I'm focused on using the skills I'm comfortable with and getting better at them to create equity that we can leverage in 5-10 years and get into something bigger.

I retired in my mid-50s and live a comfortable life, grateful every day for the path I chose.Looking back, I’m forever thankful to my partner who encouraged me to take that leap of faith and move to Ohio.

Eventually we will pass that responsibility on to someone on our leadership team too.So the route we chose is definitely not passive, but it also made us more comfortable with the investment. 

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Note our policy on application priority maximizes our rental income.  

I’ve visited every other property I’ve considered in the past, so this is uncharted territory for me, and it feels a little out of my comfort zone.I’m considering putting it under contract sight unseen to lock it up, but I don’t want to make a rookie mistake here.I'm looking for some advice here.

Get out of your comfort zone.

I would only recommend moving on this if you are comfortable owning it for the long term.

A HELOC or cash-out refinance is definitely worth exploring if you want to free up capital for more investments, but make sure it fits your goals and comfort level.

Here are some general guidelines: Lien Position1st Position LienEquityMinimum Down Payment of 20-25% (a 30% equity to sale price is preferred)Down Payment made in certified funds and not borrowedMaximum Funding of 70% ITV (Investment to Value)SeasoningMinimum of two monthly payments already made12 months or more preferredPayer CreditCredit Score of 650 or higherNo major derogatory trade lines (No 90-180+ days delinquent, foreclosure, repossession, bankruptcy, etc.)No decline in credit since purchase of businessTermsPrefer 60 months or lessMaximum of 72 monthsNo Balloon Payment preferredCash FlowBusiness has positive cash flow1.25 debt service coverage ratio preferred.DocumentationPersonal guarantee from a creditworthy individualStandard documents including Note, Security Agreement, and UCC-1 filing.Tax Returns on the business that substantiate profit and loss statements.OtherPayment history current and verifiablePayer Interview indicating buyer is satisfied with business and comfortable making paymentsMotivation for selling the note is not a result of a deteriorating businessConsideration of high risk businesses or geographic areasIn these situations, sometimes a partial is a better option.