BLN Software

Benefits of Adding Tech Upgrades to Your Next Investment Property

Many real estate investors are seeing an increasing demand to add technological or “smart” upgrades to their projects. This is attributed to both an increase in desire from prospective tenants or homeowners and to the additional value, these smart upgrades add to the properties.

According to Consumer Reports, smart home features can boost your home’s resale value by 5% and a survey of Realtor’s showed that 42% of clients were interested in smart home devices. Investors can target this market by incorporating smart upgrades to their investment properties.

Below are smart home benefits for both investors and buyers/renters:

Smart Homes are Safer

The most common smart home add-on is a security device. This can include the use of cameras and sensors that can detect a break-in, smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, moisture levels to detect flooding and other items to keep you and your property safe. Smart home security devices can even be as simple as a smart lock, where you can lock your front door with an app on your phone. You’ll never have to wonder now if you forgot to lock up for the day, whether it be your primary residence or flip project. Both of these devices will not only be a selling point for prospective home-buyers but also give landlords a peace of mind about the safety and security of their properties.

Smart Homes Save Money

Smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature in your home at all times, including when you are not on the property. According to a recent study by Nest, a smart thermostat company, smart thermostats can save homeowners an average of 10%-12% on their heating bill and an average of 15% on their cooling bill, which can translate to over $170 saved in a year. Saving money is a huge selling point for many buyers, and as a landlord, you can factor these savings into the total rent cost maximize profits.

Remote Monitoring

With these new smart home devices listed below, home-owners and landlords can keep an eye on their property at all times. Now as an investor you don’t have to check in on a vacant property or your current flip project every day to ensure there is no flooding, freezing pipes, break-ins, etc. Now you can check your phone and connect to the smart devices on the property. Giving landlords, investors, and home-owners a peace of mind.

Types of Smart Upgrades:

Smart Thermostats

Source: https://store.nest.com

“The Nest Learning Thermostat was the first thermostat to get ENERGY STAR certified. It learns what temperature you like and builds a schedule around yours. And independent studies showed that it saved people an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills.”

Smart Door Locks

Source: http://august.com/products

“Lock and unlock your door, control keyless access, and keep track of who comes and goes, all from your phone. They’re discreet and can be installed inside of your door, so your door’s exterior hardware does not change. Use your existing keys any time.”

Moisture/Temperature Sensors

Source: https://www.wallyhome.com/

“Receive instant alerts via text, phone call, email, and push notifications on your mobile device when a water leak is detected, a temperature or humidity reading is outside a desired range, or if a window is left open.”

Video Doorbell

Source: https://ring.com/

“Ring lets you adjust your motion sensors so you can find the ideal setting for your home. You’ll get instant alerts when motion is detected, allowing you to protect your property from the comfort of your smartphone.”

Bridge Loan Network is a leading, online portal in the asset-based lending space. By providing a centralized platform for submitting deals, Bridge Loan Network is technology that connects the private lending industry.

Do you have any other smart home devices you would recommend? Share your recommendations in the comments!

Bridge Loan Network Exhibiting at the 2018 Real Estate Symposium

A Team from Bridge Loan Network will be exhibiting at the 2018 Real Estate Symposium presented by Green River Capital, Red Bell Real Estate and ValuAmerica. The Real Estate Symposium, which is taking place February 28^th through March 2^nd at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah is a nationwide leading conference for REO experts.

In addition to ample networking, Bridge Loan Network will also be registering attendees for our White Label Websites and Web Application Integration Plug-Ins.

White Label Website Benefits:

A fully responsive website
All content is tailored to your company
Simplified loan entry to save you time
Secure document management
Loan progress tracking

Already have a website? Then we can provide the Web Application Integration Plug-In which is a Loan Application plug-in for your website that connects to our Loan Origination System.

Web Application Integration Plug-In Benefits:

Shorter Loan Application Form
Easy One Click Borrower Credit & Background Checks
Broker Commission Forms & Reports
Comprehensive Rehab Budget Analysis
New Customer Support System

The White Label Website or Web Application Integration serves as a loan portal and offers simplified loan entry processes for you and your clients.

To learn more about the White Label Website and Web Application Integration Plug-in, stop by Bridge Loan Network at Booth #1 at the Real Estate Symposium or contact us at info@BridgeLoanNetwork.com.

Exciting New Software Features

As you know, our system has the ability to track your client’s loan from beginning to end. However, we are constantly striving to add more features in order to decrease the amount of work involved for all parties and increase closing efficiency. That’s why Bridge Loan Network is excited to introduce our newest feature, the ability to pull credit history!

The credit check is good for 90 days. What that means is your client’s credit doesn’t have to be ran multiple times by multiple lenders. Bridge Loan Network will run the report once and keep it safe and sound on our system for 90 days so it can be seen by the multiple lenders on our site. One credit check means not only will your client save money, but it will help to maintain their credit score.

