All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Hi Kumar, your project sounds like it has great potential—especially with the free-and-clear lakefront lot, strong short-term rental upside, and modular prefab concept. While our lending solutions start at $500K and this particular raise is just under that threshold, we may still be able to support you through a larger phase-based buildout, equity partner introductions, or by revisiting once you're scaling to additional units or phases. If there’s potential to increase the scope—or if you're open to strategic structuring to meet our lending minimum—I’d be happy to explore creative paths forward. Let’s connect and see how we can make this a win-win.

Given your current high DTI due to the unsold Northern California home, getting approved for a conventional loan will remain difficult until that liability is resolved, even with strong rental cash flow and a sizable down payment; unless your second lender can manually underwrite with compensating factors (e.g., strong reserves, history of rental success), you'll likely need to explore alternative options such as portfolio loans from local credit unions or small banks, or even private lenders who can consider the full financial picture more flexibly. Your instinct to keep your girlfriend separate from this transaction is sound—preserving her eligibility for first-time homebuyer benefits could be valuable at your next (likely HCOL) station, especially if you plan to marry and jointly purchase later. Selling your California property remains the cleanest solution to unlock conventional financing, but until then, lean on trusted local lenders who offer in-house or non-QM loan products tailored for complex military or investor borrowers like yourself.

Trust me, Steve—I TOTALLY get where you’re coming from. That’s exactly why working with a reputable broker can be so valuable. We’re not just here to connect deals, but to act with a fiduciary mindset and help protect your capital from day one. Long-term partnerships are key to building not just your confidence, but also your capital base over time. For me and my partner, we’ve learned that transactional deals aren’t the goal—scaling through volume and growing with our investors and borrowers together is. Hope that resonates.

Congrats on your STR projects! Rural new construction is tough for many lenders due to risk and few comps. Private lenders and regional banks tend to be more flexible with DSCR loans in these areas. Focus on strong rental income projections and your proven track record to build lender confidence. Persistence and exploring niche lenders usually pay off... you would have better luck in finding newer lenders that need to get their feet wet with projects and start building portfolios but more established lenders will be unlikely to weigh in.

Legal fees like $2K for loan documents can seem high, especially on smaller loans like $30K or $50K, but they're an important investment to protect your capital and reduce risk. For smaller loans, these fixed costs can eat into your returns, so many lenders either look for scaled legal options, use trusted standard docs, or focus on larger loans to make it worthwhile. It's all about balancing protection with deal size to ensure your ROI makes sense—if the fee feels steep, consider shopping around or increasing loan amounts to improve profitability or as another member mentioned, have it be a pass-through fee to your borrower.

I totally get where you’re coming from—having worked with lenders who deliver on their promises makes all the difference. From my experience as a private money lender, the key isn’t just competitive rates (like 9% with one origination point), but building long-term partnerships based on trust, transparency, and consistent closings. I focus on being a reliable funding partner who prioritizes win-win deals and smooth transactions, so you can count on me to be there—not just for one loan, but for many. If you’re open, I’d love to connect and explore how I can support your deals with straightforward terms and dependable service.

It’s a common frustration in new build communities—values feel inflated due to builder incentives and limited comps—but asking an appraiser to lower the value directly crosses ethical and legal lines. 

Instead, focus on gathering stronger non-builder comps, clearly documenting any inflated incentives (like $30K in upgrades or rate buydowns), and submitting that to your lender as part of a reconsideration of value (ROV). Lenders can challenge an appraisal the right way without pressuring the appraiser. I would hope your lender would've lent you this advise. We have 15+ years of experience in this field. Would love to work with you on future endeavors to better navigate any choppy waters you may cross again.