Welcome back to Unlocking Real Estate! I’m your host, RJ Hernandez, and today, we’re talking about everyone’s favorite F-word: Financing. In a world where interest rates are on a rollercoaster, and banks are pickier than ever, how do you actually fund your deals in 2025? We’ll explore traditional options, creative workarounds, and real stories from the frontlines.

SEGMENT 1: THE LAY OF THE LAND Let’s start with the basics:

· Conventional mortgages: down payment, credit requirements, DTI ratios

· Portfolio and commercial loans: how they’re underwritten

· Bridge loans and hard money—fast but costly

SEGMENT 2: CREATIVE FINANCING STRATEGIES When banks say no, investors get creative.

· Seller financing and subject-to deals

· Lease options, wraps, and contract for deed

· Partnerships and syndications: split the risk, split the reward

· Crowdfunding: is it hype or a true alternative?

SEGMENT 3: THE 2025 LENDING ENVIRONMENT It’s not 2019 anymore! In 2025:

· Underwriting is tighter, documentation is heavier

· Rates are volatile—should you float or lock?

· Banks favor low-risk, high-equity projects

SEGMENT 4: PROTECTING YOUR DEAL Tips for weathering funding storms:

· Always have a Plan B for financing

· Use escalation clauses for interest rates

· Get clear on your exit strategy before you sign

· The real cost of private and hard money—run the numbers twice

Financing can make or break your next deal, but it doesn’t have to be a black box. If you want the show notes or example deal calculators, visit our website and sign up for our newsletter.

Next episode, we’ll flip the script—literally—and talk flips: the good, the bad, and the ugly. See you next time on Unlocking Real Estate.