Q & A

“We Love Ads & 3 Beds, 2 Baths”

by Carole VanSickle Ellis
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Q&A With Motivated Leads Co-Founder Bryan Driscoll By Carole VanSickle Ellis I got into investing first, failed at that first, then got into marketing, then got back into real estate,” states Bryan Driscoll with characteristic forthrightness when asked about his early days as a real estate investor. Back in 1998 when Driscoll first entered the investing world courtesy of the classic Ron LeGrand course that brought so many investors into the space in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the future co-founder of Motivated Leads was not really sure what to do with the leads he generated. “I was only about 18 years old,” Driscoll said wryly. “At the time the best decision seemed like going into advertising instead, so I got into digital marketing.” Entering the digital ad space in its earliest heydays, Driscoll thrived, providing clients with search engine optimization (SEO) services and working in a wide swath of industries. A decade later, he decided to leverage his skills back into real estate investing, making a conscientious decision to invest in only one ZIP code. “I don’t want to drive too far and I’m super busy,” he laughed, “so I try to be really cognizant about time.” While Driscoll stayed in one place and built up his portfolio, however, his lead generation abilities enabled him to find leads anywhere, and this led to the creation of the business he runs today with co-founder Chad Keller. The company generates more than 5,000 leads each month for more than 400 clients nationwide, and those leads average a 10-15% close rate for clients. REI INK sat down with Driscoll to talk lead generation, real estate, and how to make the most of high-quality leads in any market. How did you get into the lead-generation business for real estate investors? Well, it started when I bought my first property. Like many investors, it was a wholesale deal and I had to pay a wholesale fee. I did not mind that because the numbers made sense, but it got me thinking. I thought, “I bet I could slap up a website locally and generate my own leads way cheaper than this.” I partnered up with Chad; we tried it out, and we crushed it. It just made sense. My background was all national marketing in highly competitive spaces, so generating business locally was, by comparison, a lot easier. Once we had things running pretty smoothly for our business, I wondered if we could do it for other people. We started running Facebook ads for investors and that went well, but we were seeing a lot of “churn” because real estate investors really hate paying monthly fees, which most advertising agencies charge. Because we are investors ourselves (mainly 3-bedroom, 2-bath homes), that made sense to us, so we started looking at a model that involved generating leads on our dime, then selling them to real estate investors without monthly fees. They only pay for the lead, and there are no contracts or anything. That spiraled so successfully it transformed our business into what it is today. Your website says you provide the leads and it is up to the investor to close them. Do you have advice for investors on getting to closing? Absolutely. It can be tough for investors because many of them do not have processes in place in their business for getting leads to closing. We want our clients to successfully close leads so they will need more leads, so we follow up every 14 days just to see how things are going and provide a little help if it is needed. If a client says they are not closing their leads, we try to help them break down their systems to see what the problem is. We look at the quality of the leads and the caliber of their process. If it is the leads, we fix it. If it is the process, we try to help them fix it. What types of things do you tell your clients to do to get the best results from their leads? First of all, I recommend that whether you are working with us or doing some other type of lead generation, you have to have really good KPIs (key performance indicators) so you can tell what is and isn’t working in your process. In my investing business, I track: » How many leads I get » How many leads turned into appointments » How many appointments showed up » How contracts were sent as a result of those appointments » How many deals we closed These metrics enable us to break down the process with our clients and examine what is going right and wrong. For example, if your leads are not turning into appointments, maybe there is a traffic problem or a messaging problem that is affecting your conversion. If you are getting qualified leads that come to appointments but you are not sending out contracts, maybe it is an issue with your sales team. If the contracts are going out but not closing, maybe you are making offers that are not working. One of our main strengths is that we can look at our clients’ KPIs, and that helps us help them. Also, this is crucial: You must call or text within two minutes of contact for any leads generated online. If you fail in this, a lot of those people will have already moved on because people who are submitting their information online do not wait around. They start scrolling again as soon as they have filled out your form, and they will keep filling out forms until someone reaches out to them and they feel like they have accomplished their goal and taken steps to solve their problem. We recommend setting up an auto-text system that thanks people for filling out the form as soon as they submit it and directs them to an automated appointment system so that they will hopefully stop scrolling, stop reaching out

