Doug McDonald brings over 20 years of real estate finance experience to his role as Head of Residential Lending at Truehold Financial. We sat down with Doug to discuss his journey, his vision for investor financing, and what makes Truehold Financial different in today's market.
Doug McDonald brings over 20 years of real estate finance experience to his role as Head of Residential Lending at Truehold Financial. We sat down with Doug to discuss his journey, his vision for investor financing, and what makes Truehold Financial different in today's market.
I've spent my career working with real estate investors, and I've seen how the right financing partner can make or break someone's investment strategy. What attracted me to Truehold was their straightforward approach to investor financing. They understand that real estate investors need solutions that actually work for their business model, not just another version of a residential mortgage. My team and I can focus on what we do best - helping investors find the right financing for each deal and building partnerships that support long-term portfolio growth.
As an alternative asset manager, we've put thousands of homes into our portfolio, so it made sense to not just have equity exposure, but also have some debt related to real estate. We think it's both good for the consumer and good for the institution.
We understand investors and the deals they put together. We're here to provide easy alternative financing. When the bank says no, we can typically say yes, provided you still have good credit.
One thing I've learned: the most successful investors don't just buy properties, they utilize the smartest financing tools. I consistently see people who think they can only buy investment properties with cash. That's just not true. For my entire career, I've dealt with people who thought they could only do cash, and when they realize that they can get financing for it, it's very compelling.
Why would you spend $400,000 on an investment property when all you really need to do is come up with approximately 20% so you can finance the balance? Why cash in your stocks, your bonds, or sell other properties to buy that property when financing is available?
DSCR loans qualify borrowers based on the property's rental income rather than personal income verification. There are people who don't believe they can get financing on their investment properties because they're retired, or their tax returns don't reflect their true investment success. The investment property's cash flow will help you get that loan that you need.
Whether you want to buy your first rental property, pull cash out of existing properties, or expand your portfolio, DSCR loans use current or projected rental income to qualify with no W-2s or tax returns typically required.
Fix-and-flip loans are designed for investors who see potential where others see problems. These loans provide short-term financing for purchasing and renovating investment properties, covering both purchase and rehab costs. This allows investors to transform undervalued properties into profitable exits.
The key advantage is speed—we can fund in as few as 10 days, allowing investors to compete with cash buyers and move quickly on opportunities.
Interest rates are still traditionally low when you look across the spectrum of the last 20 to 30 years. While everyone remembers the 3% rates we had for a couple of years, we are at rates that are compelling for investors.
Here's the thing about waiting for the perfect rate: if you wait for the very best rate, you're going to miss it totally. Interest rates are volatile. Even though everything we read suggests rates should go down, they can also go up. If the deal makes sense to you today, then why not do it today and focus on the next deal for when rates are different, rather than constantly waiting?
Our loan officers are dedicated to you and treat every deal the same. While they're paid on commission, they don't get paid for doing the deal unless your loan closes. But the fact that they're also on salary is helpful—they're going to do the right thing for you, the customer, not just what's best for them.
We're here to make lifelong partners. We know that as an investor, you have multiple properties. We'd like to be involved in not only the deals you have today, but the ones you buy in the future.
It depends on the person's individual circumstances. You have people who buy investment properties with cash because they think that's the only way they can do it. Well, that's not true. When they realize they can get financing for it, it's just very compelling.
Why take $400,000 out of whatever accounts you have it in? Why not use that capital for the next opportunity while financing this one? That's how you build real wealth in real estate.
Fast forward to next summer, we'll have three different ways we can finance your property. We'll have our own portfolio product, which is very exciting. We'll have the ability to do some unique things within that portfolio product. If, for some reason, your loan is not a fit for our portfolio, we still have the banker products and the broker products.
We will be offering multiple ways to finance your real estate. As we grow, you can grow with us.
Ready to explore your investment financing options? Learn more about Truehold Financial's DSCR loans and fix-and-flip financing or call Doug and his team directly at (917) 540-6970.
Chat with a real person & get an offer for your home within 48 hours.
Call (314) 353-9757
