Walnut Street Finance Blog | Learn All About Hard Money Lending

Experienced real estate investors often come to believe they have a solid understanding of economic cycles — and that they know where they are in the present cycle. You see this as they share thoughts and experiences to explain what made their last deal perform well or bottom out, as well as when they predict their next successful deal. But the truth is a little different: there’s a dynamic quality to real estate and economic cycles, and no one can predict them well enough to perfectly time their next sale or purchase.

April home sales continued a theme that is slowly beginning to shake confidence in the real estate market. For the month, home sales were down 4.4 percent, according to reports, making it the 14th consecutive month with a decline — the longest streak without any gains since the housing collapse that triggered The Great Recession of 2008.

When dealing with real estate, it can sometimes be hard to see the line in the sand between deals that will be profitable and deals that leave you wishing you hadn’t gotten involved, even though things looked good on the surface. 

We’ve come up with a few tips on how to find good and profitable deals to invest in.

Have you set your sights on investing in multifamily real estate property? If so, before you dive in, you need to review property choices carefully and calculate your expected returns. Here’s how to do that and avoid an unnecessary gamble.

With Marie Kondo and her posse of people who are Tidying Up, interior design trends are seeing some changes in 2019. Sustainability and minimalism are very on trend, although maximalism is also making a comeback, but not in a hoarder’s sort of way. More is more when it comes to maximalism and, when done thoughtfully, can actually create a really lovely look. Timeless, classic pieces are still very in, but with a twist, adding a modern touch to antique looking furniture and decor.

When it comes to house flipping, the market waxes and wanes, just like everything else in the real estate world. At the beginning of 2019, the market was still fairly risky, but there are some places where house flipping can still be a lucrative endeavor. 

According to a BizJournals article, “borrowing costs will continue to trend upwards in 2019 as the economy slows and the Federal Reserve raises interest rates accordingly…” so how do rising interest rates impact the hard money market?

If you’re looking for a hard money loan to finance your next fix and flip project, you may want to consider establishing a limited liability company (LLC) first. Many hard money lenders require borrowers to have an LLC before they move forward with the loan for a few reasons...let’s take a look.

When it comes to big flip potential, there are dozens of cities to choose from, especially if you’ve got the funds to buy the homes that need a lot of TLC. A company called Smart Asset recently released a study of the 25 richest counties in America, all of which have big flip potential for savvy real estate investors.

We're kicking off the new year with our first real estate investor meetup on Tuesday, January 29 in Fairfax, Virginia!

When 2018 began, real estate investors were looking forward to a prosperous year. And, in the beginning, they weren’t wrong: overall, the outlook was good, and several cities, such as Washington, DC, showed promise for significant growth. But as the market began to lose steam, they wondered what that would mean for 2019. What sort of trends should they be monitoring, and what can they expect? With 2019 upon us, let’s take a look at what investors should expect, and what they should be on the lookout for.

Washington, DC is a unique area to live. The lifestyle, development restrictions, and “transportation infrastructure” have shaped who moves to the region and how many homes are being built.

But as more jobs are promised in the future, heads turn to Washington, DC for the next place to call home. As they do, real estate investors are perking up to see if investing in Washington, DC real estate can be profitable. Here’s why we argue it can be.

We are hosting our final real estate investor meetup of the year and we want you to join us! This month's featured guest speaker is an experienced and trusted general contracting expert, as requested by previous attendees. Gary Jones will provide insights on working with general contractors and answer any questions you may have related to general contracting. 

Southwest DC, an area once perceived as an uninteresting and inferior part of town, has become a thriving neighborhood and a revered destination for visitors. As a recent BisNow article notes, people are flocking to this section of our nation’s capital for its entertainment, its rising food scene and lodging, not to mention a remarkable waterfront experience and the allure of one of Major League Soccer’s hottest teams. And now that Southwest DC has a legitimate “it” factor, the commercial real estate market there has seen significant changes. When years ago there was nothing of importance in the area, it is now seeing a demand for — and the development of — high-end hotels and high-rent apartments. So what’s the cause of the turnaround? What has turned this forgotten location into a commercial real estate investor’s dream?

This is your guide to understanding one of America's top home-flipping markets: Washington, DC.