Brian Valdivia, CEO, Beltway Lending

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A Conversation About the Real Estate Industry and Private Lending Brian Valdivia is the Chief Executive Officer of Beltway Lending, a highly specialized “refi shop” for real estate investors, which was also founded by seasoned real estate investors. Their firsthand industry knowledge and experience allows them to more quickly understand real estate investors’ goals and financial strengths. Beltway’s team processed over $100 Million in loans last year alone while maintaining a perfect 5-star rating. Beltway Lending prides itself on having the fastest, most pain-free lending process in the industry. REI INK sat down with Brian to discuss the real estate investment industry and specifically private lending. Brian, how did you get started in the private lending industry? Interestingly enough, after graduating from the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business with a degree in Business Administration/Finance, I began building and managing pawn shops in Maryland. That business was a tremendous success. Afterwards, I became a financial analyst with Northrop Grumman, an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company. In May of 2021, I purchased my first rental property. I quickly decided that to become truly successful in the real estate investment space, I needed to become an expert on the lending industry. It was not enough to just be “book smart.” So, I went to work for a while for a lending company to learn as much as I could about the industry. I left that company in July 2022 and started Beltway Lending. But during that time, I also focused on growing my real estate portfolio, and today I own about 141 rental properties across the state of Maryland. What were the early days of Beltway like? I consider myself an expert at operations and processes. Immediately, I established a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loan program. Beltway grew very, very quickly, initially doing about $40M in DSCR loans. In 2023, we did approximately $114M in DSCR loans. When I started Beltway, it was my intention of doing ten loans per month. We currently do 75-85 loans per month and now have 14 full-time employees. That meteoric rise is amazing, not only growing your real estate portfolio from one to 141 in less than three years, but the rapid growth in the amount of loans you are making. What do you attribute your success to? Beltway Lending was founded “By Investors for Investors.” We can close a DSCR loan in as little as 22 days, whereas it takes our competitors about 35-45 days. Tim Herbert, my Sales Manager, has the ability to scrub application files very quickly and find solutions to any problems almost immediately. And the rest of my team is just as phenomenal. Also, we do not accept excuses or delays during the loan processing cycle. We have a great reputation in the industry as well. We always do what we say we are going to do. Because of that, all our business is done by referrals. I think we spent a grand total of $8,700 on marketing-related expenses last year. That is unheard of. There are a few people I absolutely need to give credit to for the advice and guidance as Beltway was beginning to take shape. There is certainly more than I could list here, but Jack Bevier from the Dominion Group and Warren Braverman from Poplar were both invaluable resources. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not give credit to the entire team at Beltway Lending. The team goes well above and beyond anything that Ross and I would have ever imagined. Our leadership team consisting of Lilly, Melissa, and Tim, outwork anyone that I have met in this industry. What differentiates Beltway from its competitors? First off, we do not have to spend money on marketing, which cuts down on our overhead. Next, would be the amount of time it takes us to close a loan, a mere 22 days. And we actually listen to people and solve problems. Beltway is HUGE on providing outstanding customer service. Regarding our service area, we are approximately 55% on the East coast with the remaining 45% spread out across the country. What does the future hold for Beltway Lending? We want to continue branching out across the country and very importantly, we want to open up more to the Hispanic community. The Hispanic community is tremendously underserved inthe real estate space. I feel we can connect some of the dots and bring them into this industry that creates millionaires out of regular people. This year, I want to originate $140M in DSCR loans and become a “household name.” I want to be the first company people think of when they want to begin investing or need a loan. What are your thoughts on the current economy and what the future holds? I do not want to comment on the economy. Nobody knows what is going to happen and nobody has a clear crystal ball, all crystal balls are foggy. However, regarding real estate, 2024 will be a hot year. Rates are finally dropping and hopefully homes will become more affordable. I do feel bad for retail homebuyers because they will continually be in “multi-offer” situations which will be difficult for them. Any words of wisdom for the real estate investor? Don’t wait. One of my favorite sayings is that “Time is undefeated.” Buy a property and wait…do not wait to buy a property. Discover more about Beltway Lending at https://beltwaylending.com/.

