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All Forum Posts by: Scott Wolf

Scott Wolf has started 43 posts and replied 1798 times.

Post: How to structure a partnership.

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Robin Castillo:

Hi all, starting out and partnering with my two long life friends. Trying to figure out how to structure a partnership, how to split profit but mainly how to finance and share tax benefits. We will be buying small multi family and forming an LLC so if anyone is on the same boat I would appreciate your input, thank you!


 Definitely lay everything out, and you'll need the Operating Agreement for funding when you get to that point.

Post: DSCR (<5 unit) interest rates versus commercial rates

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933

You'll most likely be looking at somewhere in the 8.5+ range for 5+ unit DSCR.

Commercial full underwriting may be a bit better, but not 100% sure.

Post: Private Money Brokers

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Stephen De Vita:

Hello, I invest in C class multifamily properties in South Carolina. I am currently looking for private money brokers either locally or nationally. I seem to be having a hard time finding some. Does anyone have any experience with any reputable ones? If not, any recommendations on private money lenders?


 Hi Stephen, we work in the 1-4 family space, so I do these deals all the time.  Have closed quite a few in Columbia, SC, so am familiar with the state.  Feel free to reach out to see how we can assist.

Post: Sad way to start out but starting out nonetheless.

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Chelsea Price:

@Ken M. Totally agree. No bookies, no soda. Best advice ever. 😆


 No bookies, fine. But you can pry my Coke Zero from my cold dead hands!

Post: Newbie, the numbers look good, why isn't everyone running after it?

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933

@Robert Weinstock without doing a deep dive, there may also be an additional capital fee upon purchase, and ongoing dues as this is in a country club.

Post: Third generation of long-term rental investing

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Michelle Potter:

Long-term, buy and hold rentals. Family business, now it's my turn. California is crazy overpriced, so I'm investing in my home state of Florida. Nice to meet you all!


 Congrats!  Good luck on your journey!

Post: Lost loan on quad & need help on options

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Emily B.:

My husband lost his job 2 weeks ago and it was his W2 we were using for the loan (30yr at 6.625 percent). We were supposed to close on Tuesday but on Friday afternoon I got a call from my loan officer that the underwriters had found out. (His job officially stops May 28th so we assumed there was no way the they'd know about it.) 

I really don't want to give up the property. It's a quad and there are four tenants paying under market rent. Our plan was to get those tenants out, do some light improvements and then rent two out at the market rate of $1500 a month and turn the other two into MTRs at $2400.

To save the deal, I have a couple of options (I know about): 
1) Do a securities backed loan and then refinance into a conventional mortgage asap when he gets a new job

2) Liquidate our stocks and tap into our cash reserves and pay cash and then do a cash out refinance when rates are better (which I doubt will be anytime soon)

3) Do a DSCR loan at 7.725 percent with 30 percent down and then refinance in 6 months or whenever he gets a job.

What should I do? Are there other options I'm not thinking about?

Thanks so much for the help!


Hi Emily, would be happy to take a look. We have DSCR products, and depending on cash flow and fico can potentially get you a better rate with 75% LTV. Feel free to reach out.

Post: Getting started in Mortgage Industry.

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Chinmay J.:
Quote from @Doug Smith:

I own a mortgage company in Florida and I've been a lender for 34 years. I know you don't want to hear this, but I haven't seen someone be a good loan officer and hold a full-time role in a non-real estate-related field. I've seen realtors bring in a deal or two per month, but contrary to popular belief, being an MLO is not a part-time "I can do it on the weekends" job...not if you want to be successful. I was flipping/building 7-10 homes/month back in the day, but I couldn't run this company, support all of our loan officers, and be a great flipper at the same time. My wife kept up with that business while I focused on lending. I'm sure that's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. I do hope it helps you. 


Thanks for your perspective. I completely understand that in order to be successful at something, you have to put your heart and soul into it and doing anything part time will not get you to be successful.  However, i was initially only trying to break into the business. Learn the basics, and then perhaps venture into it full time.  Walking away from your 20+ yr old career isn't always the easiest, and would be quite reckless if you ask me !! 


 Hi Chinmay,

Not to keep the negative going, but even if you say you don't need to be paid a penny, any company that you want to join and expect to invest in you by teaching the business, won't want to do it.  There is an investment involved in someone who is not fully committed. 

If you want to make the jump but are nervous, you can try to become a loan processor, which can offer a steadier stream on income, but will need a full commitment.

Good luck! 

Post: Renovation Nightmare: How a Dream Home Remodel Triggered a $91K Property Tax Bill

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Colin Tandy:

I wanted to share a real-world cautionary tale, and might be something others here need to be aware of.

A couple in Florida recently saw their property taxes jump from $15,000 to $91,000 a year after doing what many of us might call a smart long-term move: renovating and expanding their home.

They kept the foundation and outer walls intact, assuming their homestead and Save Our Homes protections would remain in place. But the renovations (which included a second story and a new roof) triggered a full reassessment of their home’s value, from $650K to over $4.4M based on surrounding sales, not the cost of construction.

Here’s what made it worse:

  • A neighboring property sold for $4.9M—all cash—right before their reassessment.

  • All-cash buyers have flooded the market in their ZIP code (62% of transactions in 2023), driving up comps and pushing appraisals higher.

  • Even though they appealed, the county cited Florida law: substantial improvements = new construction = full market reassessment.

This isn’t just a sob story, it’s a wake-up call for investors and homeowners.

Key Takeaways:

  • Renovations can backfire if you're not careful with how improvements affect property tax laws in your state.

  • All-cash buyers can unintentionally raise your comps—and your tax burden—overnight.

  • Don’t assume local protections will stay in place if you “work around” them—confirm everything in writing before starting.

  • Talk to local appraisers, attorneys, and tax consultants before making major changes to homesteaded or long-held properties.

This couple now faces losing the home they’ve loved for over 20 years—not because they overleveraged, but because the system wasn’t built for people trying to stay put.

Would love to hear from others:

  • Have you seen property tax surprises like this?

  • How are you navigating rising assessments or planning renovations in a high-growth market?


 Wow, that's incredible.  Reminds me of RE listings stating low taxes, meanwhile the property was bought 20+ years ago, and that low tax number will go away on reassessment. 

Post: New member (Fix & Flip help)

Scott Wolf
Posted
  • Lender
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Posts 1,918
  • Votes 933
Quote from @Mason Stewart:

My wife and I have been flipping one house a year in our local market here in Texas. So far we have been successful.

I am now to the point where I would like to begin looking into taking on more than one flip a year but I am running into funding problems. We have always used conventional funding but our local banks aren't fond of lending for investment properties. 

We have discussed seeking private money or possibly hard money but we have no idea where to get started. Any guidance or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you


 Depending on your experience and cash on hand, we may be able to give you a pre-approval that helps get better origination fees as well as less underwriting on the borrower level.  Let me know if you have any interest.