From Food Stamps to Financial Freedom: The Real-Life Story of Ashley Hamilton’s Real Estate Rise Starting with Nothing but Grit Ashley Hamilton didn’t grow up in the real estate world. In fact, she started her investing journey as a single mother in Detroit, working at CVS, living on food stamps, and struggling to make ends meet. But she had something…
What Does It Mean When a Property Has “Good Bones”? In the world of real estate investment, the phrase “good bones” is music to an investor’s ears. It typically refers to a property with strong foundational elements—like a solid structure, durable roof, and sound framing—that can support remodeling and value-add renovations. But how do you know if a property truly…
Hidden Upside: Surprising Ways to Boost Property ROI Before You Sell Savvy investors know the typical tactics to boost property value: kitchen remodels, curb appeal, staging. But what separates the good flips from the truly exceptional exits are the lesser-known levers that can supercharge return on investment. Below are some often-overlooked ways to increase a property’s upside and ensure you…
The Three Best Real Estate Investment Strategies for the Coming Year in the KC Metro Area Kansas City continues to be one of the most promising real estate markets in the country, offering affordability, growth, and opportunity — even in today’s shifting economic environment. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just entering the market, having a clear strategy is key…
Why Unified Financing Is Better—for Everyone Why Are We Still Fragmenting the Financing Experience? In today’s equipment finance world, it’s common to see brokers and equipment sales organizations piecing together a patchwork of lending options: A bank lender for prime credits An app-only lender for “speed” A lease-to-own partner for challenged customers A microticket specialist for small-dollar deals A story…
Why Your Reputation Is More Valuable Than Your Bank Balance in Real Estate Investing When a Good Name Is Better Than a Fat Wallet In the world of real estate investment, money talks — but your reputation yells from the rooftops. When you apply for financing, especially for your next big flip or cash-flowing rental property, it’s tempting to assume…
Money Is a Commodity — Value Is in the Process The Harsh Truth About Lending In today’s equipment finance landscape, it’s time to confront an uncomfortable truth: money is just a commodity. Capital, on its own, is not special. It’s not scarce. And for borrowers, it’s not hard to find. If you’re in the business of simply offering money, you’re…
What’s Next After a Few Fix-and-Flips? Find Higher ROI Without Higher Risk You’ve Flipped a Few Houses—Now What? Once you’ve successfully completed a couple of fix-and-flips, the natural next question is: what’s the next level? More importantly, how do you get higher returns without taking on higher risk? Go Vertical Instead of Bigger Scaling doesn’t have to mean jumping into…
What the Smartest Investors Know About Market Cycles Understanding the Rhythm of Real Estate Every market has a rhythm. Stocks rise and fall. Interest rates tighten and loosen. And real estate? It dances to its own cycle—one that repeats, but never in quite the same way. The smartest investors don’t just buy when they feel like it. They buy, hold,…
Why Smart Businesses Finance Equipment Instead of Paying Cash Fueling Growth Without Draining the Tank When it comes to acquiring new equipment, many business owners default to a simple question: “Do we have enough cash in the bank to pay for it?” But that’s not the smartest question to ask. Instead, forward-thinking leaders ask: “How can I best deploy my…