Q&A with Robert Lee, CEO, Sylvan Road

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A Conversation About the Real Estate Industry and the Aging Housing Stock Robert Lee is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Sylvan Road and has been involved in all phases of the firm’s development since its inception in 2012. Among other things, Rob’s role is to curate the firm’s vision, devise a blueprint for its execution and to manage the daily operational direction of the firm. Rob was part of the original team where he played a pivotal role in helping to pioneer the institutional asset class which has become single family rental. Rob is focused on helping investors and partners achieve their vision by orienting them towards action. REI INK sat down with Rob to discuss the real estate investment industry and specifically about the country’s “aging” housing stock. Rob, can you give a general overview of Sylvan Road? Sylvan Road is an investment firm focused exclusively on single family real estate. We are a technology-enabled, data-centric, idea-driven firm that utilizes state-of-the-art proprietary analytics on our platform. We were one of the earliest pioneers in the sector and currently have over $2.3 billion in assets under management and through our operating affiliates, we oversee the complete management life cycle of single-family investments. The single-family rental industry is an essential part of America’s housing marketplace, and Sylvan Road is proud to be a part of this vital and growing community. We provide affordably priced, top-quality homes in desirable neighborhoods that serve the distinct and varying lifestyles of our residents. What is your approach to real estate management? We maintain a diverse portfolio of homes with a wide geographic footprint and take a vertically integrated approach to real estate management, controlling all aspects of the investment life cycle from acquisition to disposition. With our nation’s housing stock aging, one niche where we have particular experience is ‘vintage’ homes. These are homes that were generally built in the 1950s and 1960s. What makes these homes so interesting? Well, they tend to be unique, they have character and charm, and they are decidedly not “cookie cutter” homes. They were built to last, and many aspects of their construction cannot be replicated today. The old adage: “They don’t build ‘em like they used to” is decidedly true when it comes to these homes. They were built with wood made from old-growth trees, so they are more resistant to rot and warping. The walls are often built with plaster and lathe, making them structurally stronger than the drywall construction of newer homes. In addition, these homes are typically located in well-established communities, with mature trees, large backyards, close to employment, good schools, and town amenities. They are in walkable areas. Finally, you just cannot replicate the charm and nostalgia or some of the design elements found in these homes like authentic stained-glass, original crown molding and real, hardwood floors. However, this aging cohort of our housing stock will become structurally obsolete unless work is done to bring it up to today’s standards including energy efficiency and other systems improvements. This refurbishment of our nation’s older housing stock not only provides quality living for residents, but also delivers a societal benefit that cannot be overstated. What about the problems facing the industry today, such as the current housing shortage? It is no secret that there is a severe housing shortage in this country. More than 3.8 million housing units are needed today, and this number is growing every year. In many states across the country, the challenge facing the housing market is simple: there is not enough supply. The supply of housing in the U.S. has not kept pace with demand — for years. This presents a problem that can only be solved by providing a diversity of housing types, which includes renovated homes. We simply have not and cannot build enough housing to keep pace with the demand. In fact, there is greater demand for housing in the United States today than there has been in decades. We need to expand our supply of homes, and to invest in our aging housing stock. How does Sylvan Road and “vintage” homes come into play with the housing shortage? Currently, the average age of homes in the US exceeds 40 years, the oldest it has ever been. The government estimates that the nation’s housing stock needs repairs exceeding $149 billion. Sylvan Road is addressing this need as we commit to the communities where we invest, build, and renovate. We are providing families with more options for stabilized, quality and affordably priced housing than ever before. At a time where housing markets across the country are challenged by ongoing supply constraints and affordability concerns, we are working to enhance and expand the diversity of available housing opportunities. We believe that every person, no matter their income, background, or profession, deserves access to a quality home in a quality neighborhood. Our interest and investment in ‘vintage’ homes directly impacts this equation. Do you have any final words on Sylvan Road’s contributions to the real estate industry? We keep these vintage homes from obsolescence. We increase the nation’s inventory of available homes. We create a greater range of choices for housing consumers. We provide high quality homes in desirable neighborhoods to families who desperately need them. In the end, we directly contribute to the vitality and vibrancy of neighborhoods and communities. That is a total win in our book. Sylvan Road manages capital for blue chip institutions, insurance companies, credit and real estate funds, asset managers and family offices. They build performance-focused investment portfolios through trusted, cooperative institutional partnerships. Sylvan Road is proud to be the industry standard bearer for single family real estate serving this$4 trillion asset sector. Discover more about Sylvan Road at https://sylvanroad.com/

