The Stack Method

The Stack Method

Member since 2022 · 3 posts · 3 votes

If you're an investor or wholesaler running into dead ends due to down payment gaps or tight lending terms, you need to know about the Stack Method—a powerful and creative funding strategy that helps close more deals with less capital.

🔑 How it works:

  • The buyer uses a DSCR loan as the primary financing tool (65–75% LTV).
  • The seller carries back the down payment as a 2nd-position lien, preserving their equity and deferring taxes.
  • A transactional lender covers the temporary funding gap to ensure a seamless double close or to facilitate acquisition.

✅ Benefits:

  • No need to bring in cash for the down payment
  • Seller gets long-term returns and capital gains tax advantages
  • Buyer acquires a cash-flowing asset with minimal out-of-pocket investment
  • Works for SFR, multifamily, land, and even self-storage

This method is especially effective when there's strong equity and a motivated seller willing to be flexible. I’m happy discuss any deals people may have!


Thanks!

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Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
Moderator
Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
1y
Quote from @Don Konipol:
Quote from @Edward Johnson:

Hi Dan, 

In our system whether or not a DSCR lender allows 2nd doesn't matter. We close the 2nd leg of the transaction with a real estate attorney. Has nothing to do with the lender

That’s not really an answer.  If you sign a statement that falsifies the source of the down payment, it’s mortgage fraud.  If the use of a junior lien violates a mortgage covenant (due on sale) the loan is immediately callable at the option of the lender.  And while you may “get away with it” 20 times, it’s the 21st time that may get you.

There are lots of people who have lost lots of money and ended lots more who ended up with criminal convictions for taking bad legal advice.  Of course without knowing the specific situation it’s impossible to comment except in a general sense. 

I’ve been a private/hard money lender a long time. I personally know 4 borrowers who served 4 years plus time for mortgage fraud.  Closing “with a real estate attorney” is a necessity for almost all real estate transactions - it does not insure that the participants acted either legally or acted in compliance with contracts. 

laughed when I saw that comment as you are correct don, we correspond with multiple DSCR lenders who are the institutional lenders and most do not allow a second and if you do it has to be disclosed upfront and never would allow 100% financing on it AND it still has to meet their DSCR requirements.

Saying it does not matter basically is admitting to mortgage fraud.

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17 Replies

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  • Investor · Ohio & Fort Lauderdale · Member since 2021 · 75 posts · 50 votes
    1y

    Love the "stack" method. We pursue a similar strategy with multifamily (layering bank debt with a seller note in second) but we usually underwrite to bring some equity (10% ish) to close. This helps us increase leverage and bring as little to the table as possible.

    @Edward Johnson

  • Rental Property Investor · Member since 2025 · 85 posts · 35 votes
    1y

    Do you know a good lender that allows a second position on a DSCR loan?

    • Flipper/Rehabber · DFW · Member since 2020 · 373 posts · 207 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Dan Ikon:

      Do you know a good lender that allows a second position on a DSCR loan?


       Kiavi does with some paperwork

  • Member since 2022 · 3 posts · 3 votes
    1y

    Hi Dan, 

    In our system whether or not a DSCR lender allows 2nd doesn't matter. We close the 2nd leg of the transaction with a real estate attorney. Has nothing to do with the lender

    • Rental Property Investor · Member since 2025 · 85 posts · 35 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Edward Johnson:

      Hi Dan, 

      In our system whether or not a DSCR lender allows 2nd doesn't matter. We close the 2nd leg of the transaction with a real estate attorney. Has nothing to do with the lender


      Please DM your email. I am interested and willing to discuss options for a deal I work on. However, still not clear how DSCR lender would close without knowing there will be a second position lien.
    • Don KonipolBusiness Member
      Investor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Edward Johnson:

      Hi Dan, 

      In our system whether or not a DSCR lender allows 2nd doesn't matter. We close the 2nd leg of the transaction with a real estate attorney. Has nothing to do with the lender

      That’s not really an answer.  If you sign a statement that falsifies the source of the down payment, it’s mortgage fraud.  If the use of a junior lien violates a mortgage covenant (due on sale) the loan is immediately callable at the option of the lender.  And while you may “get away with it” 20 times, it’s the 21st time that may get you.

      There are lots of people who have lost lots of money and ended lots more who ended up with criminal convictions for taking bad legal advice.  Of course without knowing the specific situation it’s impossible to comment except in a general sense. 

      I’ve been a private/hard money lender a long time. I personally know 4 borrowers who served 4 years plus time for mortgage fraud.  Closing “with a real estate attorney” is a necessity for almost all real estate transactions - it does not insure that the participants acted either legally or acted in compliance with contracts. 
      Private Mortgage Financing Partners, LLC
    • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
      Moderator
      Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Don Konipol:
      Quote from @Edward Johnson:

      Hi Dan, 

      In our system whether or not a DSCR lender allows 2nd doesn't matter. We close the 2nd leg of the transaction with a real estate attorney. Has nothing to do with the lender

      That’s not really an answer.  If you sign a statement that falsifies the source of the down payment, it’s mortgage fraud.  If the use of a junior lien violates a mortgage covenant (due on sale) the loan is immediately callable at the option of the lender.  And while you may “get away with it” 20 times, it’s the 21st time that may get you.

