Investor guides
Straight answers on investor financing.
What loans cost, what lenders require, how the numbers are sized and how fast it closes. Written by the 316 Capital desk from the files we place every week. Updated for 2026.
- How do you finance a condo conversion or small condo development in Massachusetts?Financing a Massachusetts condo conversion or new condo build in 2026: the loan structure, master deed and condominium trust, partial releases as units sell, city conversion ordinances, and a worked 8 unit example.
- How do you choose a hard money lender in Massachusetts?What to check before you pick a hard money or bridge lender in Massachusetts in 2026: the eleven questions to ask, red flags, direct lender versus capital advisory, and how to compare two term sheets properly.
- What documents do you need for a real estate investor loan?The complete 2026 document checklist for fix and flip, bridge, construction and DSCR rental loans: entity, borrower, property and project documents, and what you can skip (tax returns, W-2s, DTI).
- How do lenders calculate ARV, LTC and LTV on an investor loan?After-repair value, loan to cost and loan to value explained for fix and flip, construction and rental loans, with the formulas, typical 2026 caps, and a worked example showing which test limits the loan.
- How do construction draws work on a fix and flip or construction loan?How the rehab holdback and draw process works in 2026: draw schedules, inspections, reimbursement versus advance, timing, fees, and how to keep draws from stalling your project.
- Hard money vs bank loan vs private money: which should an investor use?A side by side comparison of hard money and bridge loans, bank and credit union loans, and private individual money for real estate investors in 2026: cost, speed, leverage, qualification and when each one wins.
- How fast can a hard money loan close in Massachusetts?Realistic closing timelines for hard money, bridge and fix and flip loans in Massachusetts in 2026, what causes delays (title, insurance, appraisal, entity docs), and a day-by-day plan for a 10 day close.
- Can a first time investor get a hard money loan?Yes. What first time real estate investors need for a hard money or fix and flip loan in 2026: credit, cash, reserves, a contractor, and how leverage and pricing differ from an experienced borrower.
- How do you finance a BRRRR deal in 2026?Financing the BRRRR strategy step by step: the short-term purchase and rehab loan, the DSCR refinance, seasoning rules, how much cash you get back, and a worked Massachusetts example.
- What is a bridge loan for real estate investors and when should you use one?Bridge loans for real estate investors explained: what they are, when they beat a bank loan, typical 2026 terms (up to 75% to 80% LTV, 12 to 24 months, 9% to 13%), and the situations they solve.
- What are DSCR loan requirements in 2026?DSCR rental loan requirements in 2026: minimum DSCR, credit, leverage up to 80%, rates, prepayment penalties, reserves, and how the debt service coverage ratio is calculated with an example.
- How do ground up construction loans for real estate investors work?Ground up construction financing for investors and small builders in 2026: leverage up to 90% of cost, land value, draws, interest reserve, requirements for 1 to 4 units and 5+ unit or condo projects.
- What do you need to qualify for a fix and flip loan?Fix and flip loan requirements in 2026: credit, experience, down payment, reserves, leverage (up to 90% of cost), documents, and what a lender looks at on the property.
- How much does a hard money loan cost in Massachusetts in 2026?Typical 2026 pricing for hard money and bridge loans in Massachusetts: interest rates, points, fees, and a worked example on a $500,000 fix and flip in Greater Boston.
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