Q&A with Bill Lodge, President, KingsofCapital.com

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A Conversation About the Economy, Lending and the Real Estate Industry Bill Lodge is the CEO and Founder of KingsofCapital.com, a nationwide lending platform he started in 2016. The company is a provider of hard money and private money lending solutions for real estate investors nationwide. Led by Bill, the team includes underwriters, loan officers, and customer service representatives, all dedicated to helping real estate investors succeed in their real estate investments and providing exceptional service to their clients. REI INK sat down with Bill to discuss his journey in the real estate investment and lending industries and to get his thoughts on the current state of the economy and what may lie ahead in 2024. Bill, can you give a quick overview of your professional journey? I got started in real estate when I was 22 years old. I spent $2000 on a Carleton Sheets course in 1997 and it collected dust for two years before I really looked at it. In 1999, I bought my first property using my own cash, credit cards and cash advances, thinking I could immediately do a refinance on the property. Every bank told me I could not refinance for 12 months. I was shocked. I finally found a small local bank to work with that could refinance for me. After a few years in the business and taking loans, I decided to change my career to lending. I worked at JP Morgan for five years from 2003-2008 until our division was let go due to the economy crash of 2008. However, at that time, I was only 31 years old and already owned 53 rentals. So, after JP Morgan, I took off a few years and was presented with the opportunity of wholesaling with Webuyhouses.com. We were quickly averaging 13-17 deals every month. Then, in 2015, something strange happened to me. I had a dream about Kings of Capital and something in me said “go for it.” I woke up and searched the domain name and it was already taken. I managed to get in contact with the owner and made an offer he did not refuse. Before I knew it, we negotiated the Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Domain accounts, and here we are today. How about your company, KingsofCapital.com? I started KingsofCapital.com in 2016 after my visionary dream. In a nutshell, KingsofCapital.com is a commercial mortgage lending company providing borrowers with a one-stop national lending platform capable of sourcing all types of Non-Conforming Loans for real estate investors. We lend on SFR, condos, 2-4 units, 5-unit multi-family, mixed-use, office, retail, warehouse, light industrial, daycare and automotive. However, we specialize in the BRRRR method which is a real estate investment strategy that involves buying a distressed property, fixing it up, renting it out, and then refinancing it to get cash to fund further investments. This allows our clients to grow their portfolios and achieve financial stability. Interestingly, in the early 2000s, I didn’t even know that there were specific processes and strategies for real estate investment, like the BRRRR strategy. I took that strategy and translated it into baseball terms. For example, a perfect BRRRR is 50% ROI (Home Run); 40% ROI (Triple); and 60% ROI (Grand Slam). However, it’s the singles, doubles, triples that win the game. Another axiom is “Wait for the universe to send you a fastball instead of a curveball.” Anybody can hit a fastball, but not everyone can hit a curve. This translates to analyzing a deal to determine if it is good or bad. If presented with a bad deal or a curveball, wait for the good deal, a fastball. This is what we teach people. What is the company’s formula for success? We are successful, but more importantly, we make sure our customers are more successful. Last year we loaned out $42 million and we did that all by word of mouth. Last month alone we loaned about $4.5 million. We teach people, for free, how to make money in real estate and then hopefully they will come to us to borrow money. People come to me for money, but I’m really a problem solver. Our goal is to help people day-to-day, and we want to be a resource for them and not just another line item. Every day I ask myself, “how can I add more value and charge less.” What are your thoughts on the current economy? Obviously, I’m watching the economy very closely. It is all about the unemployment numbers, and those numbers will dictate the 2024 economy, as well. The bottom line is, as long as a person’s income is sufficient to support their debt, everything will be fine. Currently, I am seeing a ton of Airbnb regulations that are starting to crash the Airbnb market because they won’t be able to support their debt. Thoughts about 2024? Next year will be dependent on the unemployment numbers. I do see more foreclosures in 2024, but that will help with the inventory issues. When inventory increases, that is great news for our investors. Next year we will see an increase in build-to-rent products. Look at it this way; why buy a fixer-upper for say $150,000-$200,000, and then put in $50,000 in rehab costs, when you can buy a brand-new house for less? Builders can manage their costs and produce a cheaper house than an old one. Do you have some parting thoughts or advice? I have three pieces of advice: Number One — Just do it. There is never a perfect time to start. Number Two — Divorce your story and marry the truth. Number Three — Follow the axiom, “You can make money or excuses, but you can’t make both.” As far as parting thoughts go, my wife is a psychologist, and I learned so much from her. Find a purpose in life. Help other people find a purpose in life. Be a free-thinker. Remember that your direction determines your destination. Know your value. Have balance in your life —

