as an investor, you know that real estate, and rental properties in particular, can have far greater returns. Also, there’s potential for multiple rental properties. The strict qualifications at big banks can keep you from securing multiple loans. Alternative lenders can bypass those and help you diversify quicker and bigger.

The fact is that rental properties are always going to be necessary. Housing is a tried and true investment that you can always count on. Rental property loans will give you the opportunity to get a piece of the rental property investment pie, and we can help you get your spot at the rental property table quickly and efficiently. Your Arizona Rental Property Loan needs will be met through Level 4 Funding. Call us today to get started on your approval.

Spending Money to Make Money: Arizona Airbnb Loans

February 17, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Earn passive income using an Arizona Airbnb loan to secure an investment property that can bring in money each month. Boost your chances of a higher monthly income with the right real estate investment and idyllic upgrades.

Gone are the days of staying in seedy roadside motels, trying to score a last minute reservation in an expensive resort, or shacking up on a friend’s couch when you travel. Arizona Airbnb Loans, also known as rental loans, have changed the way we think of travel, and for homeowners it has changed the way we think of making money using property assets which no longer have to rely on long-term leases or high tenant turnover with occupancy-caused maintenance.

What do you do if you don’t have an existing property to use? Of course you can rent out a room in your personal home, but why not rent out a whole home for more revenue and keep your privacy intact? Whole home rentals have a premium price and open up the possibilities for larger group sizes to use your property.

Types of Arizona Airbnb Loans

There are multiple ways to purchase a home to use as an Airbnb property, including the following popular options:

· Typical home loan (best if you already have the income to obtain a rental home)

· Short term rental loan (can provide the income to gain rental property without pulling out of your own pockets)

An Airbnb loan, or a rental loan, can provide year-round income for you and your family and there are ways to maximize your return on your investment property. Think outside of the box and you can be one of the go-to destinations for Arizona Airbnb guests, building your clientele and securing year-round reservations.

· Keep an eye on local trends to snatch up the business of out-of-towners. Buy in a central location to ensure you get the Waste Management Phoenix Open traffic. Consider a home in a suburb of Phoenix to capitalize on spring training visitors.

· Use excess funds to make improvements to the home that will enhance the property and demand a higher per-night price from your guests.

· Need ideas on how to improve your pad? Join Airbnb host community forums to get tips and tricks from other hosts. Find hosts in your area who can tell you if it’s worth the cash to install an outdoor spa or if you would be better off upgrading your kitchen.

The opportunities to make money in real estate are endless, but an Arizona Airbnb loan can enable you to make passive money with minimal time and effort on your part. Make an appointment with a financial planner today and start taking steps towards a stable financial future by taking advantage of a 21^st century moneymaking trend. An Arizona hard money lender can help you secure the funds to get yourself on the Airbnb revenue train and setting you up for the financial security you’ve always dreamed about.

Help Your Capital Needs with Commercial Hard Money Loans

February 17, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Investors use hard money when an opportunity arises and they need to jump on it quickly before someone else grabs it or when they need to bridge a gap between where they are right now and where they want to go.

Hard Money Loans in Arizona can be referred to as many things— one such thing being a bridge loan. They are called this because in essence they are bridging an investor from one opportunity into another. These are the same type of loans that investors take out when they are flipping homes or commercial real estate—such as a mall or an office building.

When you apply for a traditional loan at a bank they generally look at the last three years of your businesses financing to see if there is enough collateral and cash flow to satisfy their lending requirements. When these requirements are not met or when a business has not existed long enough this will result in non-approval of the loan. This is why there are Texas Hard Money Lenders.

COMMERCIAL HARD MONEY LOANS OPEN UP OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES

When a bank turns down a borrower for either not being established long enough or has insufficient cash flow a borrower can turn to a hard money lender. These business owners can use hard money. This is money that is used to transform a business to where it needs to be in order to obtain traditional financing.

Hard Money Loans in Arizona are short-term, interest-only loans that typically have loan terms from six months to three years. The terms are short because these loans are intended to only be a short-term fix. Once the business owner has the capital to bring their business up to par, they can secure long-term financing.