Lenders, when we say browse completed loan packages, we mean it! This feature allows you to quickly determine if the borrower’s request meets your criteria. It also saves you time, no more asking for, or waiting around for credit scores to be checked. It’s all right here, in our loan origination system!

Lastly, payment for the credit check is also processed through our system allowing you and your clients to truly keep all documents in one, safe spot. Join us today if you’re looking to introduce a new way of closing hard money deals to your clients. Contact us for help getting started.

Using the Bridge Loan Network Platform to be Profitable

The Bridge Loan Network lending portal is robustly unique. With just a click of a button brokers can submit loan packages that can be viewed by multiple lenders. Lenders, these deals must be fully completed before they are let into our portal meaning you don’t have to waste your time tracking poor leads. Our goal is to help lenders and brokers come together to get deals done, so we’ve put together this list of tips for how to best utilize our platform to be profitable.

Brokers:

Take a look at the list of items needed for 24-hour underwriting. Once you have these documents ready to go, head to the lending portal and submit the paperwork. The best part is, you only have to submit the loan package once and then it can be viewed by multiple lenders.

Like we said, our system is robust. The more information you provide, the better chance you have at capturing a lender’s attention. Make sure you are as thorough as possible. Include as much information about the loan request as possible. For example, don’t forget to specify the loan type, amount, purchase price and very importantly the borrower’s contribution and credit.

Lenders:

Time is money. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you or waste time looking at poorly sourced deals. Log in daily to see multiple broker-submitted loan packages all in one place. Choose deals that are right for you and streamline your internal process. No more searching for paperwork, or requesting last minute information. Everything you need can be quickly accessed anywhere you have an internet connection.

Contact us today to demo our software and to learn about the features that can reduce your work load to make you more profitable!

Bridge Loan Network Lending Portal

Brokers:

Lenders:

Contact us today to demo our software and to learn about the features that can reduce your work load to make you more profitable!

Meet Us at the Five Star Conference & Expo

Bridge Loan Network will be exhibiting at the Five Star Conference and Expo September 18^th to 20^thfor the third time. The conference which is taking place at the Hyatt Regency Dallas is a noted as a great source for information, collaboration, and progression within the mortgage industry. The conference is designed to help take businesses to the next level and will offer networking opportunities, educational sessions, and certification classes.

In addition to sponsoring and exhibiting at the conference Bridge Loan Network (BLN) and lending partner, RCN Capital, will be hosting a Networking Event at the Iron Cactus Restaurant and Margarita Bar in Downtown Dallas on Monday, September 18^th.

“We are excited to use this event as an opportunity to meet conference attendees and exhibitors,” says Jon Allen, VP of Business Development for Bridge Loan Network. “Each year we have attended this conference has opened more doors for us and expanded our network.”

For more information on our networking event please come to our booth 504 & 506 on the opening night of the conference during the Opening Night Reception.

Be sure to meet the Bridge Loan Network team at this year’s Five Star Conference and Expo, we’ll be at booth 504 & 506!

To learn more about the Five Star Conference & Expo, click here.

Looking to Buy? Consider A Tiny Home!

If you are familiar with the real estate industry, you’ve surely heard of the new “tiny house” craze. This movement is a way for home-buyers to save thousands of dollars, and valuable time on home improvement projects, by purchasing homes that are way smaller than a normal property. On average, the typical American home is between 2,000-2,600 square feet, whereas tiny homes generally weigh in between 100-400 square feet. Coming in all different styles, and materials, these houses may be the new future of real estate.

Some people scoff at the idea of living in such tight quarters, but there are a variety of reasons people are choosing to downsize their living space; the main reasons being cost, environmental concerns, and the itch for more time and freedom. With over 70% of Americans facing credit card, and student loan debt, the idea of a tiny house sounds extremely appealing. Certain tiny home kits can go for as little as $10,000; which is a steal in the grand scheme of housing.

According to thetinylife.com, there are an abundance of reasons why you should buy a tiny home:

68% of tiny house owners do not have a mortgage, compared to 29% of U.S. homeowners.
The average tiny house is 186 sq. feet compared to the average 2100 sq. foot U.S. home, which is the equivalent of 11 tiny homes. The environment would thank us if we carried out this housing trend.
89% of tiny house owners carry less credit card debt than the average American.
65% of tiny house owners carry zero credit card debt.

Giving up square footage is a small sacrifice to save thousands of dollars, and endless amounts of time. A smaller property means smaller messes to clean, and smaller yards to maintain, resulting in a better quality of life. Also, aside from the money, our planet will thank us since buildings contribute to roughly 1/3 of our greenhouse gas emissions.

If you’re in the market, and looking for a unique style of living, consider purchasing a tiny home, because your wallet, and our planet will thank you!

