When I joined Rock East Funding about five years ago and started meeting investors, I got one of two reactions when I met investors. The first reaction was “Oh great, you’re a lender. Tell me about your terms.” The other reaction was the opposite – “ohhh….you’re a hard money lender.” That reaction was from people who felt it’s a “shady” business where investors get “ripped off.”

Like any industry, unfortunately, there certainly are unscrupulous players in the Hard Money industry. However, if you are working with a reputable lender, Hard Money can be key to fueling your growth and success.

So, let’s dispel some of the Hard Money Myths.

More and more real estate investors are considering making their projects more “green” not just to protect the environment but also to protect their wallet. If you’re going to hold the property as a rental, you can save on energy costs by investing in energy efficiency appliances. If it’s a flip, you can increase resale value by making your project more green with some of the tips below.

The biggest challenge investors face when trying to make their real estate fix and flip more environmentally friendly is simply not knowing where to start. In addition, many people think making a project green is expensive and difficult, but in reality, there are a number of simple and affordable ways to reduce your environmental impact.

When lenders are deciding whether to make a loan to real estate investors, they really only want to know one thing – am I putting my money in a project that is likely to succeed?  Everything a lender asks you is designed to answer that question.

As one of the most experienced Hard Money lenders in the industry, we know what questions to ask to determine if a deal is likely to be successful. In fact, we know the questions most other lenders will ask as well.

Below are the five questions we always ask about the investor and their deal. By knowing these questions ahead of time, you can be prepared before you reach out to a lender. And when you do talk to a lender, you’ll demonstrate that you are prepared for the investment and increase your chances of getting the funding you need!

While the pandemic inflicted unprecedented losses on many businesses, one sector that did not follow that trend was residential real estate. The market both nationwide and here in the New York area continues to be red hot — largely as city dwellers move to the suburbs and the surge in demand has put the existing inventory of suburban homes in short supply.

Although finding an investment property can be difficult right now, it’s also an opportunity to make big profits – multiple sources including Bloomberg, CNBC, and Forbes report profits on flips are at a record high. And it’s an especially good opportunity for those who have insider’s knowledge like contractors and realtors. I know first-hand –  as an investor and contractor, I have renovated and flipped more than 180 properties in my career.

While the pandemic inflicted unprecedented losses on many businesses, one sector that did not follow that trend was residential real estate. The market both nationwide and here in the New York area continues to be red hot — largely as city dwellers move to the suburbs and the surge in demand has put the existing inventory of suburban homes in short supply.

Although finding an investment property can be difficult right now, it’s also an opportunity to make big profits – multiple sources including Bloomberg, CNBC, and Forbes report profits on flips are at a record high. And it’s an especially good opportunity for those who have insider’s knowledge like contractors and realtors. I know first-hand –  as an investor and contractor, I have renovated and flipped more than 180 properties in my career.

While the pandemic inflicted unprecedented losses on many businesses, one sector that did not follow that trend was residential real estate. The market both nationwide and here in the New York area continues to be red hot — largely as city dwellers move to the suburbs and the surge in demand has put the existing inventory of suburban homes in short supply.

Although finding an investment property can be difficult right now, it’s also an opportunity to make big profits – multiple sources including Bloomberg, CNBC, and Forbes report profits on flips are at a record high. And it’s an especially good opportunity for those who have insider’s knowledge like contractors and realtors. I know first-hand –  as an investor and contractor, I have renovated and flipped more than 180 properties in my career.

Here we are, over one year since the world changed as a result of the COVID pandemic. But what a difference a year has made! Vaccines are now widely available, fewer restrictions are in place, and commerce and industry are on the upswing.

So what does the emergence from Covid mean for real estate investors looking to grow their portfolios? No doubt, there is a shortage of properties for investors due, in part, to federal and state regulations to protect families from foreclosures and evictions, along with an extension on mortgage payment forbearance. Right now the search for property can be frustrating but for the diligent, patient investor, opportunity awaits!