A good example of when hard money lending may be useful is when an investor wants to purchase an office complex that is vacant and needs to be rehabbed. Because there is no income being generated from this property a bank will not approve the loan. However, a commercial hard money lender will approve the loan and use property as collateral to secure the loan.

A hard money lender can explain many different hard money scenarios that can work for an investor’s unique situation.

Your Dreams Can Come True with Private Money Lending for Your Small Business

February 17, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Unfortunately, a small business can’t prosper without funding. Funding can come from many sources—such as family, friends and loans.

If you are fortunate enough your friends and family will have enough cash on reserve to help you grow your business. However, the reality is most of us do not know many people that can just toss us thousands of dollars to invest in our small business.

A business owner can take out a Arizona small business loan from the bank. However, banks require stellar credit and enough monthly income for them to feel secure loaning money to a business— and let’s not forget the agonizing process of a bank loan. A business owner can easily wait months for approval and funding from a bank.

WHERE CAN YOU GET A QUICK SMALL BUSINESS LOAN

Private investors provide small business owners loans with capital to get their project off the ground. These investors can make a huge difference in the success of a business. There are clear benefits of working with a private investor—the main benefit being the quick access to capital. Private funding serves small businesses that may not qualify for bank loans.

Capital is the most important factor of a small business—it is what makes or breaks a small business. Bottom line is a business cannot grow without money. It can be difficult for small business to obtain approval for a bank loan and without private lending many businesses could struggle to grow or even to keep their doors open.

Small business owners with poor credit or new small businesses have a great opportunity for obtaining a small business loan with private investors.

Private investors are a good alternative to traditional bank loans. Most banks are weary about lending to new businesses and frown upon business lenders with poor credit. Private investors are also referred to as Texas Hard Money Lenders. These investors will use the business owner’s commercial real estate as collateral for the loan. The property is used to secure the loan and protection in case the borrower defaults on the loan. This is great news for business owners that do not qualify for a traditional bank loan. The loan you receive is almost completely determined by the collateral that is offered to the hard money lender. Because private money, or hard money, loans are not available through the bank, you will need to find a local hard money lender. If you are a small business owner in need of financing, please contact us at level4funding.com.

How You Can Buy a New Home Before Selling Your Old One

February 16, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Sam and Judy had just put their home, of 20 years, up for sale. As, people do, when they are selling their home, they began looking for a new home. Luckily, or so they thought, they found the ideal house only a few days after putting their house up for sale.

When Sam and Judy found the home, they wanted to purchase they were so excited. Their realtor said it shouldn’t be a problem for them to put an offer in because they could put a contingency in the contract. However, that served to be a great problem.

The house Sam and Judy had decided on was a popular one. It was a steal of a deal and had more than one offer in on it. Unfortunately, the seller felt a contingency wasn’t necessary due to the fact that there were cash buyers putting offers in on the home. Sam and Judy lost that home and were feeling a bit concerned. The home they were selling had repairs that were necessary, and their realtor had warned it may be on the market longer than they were hoping.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU CAN’T COMPETE WITH CASH BUYERS

When a seller doesn’t want a contingency in the deal a smart move is an Arizona bridge loan. A bridge loan, as the name suggests, offers a bridge that allows a buyer to purchase a new property by using the home they currently own as collateral.

An Arizona bridge loan is also known as “gap financing.” They are there for home owners who want to purchase a new home before selling the home they are currently in. Unless you have a large nest egg of cash, most people cannot buy a new home before selling the old one—and in a competitive market most sellers frown upon a contingency. It is very difficult to qualify for two mortgages at one time let alone pay on two mortgages.

This is where a bridge loan can be a buyer’s saving grace. A bridge loan can come from a hard money lender. A hard money lender will loan the money to you and usually give you a few months before a payment is due. Once due, the monthly payments are interest only payments. When the old home sells, the borrower will pay the loan in full in what is called a balloon payment. This allows the borrower to purchase their new home and have time to sell their old home without carrying two mortgages. Once the old home sells, the buyer has money to pay off the loan and pocket the rest of the cash as profit.