Q&A with Erik Barlow and Avery Rucker of FundSource Financial

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A Conversation About the Economy, Lending and the Real Estate Industry Erik Barlow is the President of FundSource Financial LLC, which he formed in 2014 along with Avery Rucker, the Vice President of the firm. With a combined 35 years of experience in real estate and business finance, they understand the challenges and time constraints real estate investors face on a daily basis. REI INK sat down with Erik and Avery to get their thoughts on the current state of the economy and the real estate investment and lending industries. Erik and Avery, can you give a quick overview of your professional journeys? Barlow // My career started in financial planning in 1999. In 2004, I started looking at the mortgage business and fell in love with it. I started with traditional residential mortgages then switched to the commercial side. Consequently, I started a commercial lending business which is where I first met Avery. The business then transitioned to working with private investors providing financing for both residential investment and commercial properties. This all led to me forming FundSource Financial in 2014. Rucker // My path was a little different. After graduating college in 1998, I became an investment banker, but I didn’t like it because I had no work life-balance. So, I transitioned to trading, and got involved in real estate. At that time, the trading world was changing so I focused more on real estate and became an account rep for a private lender. That’s how I met Erik. How about your company, FundSource Financial? Barlow // We formed it in 2014 and we now lend in 37 states. Our focus is on the “everyday” real estate investor with one to four units that need money for rehab projects or just to buy properties that are in good condition. We also focus on commercial investors that acquire multifamily, mixed-use, warehouse, self-storage, retail, office, restaurants/bars, automotive and mobile home parks. Rucker // We’re different from most lenders because we don’t require our borrowers to have experience investing in real estate. We will work with borrowers to finance their first flip as well as work with experienced operators that own hundreds of units. Our sole focus is to provide our clients with the optimal financing solution to get their project across the finish line on time. It’s frankly what we’ve built our business on. Expert guidance, and efficient execution. Barlow // To add to that, our goal is to be our clients’ finance partner. We “build up” the new investor by taking a chance on them. For example, we had a 19-year-old client who most lenders typically would not take a chance on for lack of experience, but we did. Today, that young man is very successful; he is 24 and has completed more than 20 deals in the last five years. It is also important to understand that when we structure a deal we are shooting to keep as much money in our client’s pocket as possible. Some lenders require significantly more money down than we do. We have found that the stronger the client’s bank account AFTER closing, the more likely they are to be in position to handle any unforeseen expenses and complete the project. How is the overall economy affecting your business? Rucker // It’s always been important to us to get industry and economic data from the best sources possible. It’s allowed us to make program changes early so that it doesn’t have a negative effect on our borrowers or our business. The only real change we’ve seen is a change in the ratio of our loans. We’re still doing a lot of fix and flip deals but we’re also doing a lot of buy and hold deals. Barlow // Also, our clients are adapting and diversifying as well. Buy-and-hold investors are now entertaining fix-and-flips and vice versa. Our buy-and-hold to fix-and-flip ratio used to be 80/20. Now it is closer to 60/40. The bottom line is we adapt to our clients when they adapt to the market. What are your thoughts on the current economy? Rucker // All I can say is that we are busy all day — everyday. Our borrowers are taking changes in stride and adapting. Capital is flowing. There is more capital available today than ever before. Barlow // At the end of the day people are still buying houses. Investors are very smart people and can figure things out. They realize that if their profits go down that they just need to do more deals to compensate. And that is also where we come in — we advise our investors. Thoughts about 2024? Barlow // As Warren Buffet stated, “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” It is going to be very important who investors take advice from. I believe 2024 will be a great time. More properties will hit the market. Our seasoned investors are chomping at the bit. A good partner is key. We are experienced and we know how to advise. We are not simply transactional; we want to have clients for 50 deals and not just one. Rucker // Additionally, we take a consultative approach with our clients. We listen to their wants and needs and give them honest feedback. We’re always willing to tell a client that their considering a bad deal. We care more about the relationship and making them successful than just closing a deal. Do you have some parting thoughts or advice? Barlow // The one piece of advice that I have for new people looking at real estate investing is that you make your money when you buy a property and not when you sell it. At the outset, you need to structure the deal correctly. And for fix-and-flip investors, it’s important that you put out some affordable housing that people can qualify for; products under the FHA loan limits for their local markets. Rucker // Investors need to understand their financing before they

