All Forum Posts by: Drago Stanimirovic

Hey James, welcome to the community! It's great to hear that you're diving into real estate investing. New Jersey has a lot of solid opportunities, whether you're looking into fix & flips, rentals, or BRRRR strategies. Are you leaning toward any specific type of investment? Best, Drago

You're in a great spot with your VA loan and zero down. Look for a home with a rentable space (basement, extra bedrooms, or separate entrance) to offset your mortgage. You may work with an investor-friendly agent, move fast in Nashville's market, and consider areas like Madison or Donelson for better deals. Also, negotiate seller credits to lower costs. Good luck!

A strong offer could be: $350K purchase price, 5% down (or staggered payments), 5% interest, ,30-year amortization, 5- to 7-year balloon. Good luck!

Hey Peter, not crazy at all—plenty of investors start out-of-state, especially if their local market isn’t ideal. Since you already have a realtor and contractor, you’re off to a strong start.

The key is making sure your numbers work and that your team is solid, especially with property management. A good lender who understands out-of-state investing can also make a big difference. If you need financing options, I’d be happy to help.

Excited to see you land that first deal! Let me know if you need any guidance.

Drago

Hey Taylor,

Yes, hard money lenders absolutely fund luxury projects like yours, especially if the numbers make sense. Since you're targeting a 5,000+ sqft home in a high-end market, lenders will focus on the loan-to-value (LTV), your experience, and the after-repair value (ARV). Many hard money lenders, usually finance up to 85% of the purchase price and can go as high as $5M.

Since you’re using personal funds for the reno, you’ll have lower leverage, which can help with loan terms. Given the size of the project, working with a lender who understands luxury market dynamics is key. If you want to discuss structuring the deal, I’d be happy to help.

Drago

Hey Brad, solid plan using your home equity for a rental.

Markets: Erie is cheap with good cash flow but slow appreciation. Pittsburgh balances cash flow and growth. Columbus has strong appreciation and demand. NY can work but watch for high taxes and regulations.

For $10K–$35K properties, expect heavy rehab and limited financing options. If you need lending solutions beyond a HELOC or cash-out refi, I can help. Let me know!

Drago

Sure, happy to help!

Brandon,

Yes, home equity can count as proof of liquidity for a hard money loan, but it depends on the lender. Some will accept a HELOC or cash-out refinance as liquidity, while others require liquid cash in a bank account. Since you're using hard money for your fix-and-flip, make sure you also have reserves for holding costs and unexpected expenses. If you need help with financing, let me know!

Drago

Daniel,

You're in a great spot with a $500K HELOC, but Fort Lauderdale's high prices make cash flow tough. House hacking could be a solid option, allowing you to offset living costs while building equity. A small multifamily or even renting out rooms in a single-family home could work, especially with short-term rentals. Flipping or BRRRR is possible, but you need to be sure your margins are strong. If cash flow is your priority, out-of-state investing in more affordable markets like the Midwest or Southeast might make sense, though managing from a distance requires a solid local team.

If you stay local, networking will be key since the best deals in expensive markets rarely come from the MLS. Building relationships with wholesalers, agents, and investors who specialize in off-market properties will give you an edge. Also, consider financing strategies that allow you to maximize leverage instead of tying up all your HELOC funds in one deal.

If you want to run numbers on different financing options, let me know. Happy to help!

Drago

Hi Simon,

Scaling from single-family to multifamily is a solid move, and a 10-15 unit building is a great next step. You might have better luck with commercial real estate platforms like LoopNet, Crexi, or CoStar. However, the best deals are often off-market, so networking with local commercial brokers and wholesalers in Cleveland is key.

For finding investor-friendly agents, check out BP forums, local real estate meetups, or even property management companies, they often know who’s selling. Also, consider working with lenders who specialize in multifamily financing to ensure you're prepared when a deal comes up.

If you need financing options or guidance on structuring a multifamily deal, let me know. Good luck scaling up!

Drago