04/08/2024
HOW MUCH WILL MY HARD MONEY LENDER LEND ME?
Ever wonder how hard money lenders determine how much we will lend to you on a short term fix n flip, bridge or ground up construction loan?
First, we look at the 3 "risk" variables...
1.) Credit Score: This one is obvious. The higher the score, the less risky the borrower. In combination with the next two variables below, we decide how much "skin" in the game we require from you.
2.) Prior relevant Experience: We give a borrower with more experience higher leverage. A borrower with, let's say 10 prior completed projects, presents a much lower risk of default than someone getting into this for the very 1st time.
3.) Scope of the Project: We look at the size and scope of the project in determining the risk to us as a lender. A small, cosmetic rehab (paint, flooring) is much less risky than say a major renovation that requires the property to be taken down to the studs or a ground up construction project.
2nd, based on those "risk" variable's, we identify the max %'s of the following 3 leverages...
1.) LTARV: This is the Loan To Value of the ARV of the completed project. Most lenders, including us, will lend no more than 70% of the ARV. If you are buying well, at the right price, you should never be maxed out by this leverage.
2.) LTC: This one is the simplest but most confusing for most of the people I speak to. It's confusing because most people aren't familiar with it. It is not used in the calculation of a conventional loan. It is only used for business purpose or investor fix n flip and/or ground up construction loans. It is simple because you take the cost to purchase the property (or current value), add your rehab and/or construction budget to it and that gives you your total project cost. We then take a % of that based on the 3 risk variables. Newbies can expect between 80%-85% LTC and experienced investors can expect anywhere between 85%-95% LTC
3.) LTV: This is the one that everyone knows and is very simply the loan to vale of the purchase price or current value. Newbies can expect around 80% LTV, while experience investors can expect anywhere between 80%-90% LTV
Example:
Purchase Price $100K
Rehab $20K
ARV $250K
Credit Score 700
Experience 1
In this example we start with the 3 risk variables. Credit is excellent, experience is minimal and the scope of the project is light cosmetic. We start with the LTARV calculation ($250K x 70% or .7). This comes out to $175K. Combined purchase price and rehab is only $120K. Thus, we are safe here. Next, we calculate the LTC ($100K PP + $20K in rehab = $120K x 85% or .85) This comes out to $102K. This would be the max loan amount based on LTC. Next we subtract our $20K in rehab costs, which leaves us with $82K. This is the amount we could apply towards the purchase price. This is 82% LTV. However, since our client in this example only has 1 prior completed project, we would only lend 80% LTV or $80K towards the purchase price leaving us with a loan amount of $80K with a $20K rehab budget.
Let's see those questions!