Typically, a hard money lender will finance up to 80% of the combined value of both the new home and old home. The other 20% or so usually comes from home equity or savings for the new down payment. There are lenders that will lend more than 80% but be prepared to have the other 20% handy.

Bridge loans can be a life saver for borrowers wanting to purchase their new home without waiting on the old one to sell.

Bridge loans take a shorter time to process than a conventional mortgage. Typically, these loans are approved, and funds are released in two weeks or less. These loans will have a slightly higher interest rate than loans from a traditional lending institution, however, remember you will only be paying interest on the loan until the last payment—the balloon payment.

What to Expect with Hard Money Loans

February 16, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Hard money loans are funded by individual investors when traditional lending institutions can not approve a borrower for what they need or a borrower needs quick financing.

A typical hard money loan will run between 7% and 15% in interest rates and cost anywhere from 4 to 7 points. Points are an upfront fee of the loan amount. Hard Money Loans in Arizona are short-term loans that generally run between six months and three years.

If you took out a loan with a bank for $1,000,000 you would be paying back approximately $6,000 per month—that is including interest. With a hard money loan you would be paying back approximately $8,700 a month. This is due to the higher interest rate of a hard money loan.

Many people will read this and think, why in the world would I take out a hard money loan if it is less expensive to take a loan from a traditional lending institution. Well, let’s take that $1,000,000 we were discussing above. If an investor finds a commercial property that is being sold for $1,000,000— but there is nothing there except empty rooms, however the investor has a clear vision of what they can do with that building. What do they typically do? They go to their bank. Well, because there is presently no income being generated the bank is most likely not going to approve any amount of loan. So, what does an investor do if they don’t have $1,000,000 laying around. They find a hard money lender.

WHY WOULD A HARD MONEY LENDER INVEST IN MY PROJECT?

Hard money investors are investors that choose to invest money into real estate rather than traditional investing such as stocks and bonds. They do this because they make money much faster than waiting around for the ebbs and flows of the stock market.

Texas Hard Money Lenders have money and they want to invest in a project they feel will be profitable for them, as well as you. And this is where they make their money. The borrower will present their project, and show that they will contribute anything they are able to contribute to the project—whether that be money down, showing ways to cut corners or having an active role in the project themselves—such as pouring their blood, sweat and tears into the project. The hard money lender is able to approve the loan within minutes and distribute the funds within days, unlike banks.

Where Texas Hard Money Lenders make their money is through points and interest—just like a bank. However, a borrower pays for the convince of quick loan approval and funding of properties that banks will not fund through a higher interest rate.

Although hard money loans cost more initially, it will gives the quick funding required and allows you to prosper in the future.

It is important that when you take a hard money loan out you have a clear and realistic vision of your investment. Make sure that when you meet with your hard money lender you have a crystal clear business plan that you believe in—your hard money lender can’t believe in an investment if you don’t.

How to Find a Hard Money Lender in Texas

February 16, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Read this article to find a hard money lender in Texas and learn how to make sure your loan gets funded.

When it comes to Texas Hard Money Lenders, many people don’t really know what they are. They have been stereotyped as loan sharks trying to take your money, but in reality this couldn’t be more false. Texas Hard Money Lenders are simply private investors that want to work with you and make money with you.

Finding a hard money lender can sometimes be difficult—especially because Texas Hard Money Lenders vary just as much as borrowers vary. Stay away from anyone trying to make money off of you buy selling you a list of Texas Hard Money Lenders. It is simple—google: hard money lender in Texas. Yes, it’s that simple.

HOW TO GET TEXAS HARD MONEY LENDERS TO FUND YOUR DEAL

First, make sure you have a deal. When you speak to a hard money lender they can’t approve funds for a property that isn’t there. If you aren’t sure if a deal is good enough for a hard money lender to invest in there are resources on the web that can give you that information.

Once you find a property, make sure that you are organized. There are steps to be taken when trying to obtain funding for your deal—be professional. Create a presentation that includes pictures, a business plan, your experience and goals and prepare a document with all the expenses that will be necessary.