      There are lots of people who have lost lots of money and ended lots more who ended up with criminal convictions for taking bad legal advice.  Of course without knowing the specific situation it’s impossible to comment except in a general sense. 

      I’ve been a private/hard money lender a long time. I personally know 4 borrowers who served 4 years plus time for mortgage fraud.  Closing “with a real estate attorney” is a necessity for almost all real estate transactions - it does not insure that the participants acted either legally or acted in compliance with contracts. 

      laughed when I saw that comment as you are correct don, we correspond with multiple DSCR lenders who are the institutional lenders and most do not allow a second and if you do it has to be disclosed upfront and never would allow 100% financing on it AND it still has to meet their DSCR requirements.

      Saying it does not matter basically is admitting to mortgage fraud.

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    • Cliff BennerBusiness Member
      Accountant · Denver, CO · Member since 2020 · 392 posts · 183 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Don Konipol:
      Quote from @Edward Johnson:

      Hi Dan, 

      In our system whether or not a DSCR lender allows 2nd doesn't matter. We close the 2nd leg of the transaction with a real estate attorney. Has nothing to do with the lender

      That’s not really an answer.  If you sign a statement that falsifies the source of the down payment, it’s mortgage fraud.  If the use of a junior lien violates a mortgage covenant (due on sale) the loan is immediately callable at the option of the lender.  And while you may “get away with it” 20 times, it’s the 21st time that may get you.

      There are lots of people who have lost lots of money and ended lots more who ended up with criminal convictions for taking bad legal advice.  Of course without knowing the specific situation it’s impossible to comment except in a general sense. 

      I’ve been a private/hard money lender a long time. I personally know 4 borrowers who served 4 years plus time for mortgage fraud.  Closing “with a real estate attorney” is a necessity for almost all real estate transactions - it does not insure that the participants acted either legally or acted in compliance with contracts. 

       Don your post keep me entertained during the work day

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    • Daniel MaciasPro Member
      Member since 2026 · 4 posts · 0 votes
      2mo
      Quote from @Edward Johnson:

      Hi Dan, 

      In our system whether or not a DSCR lender allows 2nd doesn't matter. We close the 2nd leg of the transaction with a real estate attorney. Has nothing to do with the lender

      Would you mind explaining further? This seems to be the angel I am pursuing to close on a deal involving a VA Assumption loan (to preserve 2.2%) and finding myself stuck on securing temporary 2nd leg funding to close the deal. Seller unwilling to do carry back but have a separate commercial property that I will use to make this a short term payoff strategy. Does this sound like a real estate attorney can close the 2nd, like you described?
  • Member since 2024 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    1y

    Sounds fishy to me.

  • Stuart UdisPro Member
    Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8mo

    @Jose Blanco The "unicorn" loan requires the borrower to put down 50% + pay closing costs and your assignment fee.....also no sensible buyer is relying on the seller prepared appraisal when purchasing a $1.5M piece of real estate but pretty sure you will lose buyers at "Bass Pro Shop development expected to drive major tourism". 

  • Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 6 votes
    7mo

    This is a great strategy for those looking to buy rentals without parnterships or much capital on hand. As a realtor in SoCal I have sold $20m-$30m per year using this method and know it well. Like most real estate investing strategies, there are bad actors who give the structure a bad name, but there ARE lenders who are willing to lend on these types of deals. Working with a lending and escrow team that understands this method and how to property structure it is key, I have seen borrowers try this with the wrong lender and it can lead to issues. Overall its not a great strategy for equity, but I have seen dozens of buyers get in with no money out of pocket, and find cash flowing short term rentals in the markets I focus on. 

  • Real Estate Broker · Coppell, TX · Member since 2011 · 5k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    3mo

    What DSCR lenders allow owner carry 2nd. Please share.

    How many deals are you closing with this method.

    Got three STACK offers this week, but all my sellers need their equity right now.  It would be a very RARE day any of my seller's ever would want to carry a 2nd on a 100% financed deal, but I'm sure there are people out there that might risk it.

    • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
      Moderator
      Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
      3mo

      @Bruce Lynn - I agree on both fronts. I'm not aware of any DSCR lender who allows a second. I'm not sure if most know this, but DSCR loans get originated and then aggregated and sold off and typically make their way to Wall Street or extremely large aggregators. They all have very strict covenants, and second liens have been one of them that I've seen on every lender. There may be some that allow for a second, but typically the LTV would not be above 60 or 70%. Your other comment is correct as well: most people who are selling investment property are doing so for the cash and want to cash out and not carry a loan on the property or have to deal with selling one.

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  • Member since 2026 · 1 post · 0 votes
    2mo

    I've done a couple of these. Typically best way is to put the second position lien on a different property as collateral OR have the second position lien filed on the subject property a week after closing.

    You can run into issues showing proof of funds. Many lenders will take a 401k statement as proof.

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