When the Industry Zigs, It’s Time to Zag: How Category Creation Wins in Commercial Finance Why Following the Crowd is a Shortcut to Obscurity In today’s commercial finance landscape, it’s tempting to benchmark success against the nearest competitor—better rates, faster approvals, lower fees. But this approach is a trap. It’s a race to the bottom that commoditizes your service, thins…
From Credit Card Debt to Real Estate Empire: The True Story of David Lichtenstein Every real estate mogul has a starting point—but not all of them start with maxed-out credit cards. David Lichtenstein did. And with savvy access to capital, relentless reinvestment, and some serious strategic nerve, he turned that bold first step into a multi-billion-dollar portfolio. This is the…
Why Thoughtful Exceptions Make Financing Exceptional In today’s market, many lenders lean on rigid scoring models and default decisions. But real businesses don’t run by algorithm—and neither do we. At SLS Financial, we believe that thoughtful exceptions and common-sense audibles are what set great financing partners apart from the rest. We don’t look for reasons to say “no.” We look…
5 Long-Term Career Paths in Business Lending As businesses grow, so does the demand for access to capital. The business lending industry plays a pivotal role in supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and expansion across all sectors. For professionals seeking a rewarding and scalable career, business lending offers several distinct long-term paths—each with its own responsibilities, skill sets, and potential for advancement….
The Hidden Costs of Real Estate Investor Financing: Why the Lowest Rate May Cost You the Most Don’t Be Fooled by a Teaser Rate Many real estate investors make the mistake of shopping lenders based only on interest rates and origination fees. But beneath the surface lies a minefield of hidden costs—fees that creep in after the closing and chip…
The Plaza Effect: How Kansas City’s Iconic Neighborhood Shaped Today’s Real Estate Opportunities A Legacy Born in 1923 When Kansas City developer J.C. Nichols unveiled the Country Club Plaza in 1923, he wasn’t just building a shopping district — he was reshaping the very idea of urban planning. Inspired by Seville, Spain, the Plaza was the first shopping center in…
A Common-Sense Revolution: How SLS Built a 360° Commercial Credit Scoring Model That Thinks Like a Lender Rethinking Risk, Reclaiming Judgement At SLS Financial, we’ve long believed that smart lending goes beyond what credit reports and scorecards can show. In a space increasingly dominated by automation and rigid credit boxes, we built something different—something better. Our commercial credit scoring model…
Should You Repair or Replace That Equipment? How Equipment Financing and Leasing Can Help Make the Right Call When your equipment breaks down or becomes less reliable, it puts you at a crossroads: do you repair it again or invest in a new piece? The answer isn’t always straightforward. But by looking closely at the true cos
How a First-Time Investor Landed a $3M Commercial Real Estate Deal with No Experience From Firefighting to Finance: The Jeremy Barker Story Jeremy Barker didn’t come from wealth. He wasn’t a finance grad or a seasoned real estate agent. In fact, just a few years ago, he was working as a firefighter and laborer, bringing home around $1,600 a month….
How a Real Estate Investor Beat Airbnb Saturation with One Smart Pivot Meet Manny Reyna: From Army Medic to Real Estate Strategist Not every real estate success story begins with deep pockets or a family legacy. For Manny Reyna, it started with a uniform, discipline from his time as a U.S. Army medic, and a zero-down VA loan. After leaving…
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