Author: Tara Doherty

Investing The Right Way

Investing in the real estate biz can be a great source of income, but you must jump through a few hoops before you gain a profit you are satisfied with. When people first start out in the industry, they often wonder how they will acquire the necessary funds to start investing in the industry. When it comes to fixer-uppers here are a few ways fund your first project;

Banks – While banks usually offer relatively cheap interest rates, they often require a large down payment. However, if you have good credit, and 45 (or more) days to close, then banks are a great option.
Private Lenders – Opting with this route allows you to dictate the terms, and structure the deal. Private lenders are often harder to find, but they offer a lot of flexibility.
Hard Money Lenders – As one of the most popular, and easy to access options, hard money lenders are an extremely flexible option. While this option can be more expensive than other funding outlets, hard money lenders will get your deals closed on a timely basis.
Joint Venture Partnerships (JVs) – This type of partnership is rather popular. Usually the JV money partner funds all of the money needed for the deal, and the other partner manages the contractors, and delegates the transaction. This method allows you to arrange the partnership anyway you see fit, and you can also split the profits accordingly.
Your Own Personal Money– If you have the means necessary, cash is a great way to fund real estate deals. Most people do not have enough money to take this path, but self-directed IRAs are also a way to fund the transactions.

While investing often seems like a daunting task, these various methods can help make your real estate dreams a reality. With the right tools, and proper funds, the real estate opportunities are endless.

Author: Tara Doherty

Is Commercial Real Estate The Next ‘Big Short?’

Malls, and other retailers have been struggling for years to maintain their real estate due to the increase in online shopping. This comes as no surprise to industry experts, however, it may take a drastic toll on the economy. In 2016, roughly $3.5 billion in retail loans were liquidated, which proves that losses on mall loans have been significantly higher than other areas of real estate.

Below is a list of charts which show the changes that have taken place over time. According to Forbes.com the following data proves that many commercial businesses are unfortunately failing.

#1. Department store sales have collapsed, and retailers continue to close.

#2. Store closings are the highest they’ve been since 2008. Without major retailers residing in commercial buildings, there’s a high chance the commercial space will be forced to close its doors because they can’t afford the bills.

#3. As a result of increased vacancies, commercial real estate prices have also been on the rise.

Overall, this essentially means that when malls, and other commercial properties fail, the lenders are projecting massive losses. For Example, Hudson Valley Mall in New York recently faced liquidation, and investors lost a total of $42 million, which is catastrophic.

Author: Tara Doherty

What To Consider Before Investing In Commercial Real Estate

As of recently, the number of people investing in commercial real estate has been on the rise. According to Bigger Pockets Blog, there are a number of pros and cons to investing in this kind of real estate. So, before you jump head first into the industry, it is very important to research exactly what you are getting into to avoid any surprises in the end.

Don’t be fooled; although commercial real estate is a complicated business to involve yourself in, it can also be extremely lucrative, so here are some of the benefits from professionals who have been through it before:

1. Flexible Financing- Rather than spending money out of pocket, banks are often willing to provide substantial loans to help commercial real estate investors succeed. There is also an option to utilize auxiliary financing, which means there is up to 100% coverage with first or second mortgages; whereas residential financing often opposes the 100% financing option. This essentially means that if you are looking to purchase an apartment complex with 40 units, you will only be paying one mortgage on the property as opposed to 40 mortgages on 40 properties.

2. Economies of Scale- When owning multiple units on one plot of land (i.e. an apartment complex) contractors are usually willing to negotiate lower costs for maintenance and repairs on the property. However, the more units in the complex the better, because then you can afford to hire your own team which will cost even less than bringing in outside contractors.

3. Passive Environment- If the commercial property you own is an office building, you will receive little to no maintenance requests after hours, or on weekends and holidays; As opposed to owning residential properties where the tenant occupies the space 24/7. Also, with a triple net lease (common for most commercial leases) the tenant is the one responsible to pay any taxes, insurance costs, and maintenance costs, including rent, and utilities.

While these benefits sound enticing, there are unfortunately a list of cons pertaining to owning a commercial real estate property as well:

1. More Competition- In the commercial industry most buyers are looking to improve the space. Usually they want to increase the value of the property so they can refinance with cheaper options. However, as the investor this may be challenging because properties in a reasonable price range with room for improvement are in high demand.

2. Risk of Poor Management- After finding your dream commercial property, it’s just as important to have a strong property management team which is often hard to come by. Tenants will be paying higher rent in order to afford the team, so it’s important to hire a solid crew. When looking for property managers you must ask them their efficiency rate, how much experience they have, and if they’re compliant in order to avoid problems in the future.

In conclusion, investing in commercial real estate can be extremely lucrative, but there are many factors to consider before purchasing the property, as you can see above. When you are confident that you can handle taking on the responsibility of owning a commercial property, the most important thing to remember is to stay up to date with the trends, and most of all have fun with it!

Author: Tara Doherty