Carpenter looking to be full time investor.

Carpenter looking to be full time investor.

Member since 2020 · 4 posts · 7 votes

Hello Bigger Pockets,

I've been in construction for a little under a decade now, and I know what it takes to build a house from the ground up. I bought my 1st investment property in Buren, WA. I did everything myself from cabinetry, drywall, flooring, windows, plumbing electrical, etc... I was working as a lead carpentry for a remodeling in company in Seattle, but left in Oct. 2023 to help with my family's property and turn my side work full time, which is slowing down. I've been working under a friends GC license and now working on getting my own.

I am currently house hacking my invest property, the main house is rented out and I live in the unfinished back unit in the back that will eventually be a DADU. I currently have 20k saved up, but my dilemma is that I have no verifiable income sense November 2023. I've speaking with a lender about the possibility of a DSCR loan and once I get my GC license the possibility of hard money then refinance. I've considered going back to a W-2 but working a laborious 40-50hrs a week then working on my own invest for sweat equity left me super burnt out. I do have a construction team in place so I don't have to it all myself again but I'd like to do a significant about of work myself to save $$$.

I'm looking for any advice on my situation and looking to connect with other investors. 

-Nick Martinez

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  • Lender · CA · Member since 2018 · 638 posts · 393 votes
    2y

    You don't need verifiable income for ground up construction or DSCR. You will need significant liquid funds though for down payment, closing costs, and reserves. For a new developer with no experience, I would count on having to have 25% of total project cost (if land is 150k and cost to build is 350k, total project cost is 500k so expect to put down 125k). Then you will need funds for closing costs (between 3-5% of loan amount for this kind of project, possibly more). Then enough reserves for overages, unforeseen expenses, and monthly interest payments so another 10-15% in total costs in liquid reserves. A 500k project, you will want to have close to 175-200k liquid.

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