Texas Hard Money Lenders want to see that you are willing to take as much of a risk as they are. Although, lenders may finance 100% of the deal, be prepared to put some type of a down payment. If you don’t have the money to do this yourself come to the table with some potential ideas where that money could come from. Maybe a silent investor or a partner would be willing to help with the down payment. If you can’t think of anyone that could help fund the down payment, maybe you will be the one to do the repairs yourself. Therefore, the cost of hiring someone can be deducted from the original loan amount— be creative and think outside the box. Lenders just want to see that you are willing to work hard and you have passion about your project.

Make sure that you communicate with your lender. If they ask for a document—make sure you are on top of it and that document is sent asap. If they call, answer the phone or call them back the minute you can. Don’t put them off. Be responsible and make sure your lender is comfortable with you and trusts you—remember this is their money they are risking. Make sure you follow through with your project as planned. This will help you when you need to take out another loan.

Texas Hard Money Lenders are individuals that are literally loaning you their own money.

Texas Hard Money Lenders need to see that you are professional, organized and have some skin in the game. Finding a hard money lender that you work well with is priceless—meaning you can make deal after deal after deal and have an investor that will fund you—which in turn means making a whole lot of money.

5 Reasons to Use a Texas Hard Money Lender

February 15, 2019Uncategorizedbigdaddydennis

Texas Hard Money Lenders can be a real estate investor’s best friend. They offer speed and flexibility on top of a plethora of other benefits.

1. You Don’t Have To Have Perfect Credit— If you fall into the majority of borrowers you have a ding or two (or several) on your FICO score. When it comes to traditional loans, the most important factor a bank looks at is that three digit score. If your score falls below their required number—no loan for you! Not only your credit score, but your monthly income is of just as much importance to them. If you fall outside of their criteria, you will not be approved. Texas Hard Money Lenders focus primarily on the value of the property that serves as the collateral on the loan. As long as the lender is comfortable with the loan-to-value ratio they are not overly concerned with a borrower’s credit score and income.

2. Quick Loan Approval and Funding— If you have ever applied for any type of loan at a bank you are familiar with the painfully slow process. There are countless documents that must be filled out and even once that is done the underwriting process is almost sloth like. It can be a month before a borrower is even approved and even longer to receive the funds. By this time, it is highly likely the borrower has lost the property to another real estate investor. The application process for a hard money loan is simple. Typically, a borrower only needs to fill out a standard loan application—and can be approved in minutes. Usually, the borrower can receive funds in 10 days or less.

3. Getting Financing For Additional Loans— Most banks cap the amount of loans a borrower can take out at four. It usually doesn’t matter how great their credit is or how much money they generate. Because Texas Hard Money Lenders are private investors they make their own rules. They do not have the same limitations on loans as do banks. Their main concern is the borrower’s equity in a property. Texas Hard Money Lenders enjoy working with investors that have multiple properties because the borrower can cross-collateralize their properties.

4. Making The Investor’s Offer Strong— Seasoned real estate investors are very familiar with banks pulling the financing during escrow—it is not uncommon. This can easily destroy the deal and the investor will lose the potential property. When an offer comes in from an investor using hard money sellers see this as a benefit. Texas Hard Money Lenders are not known to pull out of deals at the last minute. What that means is that an investor that is working with a Dallas Texas hard money lender in a competitive market is seen as preferential to the seller when there are multiple offers on the property.

5. Quick Close— Sellers want to close quickly—this is why cash buyers are a sellers dream buyer. Good news! Investors using hard money are viewed in the same light as cash buyers. Real estate investors can often negotiate a lower purchase prices because they can give a shorter escrow period and all that equals a quicker close.

There are numerous reasons for a real estate investor to work with a Dallas Texas hard money lender.

An experienced hard money lender is an expert in real estate investments and will work with an investor to make sure there are no issues that could hurt the project. At Level 4 Funding we have years of experience and are here to work with you. Please contact us at level4funding.com.