Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending

A rental property next door to another sat vacant for months at $1,250 a month; Austin Willingham’s freshly renovated home rented in under a day for $1,495. That contrast captures a market where location and quality can matter more than average rents—and where deals that worked a year ago may now hinge on tighter numbers. In this episode of The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending, Alissa is joined by Austin Willingham to discuss shifting rental and resale conditions in Memphis and Birmingham, rising renovation costs and interest rates, and why a promising flip needs a backup plan. They also get candid about the risks of scaling too fast: five simultaneous tenant turnovers can mean thousands in unexpected costs. https://corelendfinancial.com/ We are experienced local Memphis and Birmingham investors and the most experienced local Hard Money lenders. We care about your success and only fund loans we’d do ourselves.   📅 Have questions? Let’s talk! Schedule a free call: https://calendly.com/alissa-fowler

25 Houses in 18 Months—and self-managing all of them! After buying his sixth rental house, Leigh Cumbie called his mentor and said, “I can’t do this anymore.” Less than two years later, he owned 25—and was adding properties at a pace of two a month. In this episode, Leigh tells Alissa how he used hard money to scale with just a few thousand dollars at each closing, why he reinvests instead of taking profits, and how his rentals now average about $800 in monthly cash flow apiece. He also shares the less polished side of the business: relentless repair calls, costly HVAC surprises, and the landlord work that helped tenants refer him to new renters. https://corelendfinancial.com/ We are experienced local Memphis and Birmingham investors and the most experienced local Hard Money lenders. We care about your success and only fund loans we’d do ourselves.   📅 Have questions? Let’s talk! Schedule a free call: https://calendly.com/alissa-fowler

This week we welcome back Jim Johnson, now a licensed real estate agent with Crestcore Realty and Crestcore Property Management. Jim discusses the Memphis rental market, noting signs of improvement despite overall softness, with increased lease signings driven by personal marketing approaches. He emphasizes that Memphis is now a buyer's market, encouraging investors to purchase properties needing rehab, particularly in suburban areas. Key advice includes thorough inspections, quality renovations in kitchens and bathrooms, and leveraging Corelend's financing to cover both purchase and rehab costs for strong cash flow returns. https://corelendfinancial.com/ We are experienced local Memphis and Birmingham investors and the most experienced local Hard Money lenders. We care about your success and only fund loans we’d do ourselves.   📅 Have questions? Let’s talk! Schedule a free call: https://calendly.com/alissa-fowler

Corelend Deal Calculator: https://corelendfinancial.com/deal-calculator/ Corelend Off-Market Deals: https://corelendfinancial.com/investment-deals/ This week Alissa sits down with interviews Richey Ward, Director of Corelend Financial. Richey shares his journey from wholesaling in Nashville to scaling a Memphis rental portfolio using hard money lending. He explains how 100% financing enabled him to grow without tying up personal cash. The conversation covers current market shifts toward buy-and-hold rental strategies, the speed advantages of hard money over conventional loans, common investor pitfalls like underestimating rehab costs, and the importance of market knowledge. Richie emphasizes doing the math backward and building a strong team to succeed. https://corelendfinancial.com/ We are experienced local Memphis and Birmingham investors and the most experienced local Hard Money lenders. We care about your success and only fund loans we’d do ourselves.   📅 Have questions? Let’s talk! Schedule a free call: https://calendly.com/alissa-fowler

This week Alissa speaks with Ryan Guess from Northpointe Bank about non-qualified mortgage (non-QM) lending, particularly Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DCSR) loans. They discuss how investors use bridge loans with DSCR refinancing as an exit strategy, challenges like rental income coverage ratios, credit scores, and realistic appraisals. Ryan highlights ideal property value ranges for cash flow, prepayment penalty considerations, and the importance of maintaining financial reserves. The conversation also touches on portfolio scaling strategies and the evolving appraisal landscape for real estate investors. https://corelendfinancial.com/ We are experienced local Memphis and Birmingham investors and the most experienced local Hard Money lenders. We care about your success and only fund loans we’d do ourselves.   📅 Have questions? Let’s talk! Schedule a free call: https://calendly.com/alissa-fowler