The Difference a Lender Can Make — Real Estate Investment Savvy
Posted @ 12:05 am - Filed under 1031 Exchanges, Real Estate Investing, Check This Out
I’ve been spoiled.
Since 1987 I’ve used the same local San Diego loan guy. He’s experienced big time with tax deferred exchanges, self-employed investors, and the rest that just doesn’t come up on the owner occupied home loan side. He spearheaded loans in other states too, when I took my clients out of San Diego. The man is, by any measurement applied, the best loan guy I’ve run into in person — until recently.
Brian is a mortgage broker working here in San Diego. Literally, he’s the most knowledgeable mortgage guy I’ve ever met in person. Don’t pass over that sentence like it’s nothing. My career has spanned seven presidents, parts of five decades, five recessions, opening my own company, 38 39 National Association of Realtors’ Conventions missed, and a partridge in a pear tree.
There are many mortgage guys who’ve proven themselves capable of closing investment loans — both in and out of state. In the end though, only one, my local guy for 20 years, was able to talk with me as an equal. The value of having that with a lender is nearly incalculable. Over the years, being able to access a sounding board who not only knows what the heck he’s talking about, but also the many nuances involved, has been invaluable.
It’s also, many times, given me amazingly fresh perspective on a problem transaction. An investment-savvy lender can often provide a take on a troubled transaction that makes the difference in arriving at a solution.
A sounding board who adds to the conversation. Many times he and I have been talking, and one of us will have an idea on something totally unrelated — or so it seems. It’s a two way street.
Like me, he doesn’t care who gets the credit. He’s a team guy all the way. I’ve learned to use him when it makes sense. There are conversations I prefer him having — because it makes more sense. I’ve recently experienced a five way conference call in which I never uttered a syllable. It would’ve been like adding ice to a fine wine. 
Turned out it was great judgment on my part.
It like when we talk, ideas grow — 
kinda between spaces. Sometimes we seem to feed on each other. At least I do. There must be precious few lenders of that caliber out there.
Brian is such a lender. Most lenders, pardon the expression, couldn’t carry his jock on his worst day and their best.
This is why we don’t advise our clients to use their neighbors, friends, the guy who did their home loan, or any other lender they might know. In fact, the last time we knuckled under to to a client, (last year) his lender ‘best friend’ buried him so badly, he’s still trying to recover. It was ugly, and I’m being civil in mixed company.
Our clients benefit from Brian’s experience, expertise, and years of accumulated knowledge — in three states so far, and counting. It’s rare I don’t come away from a conversation with a better
understanding of something. He’s uncanny.
The difference between an every day ‘we can get it done’ mortgage broker, and one for whom a relatively sophisticated investment scenario is fun, and not hieroglyphics, can be the difference between finding solutions — and starting over.
A sounding board is great. One operating at our level is rare indeed. One who literally sparks ideas leading to solutions is dang near unique. One who comes up with solutions on his own?
Unique in my experience.
Brian Brady is the real thing.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at 12:05 am and is filed under 1031 Exchanges, Real Estate Investing, Check This Out. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.