Portfolio Lender Questions

[Jonathan Styer]

Hello All,

I am a new (wannabe) investor in Columbus, OH looking for some lender advice. My wife and I currently own our home but would like to move into a duplex or maybe even up to a fourplex and start house hacking as well as upgrading our location within Columbus. We plan to keep our current SFH and rent it out as well. We just went through a cash out refinance and pulled out equity to operate this plan.

We are ready to start the process of searching for a deal and have actually spoke to a FSBO that we would be interested in purchasing if the price is right. So I am at the point now where I would like to start speaking with lenders to get the ball rolling. My past experience with lenders was fine but it was with a big bank and I want to start building a relationship with a smaller bank that can help me as a portfolio lender down the line when I get there. We are not in a huge rush and would be fine to stay in our current house for up to another year if necessary.

So to the point! I have put together a list of smaller banks around Columbus that I think may be a good fit and I am curious as to what kinds of questions I should be asking these lenders when I call them and interview them. I am also currently in the process of becoming an agent and think it would be beneficial to build a relationship with a banker on that front as well and I would love for them to be the same bank. 

I could easily move $10-15K into a checking/savings account from our current savings if that may swing things into my favor in some way. 

Thank you for reading this wall of text and I appreciate any responses and advice.