All Forum Posts by: David Atis

Hello Elvin, as a hard money lender my team and I work with many investors around the country. With that we have insurance partners we can refer to you. Are you open to suggestions?

For new construction financing, working with a hard money lender can be a great solution. Hard money loans are designed for real estate investors who need fast, flexible funding, especially for projects like new builds or fix and flips. Since these loans are asset-based, the approval process is often quicker than traditional financing. If you'd like insights on how hard money can support your project, I'm happy to share more information!

That's fantastic advice! I completely agree that taking strategic action is the key to success. Right now, my wife and I's focus is on flipping properties to add to the existing capital we already have for long-term rentals. Additionally, I help investors across the country by financing fix and flips, BRRRR projects, new build construction, and commercial deals. I'd love to hear more about your experiences with rooming houses and how you've structured those deals, are you using Padsplit?

With seller financing, the seller acts as the lender, and you pay them directly over time. This could be a great way to avoid traditional bank financing and the associated costs. The key here is negotiating a good deal with the seller, including the terms (interest rate, repayment schedule, etc.) that work for both of you.
Partnering with someone who has the capital but wants to be passive (or doesn’t want to deal with the property management side) could help you leverage your skills and time without needing to provide the upfront cash. A common structure is for you to handle the property acquisition, rehab, and management while the partner funds the deal. You can structure it in various ways: a 50/50 split of profits or a preferred return to the investor until they make their money back, then a split.

Hi Therese,
It's great to see you diving into the real estate investment world, especially with your background as a licensed realtor! The experience you’ve gained from land purchases will definitely give you a solid foundation as you transition into multi-family properties and building your own.

As you move forward, connecting with local developers, investors, and contractors will be invaluable, and BP is a fantastic place to do that. If you ever need advice on financing or tips for scaling your portfolio, feel free to reach out. There’s a lot of power in collaboration, and I'm sure your knowledge and passion will make a huge impact on your future projects!

Looking forward to seeing your journey unfold!

Hi Sofia,
Welcome to the world of real estate investing! It’s awesome that you’re diving into wholesaling as your first step. As you move toward fixing, flipping, and building a rental portfolio, it’s key to stay focused on learning and building connections with experienced investors.

If you ever need tips or have questions about financing, finding deals, or structuring your investments, don't hesitate to reach out. We're partners with the North Carolina REIA and can connect you with great local resources to help you succeed.

Looking forward to hearing more about your journey as you grow your portfolio!

Hi Brandy,
It’s inspiring to hear your journey from corporate account management to full-time real estate investing, and I love how you focus on community wealth-building. Your approach to strategic investing and the Community Wealth Framework is exactly what the industry needs.

I completely agree that real estate is more than just financial gain—it’s a tool for transformation and empowerment. Your work in helping others secure their first properties and build generational wealth is a game-changer. As someone who shares a passion for financial empowerment, I’m curious to hear more about the specific steps you recommend for those just starting out or looking to scale their portfolios?

Looking forward to connecting and learning more from your experiences!

Impressive turnaround! Love that you not only improved the property but also helped clean up the neighborhood. Curious if you ran into any unexpected surprises during the rehab or if everything went according to plan?

Hi Jardin,

Sounds like you're off to a great start by learning, networking, and making strategic moves with your investments. Since you're exploring rental properties with limited capital, here are a few ideas that could align with your goals:

Hard Money Lenders: Hard money loans are ideal for short-term projects like fix-and-flips or BRRRR strategies. Since we focus more on the property’s value than your personal finances, we can provide fast funding with less emphasis on your credit score or income history.

House Hacking: This is a fantastic way to start building rental income with minimal upfront costs. Buying a multi-family property (2-4 units) with an FHA loan allows you to put as little as 3.5 percent down. You can live in one unit and rent out the others to cover your mortgage.

Seller Financing: Some property owners are open to creative terms that don't require traditional bank financing. With the right pitch, you could secure a property with little upfront capital by structuring favorable terms directly with the seller.

Partnerships, Private Lending, or Joint Ventures: Since you're already networking, consider teaming up with someone who has capital but may lack the time or experience to manage deals. Bringing your knowledge and dedication to the table can create a win-win scenario. If you find a promising deal, you may be able to structure it with a private lender or investor who’s willing to fund the project in exchange for equity or interest payments.

Wholesaling as a Stepping Stone: Wholesaling can be a great way to generate capital quickly, but it’s heavily reliant on marketing, negotiation skills, and consistent deal flow. If you go this route, consider allocating some of those profits toward long-term rental investments.

Balancing all this with your 9-to-5 may feel overwhelming, but focusing on time-blocking and systems can help. Set aside dedicated time each week for outreach, learning, and analyzing deals to keep momentum without burning out.

Your proactive approach is already putting you ahead of the curve. Best of luck, and feel free to reach out

Your thoughts have potential, and you're thinking through the right steps. Here are a few suggestions to help refine your approach:

Connecting with a Builder:
Since there's already an infill project nearby, connecting with that builder your primary objective. Smaller sized projects (building 1,250 sqft) can be harder to find a builder, so tapping into local networks can be key. Consider reaching out to local real estate investor groups, builders' associations, or even posting in Facebook groups specific to where you're looking to build.

Financing Strategy:
Since you’re comfortable fronting the cash during construction, that could save you time and potential hurdles with conventional lender requirements. Also since you’re estimating a 6-9 month build, a construction loan could help preserve your liquidity in case timelines stretch longer than planned. The draws work exactly similar to draw requests in fix and flip loans. I'm doing a new construction loan for a couple that's building a 10,000 luxury home and they're using the builder's previous experience to qualify for the loan since they have no fix and flip or new construction experience themselves. They bought the land in cash and are getting cash back at closing to use as additional funds towards their next construction draw phase.

Budget Considerations:
With your $200-220K budget in mind, costs can add up quickly, especially for utilities, permitting, and impact fees. Be sure to get clear estimates on those before locking in your numbers. A 4/2 layout could absolutely boost rent potential, but also consider whether the added build cost aligns with your return goals.

Buying the Lot:
Starting with the tax roll info is smart. If you have trouble reaching the owner, services like DealMachine or PropStream can help you skip trace and get their contact details.

Final Thought:
Since this is your second rental, think about how this build will fit into your overall portfolio strategy. Balancing cash flow with potential appreciation in these Florida markets can pay off long term.

Sounds like you’re on the right track. Good luck with your next steps, and feel free to DM.