How To Use a Fix and Flip Loan

How To Use a Fix and Flip Loan

If you are interested in real estate, you may have heard about fix and flip houses. It is where you take a home that needs renovations, fix it, and then sell it for a profit. It has the potential to be lucrative, which is why many people are interested in trying it out. However, buying a house outright is not always possible. It is why loans for fixing and flipping are popular. Here are some tips for using this type of loan to get the most out of it and your time.

Use It To Buy a House

A loan for fixing and flipping a house can help you buy the property you want. A home in a popular area can bring in a lot of money when it is time to sell. Also, a run-down house with potential is another pick for this type of loan.

Keep in mind that it is essential to have an inspector look at the home before you buy it. It can reduce problems later on if you know about them beforehand. Before getting a fix and flip loan, ensure it covers the cost of the home you want to purchase.

Use It To Buy Furniture and Appliances

When renovating a home, you need to buy new appliances. The latest models can help you charge a higher price and make people more willing to pay. A loan can cover the costs of things like refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines. If you want to stage the home, you will need furniture. Choose pieces that suit the house and make it stand out. It can make it more appealing to potential homebuyers.

Use It To Fix Up the Outside

The outside of the home should not get overlooked, especially since that is the first thing people see. Paint the house, fix any damaged or old areas, and check the roof. You can also use the loan to make the yard seem more appealing.

If you have a front yard, make it more inviting and make the backyard more relaxing and comfortable. If your budget allows, you may want to add features like a pool or a gazebo. Choose items that fit the feel of the home and make it more valuable.

Fixing up a home does not have to cost you a lot of money. Take time to research which type of funding is best for you. A loan can help cover your upfront costs and help your home sell faster. 

Reasons Why Companies Should Be Checking Their Business Financials

Reasons Why Companies Should Be Checking Their Business Financials

One key to running a successful commercial enterprise is balancing the books. Thus, checking on business financials remains a wise practice. First-time entrepreneurs might question whether this task is truly worth the effort. The fact remains that ignoring this suggestion puts businesspersons at risk.

Automation Breeds Mistakes

Computerization is a double-edged sword. On the plus side, it helps reduce the element of human error. The downside is it triggers the assumption that everything is being handled properly. This can then lead to damaging oversights that throw off one’s budget.

Take automatic payments as an example. Scheduled electronic deductions block the possibility of forgetting to pay a bill. At the same time, people assume that invoices are being accurately paid. This encourages tuning out. Terms could change without notice, possibly resulting in a forced overdraft. An errant charge might suddenly appear. Speaking with a customer service representative is necessary to reverse it.

Financial Reviews Deliver Insights

Examining records may raise questions that are worthy of investigation. When the dollar figures that leaders expect do not appear, they don their sleuthing hats. A stretch of in-house research could uncover cracks in their standard operating procedures. Sadly, even employee theft may be the cause. The sooner such issues surface, the faster they are handled.

Combing through business financials may also reveal delinquent customers. Enterprises without dedicated accounts receivables departments are likely to overlook this matter. These owners must make a concerted effort to identify unpaid invoices. Once they do, they’ll know which clients need a bit of reminding or pressure to spur them into paying.

Badly-Timed Loan Requests End in Rejections

Independent ventures sometimes need extra working capital to keep their doors open. An emergency could arise that drains corporate savings. Often, a loan is the best solution. That said, a lending institution might wind up denying an application. Many times, poor fiscal oversight is the cause.

One way of reducing the odds of this outcome is by applying at the right time. Seasonal operations often have specific calendar periods when profits are at their peak. Success is more likely when cash flow is at its highest. Even if approval would happen anyway, the rates and terms are bound to be better. Greater profits also mean taking out a loan will be less of a cause for worry.

Wise entrepreneurship involves reviewing business financials with regularity. Thankfully, it is an easy task that leads to more than a few desirable payoffs.

3 Things to Know About a Bridge Loan Program

3 Things to Know About a Bridge Loan Program

Real estate value has risen for several years due to insufficient inventory. Everyone wanted to move, and businesses sometimes moved with their buyers and workers. While great for sellers, it proved harder for buyers, including investment properties.

An investor’s savings may be insufficient to get some properties they eyed during a seller’s market. If the company eyeing the parcel can’t get traditional financing, it may be necessary to get a loan to bridge the gap when purchasing a property. Bridge loans help any buyer to beat out the competition.

What Is It?

The bridge loan program helps borrowers with gaps in their funding for investment or commercial properties. Some lenders will refer to this loan as swing financing or gap financing. This loan type works best in the short term and comes with high-interest rates.

This finance product can help any borrower when they need extra funds to win a property or finish a construction project. A bridge loan may seem like any other loan, but it differs in how you use the financing itself.

How Do They Work?

These loans fund fast in comparison to other loan programs. So using bridge loans to support urgent gaps can help with a borrower’s critical real estate or different business needs. A lender will ask that you put the property as collateral in their loan terms.

Many different types of lenders offer this program, including banks and alternative lenders. Shop around to find the best terms and rates. Some loans will also provide prepayment incentives, which can help mitigate overall loan costs if the financing is paid early.

When To Get One?

Bridge loans are outstanding when you need fast financing for other things besides real estate. They can help with inventory needs or anywhere there is a funding gap. However, it is mainly used to help purchase or repair investment or commercial property.

Before trying to qualify, a business will want to look at its cash flow to confirm it can’t get a traditional loan. It needs to ensure it can pay off these loans on time. Not only is it high-interest debt, but it is secured on physical collateral.