Q&A with Mark Abramovich, Chief Executive Member, MIRS Group

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A Conversation About the Economy, Lending and the Real Estate Industry Mark Abramovich is the Chief Executive Member for MIRS Group. Mark is a lender and investor who graduated with honors from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1997, followed by a Bachelor of Industrial Design degree from Pratt Institute in 2001. His focus is on lending and the vitally important deal analysis and deal structure. Mark is also a partner in Idoni Management, a property management company with 300+ doors under management. REI INK sat down with Mark to get his thoughts on the current state of the economy and the real estate investment and lending industries, specifically. Mark, to start with, how about a little background. You were born in the USSR and moved to the United States when you were nine years old and settled in New York. Can you give a quick overview of your professional journey? As you mentioned, I was born in the Republic of Moldova and came to the United States from the USSR in 1988 and stereotypically settled in Brighton Beach, NY. I grew up in Brooklyn and after high school I attended Pratt Institute receiving a degree in Industrial Design in 2001. I worked as an industrial designer for almost twenty years designing digital dental equipment. When you go to the dentist and they take X-rays, and if they use a sensor connected to a computer, chances are I designed it. I even have seven patents to my name. In 2003, I dipped my toes into real estate and then in 2015 I began getting serious about real estate. Let’s talk about your real estate investment journey beginning in 2003. In 2003, a few friends and I bought a trailer in the Poconos, thinking we could make some extra money by renting it out. At that time, I knew nothing about real estate (a combination lock box would have made a huge difference). I sold it seven years later and made a little money, thanks to depreciation more than anything. Then in 2015, I bought a six-unit multifamily property in Connecticut. My career really took a turn in 2016 when I joined Fortune Builders, which had a massively positive effect on my life. As a result of that, I bought additional multifamily properties and then eventually partnered to form our own property management company, which today manages over 300 doors. So how did you get started in the lending business? In 2017, I made my first loan using my own money. I made every mistake possible, but it worked out financially. Due to that initial success, I quit my W-2 job with encouragement from my wife and began lending full-time. And then in April of 2018, I started MIRS Group. Initially, I was still using my own money and “friends and family” money, until I started brokering loans as a “financing liaison.” But, depending on the situation and what is best for the clients, I continue to lend my personal money. The guiding principle was, and is, “Concierge Service at a Wholesale Price.” I have had this conversation with many lenders and investors recently, but how is the overall economy affecting your business? Recent events have changed the way that the markets work. Capital needed to be repurposed and was being used differently. During the real estate boom, lenders were nothing more than “order takers” because money was cheap. At the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, the loan-to-value and interest rate volatility totally changed the business. At MIRS Group, we absolutely needed to work harder, but also, we began educating borrowers on how loans worked. I want to emphasize that I am a very big proponent of conducting a thorough analysis on every deal… “ANALYSIS IS VITAL.” And I am the second set of eyes to make sure the deals make sense and the investors have an opportunity for success. In fact, I now teach classes on lending, so people do not get burned in the process. Your viewpoint on the economy, in general? I lived through the Great Recession, and I thought I would be ready for 2020. I was not expecting rent moratoriums. So, combining the rent moratoriums with no moratoriums on property taxes, made for a difficult situation. Interest rates are high and the cost of money is high, so people cannot pull money out of their house as in the past, trapping all that equity. Additionally, we simply do not have enough housing, so when supply is zero, demand is infinite. This demand props up the lending industry, but the profit margins are less than before. But, in general, if I ran my household the same way the government operates, I would be bankrupt. What about the future of the economy, real estate investing and the lending business? Simply put, “this too will pass.” Interest rates will eventually drop and demand will not go away. Further, existing properties will always require renovations so this will keep investors and lenders busy. Any parting thoughts? I just want to re-emphasize, and I cannot stress this enough, ANALYSIS IS VITAL in this industry. There is so much data available for the real estate investor to use to make smart decisions regarding their acquisition and disposition strategies. Do not make emotional decisions. Look at your lender as a partner in your business and look to them as your second set of eyes to make sure your deal does not “suck.” I came up with my own system of analyzing deals which I make available to anyone to use. MIRS Group, LLC provides commercial loans nationwide for real estate investment and renovation projects, as well as residential mortgages, and Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC) in the state of Florida. They provide loan products and services for Fix and Flips, Buy and Holds, Short Term Bridge, Transactional Funding, Deal Review, Purchase Residential Mortgage, Refinance Residential Mortgage, Home Equity Lines of Credit and Project Guidance. Visit https://www.mirsgroupllc.com.