Investor Real Estate Loans
LESSON 6: DSCR Loans — When the Property’s Income Does the Qualifying
For many real estate investors, one of the biggest obstacles to obtaining financing isn’t the property. It requires documenting enough personal income to qualify for the loan. An investor may own several rental properties, have substantial equity, excellent credit and significant liquidity—and still encounter difficulty qualifying under traditional mortgage guidelines because of the way income…
Read MoreSan Francisco Condo Financing Is Changing — What Buyers, Sellers and Realtors Need to Know
Buying a condominium has always involved more than simply qualifying the borrower. The condo project itself also has to qualify. That distinction is becoming increasingly important as a combination of new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending guidelines, California HOA laws, balcony and exterior elevated element inspection requirements, and San Francisco-specific building regulations changes the…
Read MoreMISSION IMPOSSIBLE LOANS – EPISODE 10
The Condo in San Francisco, the Family in Nepal, and the Loan That Almost Didn’t Happen Most people think getting financing should be easy when: You have excellent credit You own a condominium free and clear You have rental income You have significant equity In theory, they’re right. In reality, lenders don’t finance theories. They…
Read MoreA Major Appraisal Change Is Coming November 2 — What Homebuyers, Sellers and Realtors Need to Know
Most homebuyers and sellers don’t spend much time thinking about the appraisal process. Until the appraisal becomes a problem. Beginning November 2, 2026, one of the largest changes to residential appraisal reporting in more than 15 years becomes mandatory for appraisals submitted to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It’s called UAD 3.6, and it will…
Read More“Buy Land, They’re Not Making It Anymore”
Why Financing Land and Land Development Requires a Different Lending Strategy There is a famous line widely attributed to Mark Twain: “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” Whether Twain actually said it or not, the observation captures something fundamental about real estate: land is finite. But owning land and successfully developing land are two…
Read MoreYour Lender Says the Condo Is OK. But Is the Building Actually in Compliance?
Recently, I visited a 6-unit San Francisco condominium building while on Broker Tour. As I walked through the property, something caught my attention: the building had an exterior staircase and railing elevated more than six feet above the ground. Given the increased attention being paid to exterior elevated elements in California condominium buildings, I asked…
Read More1031 Exchanges: What Real Estate Investors Should Know Before They Sell
For many real estate investors, one of the biggest obstacles to selling an appreciated property isn’t finding a buyer. It’s the tax consequences of selling. An investor may have owned a rental house, apartment building, commercial property, or other investment real estate for years—or even decades. Commercial Real Estate Loans Archives – Steven Hook, San…
Read MoreResidential Lending Playbook
Lesson 2: Understanding Qualified Mortgages (QM) Why They Exist… and Why They Aren’t the Whole Mortgage Story In Lesson 1, we explored Non-Qualified Mortgages (Non-QM) and why many financially successful borrowers use financing that falls outside traditional mortgage guidelines. The natural follow-up question is: If there are Non-QM loans, what exactly is a Qualified Mortgage…
Read MoreMISSION IMPOSSIBLE LOANS – Episode 13
When Your Own Bank Becomes the Biggest Obstacle A Performing Loan… A Bank Merger… A Maturity Deadline… and a Bridge Loan That Saved the Deal Commercial real estate borrowers often assume that making every payment on time guarantees their bank will renew or extend their loan when it comes due. Unfortunately, commercial lending doesn’t always…
Read MoreBeyond Conforming: The Complete Guide to Modern Mortgage Financing
Lesson 1 of 12: What Is a Non-QM Loan? Welcome to Lesson 1 of the Beyond Conforming series. Throughout this 12-part educational guide, we’ll explore the mortgage programs that exist beyond traditional conforming financing and explain why many well-qualified borrowers use these strategies every day. This Beyond Conforming series is one section of my larger…
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