This program may suit some situations, but the borrower will want to consider all options before taking a bridge loan. Many lenders can help with financing gaps and provide a bridge loan. Finding the right lender is crucial as these loans may become costly depending on the loan terms and rates.

Pros and Cons of Purchasing Investment Real Estate With a Hard Money Loan

Pros and Cons of Purchasing Investment Real Estate With a Hard Money Loan

Buying an investment property with a bank is difficult for some business owners. A traditional lender will need specific conditions met before lending money to you. When you start your business, it may not even be possible to meet the many mandated requirements of a bank.

A hard money loan may be a good option if you don’t qualify for a traditional loan. There may be a lot of pros and cons for this loan type. But if you aren’t ready for a conventional investment property mortgage, you can use a hard money loan to get started.

Purpose

Hard money loans are a type of short-term bridge loan. A bank doesn’t work with this loan program. Individuals or companies will lend your company money using the property to secure the loan. If you default, the lender will collect the collateral.

Pros

Because this lending program is secured by real property, the lender will not look into your finances. The lending company for hard money loans will need to know how much the property is worth.

The process to qualify is nominal, shortening the time to obtain funds. Depending on the lender, you can expect to wait anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before you get your funds.

A hard money loan helps if you just started your business and can’t qualify for a traditional loan. You won’t need huge cash to purchase a property with this loan.

Cons

Your origination fees and interest rates are lower at a traditional bank than with hard money financing. Because this loan type is higher risk, a lender will want to protect themselves.

Short-term loan contracts require you to pay off the property, or you may lose it to the lender. Every arrangement differs for each loan, but the loan terms are much less than a bank’s.

Hard money loans come with high expenses, but the idea is to force you to pay them off as soon as possible. This allows the lender to get out of a potentially risky deal. The longer the loan term, the more difficult to both you and the lender.

Using a traditional lender may not be possible at first. You can use a hard money loan to bridge the gap until you are more established. Once you qualify for a traditional loan, it is best to roll over your hard money loan into a mortgage if you can’t pay it off before the hard money loan is due.

The Benefits of Equipment Financing

The Benefits of Equipment Financing

If you run a business that requires expensive equipment, you may find that buying new versions is not always possible. Instead, you can finance your equipment, and you do not have to spend a substantial amount of money at once. Many business owners have companies that could benefit from better equipment but cannot afford it. Instead of going without, try equipment financing to help your business thrive while saving money in the short term. Here is how this type of financing can benefit your company.

It Can Help With Upfront Costs

Instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars upfront, getting a loan for your equipment can help ease the burden of buying. You can use payments spread over time to help you afford your equipment. Financing your machinery can allow you to grow your business and make more money.

You can also get your equipment quicker since you do not have to save up to buy the item. Remember that financing could cost you more than just buying the items outright. However, if the upfront cost is not feasible, especially if you are starting a new business, getting a loan may be your best option.

It Can Help You Build Business Credit

Business credit is valuable to most business owners. It can help you get certain loans or make your payments lower. You need good business credit if you intend to use loans later in your career. For example, your credit could help you lease or buy a larger space for your company, which may lead to more customers and revenue. Equipment financing is one way to raise and build your credit.

You Can Buy New Equipment

Every business owner wants to have the latest equipment, especially if they are in a specialized field. The items you use can better serve your clients or customers or help your business run more efficiently. New machinery may run better than older models and help you complete tasks faster. It can lead to better customer service or better products.

Depending on your industry, it may be valuable to have the latest model, and sometimes it can be enough to have a relatively new model. For example, a restaurant oven may not need to be the latest kind, but a laser for manufacturing may be essential.

Financing your equipment can help your business grow and bring in new customers. Use some of these tips the next time you consider getting a loan for your machinery.

Tips For Raising Money at a Small Business

Tips For Raising Money at a Small Business

No matter what type of industry you are in, running a small business takes a lot of work. Hours might be long, margins may get pretty tight, and unexpected challenges are sure to come up along the way. As the owner of the business, the burden will be on you to steer the ship through any turbulent periods.

One particular and almost inevitable challenge for a small business is raising enough money. If your business is thriving, great! But downturns can come on quickly, and you may be forced to raise cash to keep the lights on and pay staff. Plus, the costs just of opening can be exorbitant, so raising money at the outset is almost always necessary.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to raise money. Whether you’re looking at SBA loans, a crowdfunding campaign, or another method, it’s good to consider your options. Read on to learn a little more about how to effectively raise money at your business.

SBA Loans

All entrepreneurs should be familiar with SBA loans. These are a class of loans that are backed by the government, and are geared toward entrepreneurs of all types. There are loans for buying property, disaster loans, lines of credit, and more.

Don’t know where to start? Contact your local bank or credit union to ask about SBA loans, and you may be able to find an option that works for you.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding can be another effective option for many small businesses. Crowdfunding, as the name suggests, involves raising cash from the “crowd” — typically either a large group of small-dollar donors or wealthy investors (like venture capitalists). Crowdfunding can be a way to get more people invested in your business and works particularly well if you have a sizable social profile. Of course, in some cases, it does require giving up an equity stake in your business, which can be difficult.

Asset-Based Loans

An asset-based loan is usually a quick secured loan, lent based on something valuable you put up as collateral. Maybe it’s expensive equipment that your company owns or a vehicle or piece of property. Whatever it is, asset-based loans can be pretty quick to secure and are often flexible about terms. Just be sure you’re in a position to repay, so you don’t have to forfeit the collateral.

While the challenges of small business ownership are real, the rewards are substantial. These tips can help ensure you have the funds to make it through difficult times.