Totally get where you're coming from on negotiating reserves upfront, but have you found lenders actually budge much on that? In my experience, they're pretty rigid unless you've got a super solid history with them. I've had better luck adjusting the timing—like releasing reserves after hitting certain milestones or occupancy rates. Might be worth exploring if you haven't already...
Interesting, I hadn't thought about timing milestones like occupancy rates. Do lenders usually suggest that themselves, or do you need to bring it up first? Still learning the ropes here, so appreciate the insight...
Haha, totally feel you on the "still learning" part—I'm right there with ya. From what I've seen:
- Most lenders won't proactively bring up occupancy milestones unless they're super detail-oriented or you've got a great relationship going.
- Usually safer to ask yourself—it shows you're paying attention (even if secretly you're just winging it, like me).
- I casually mentioned occupancy timing once, and my lender acted impressed...but honestly, I was just parroting something I read here. 🤷♂️
You're doing great figuring this stuff out!
"Usually safer to ask yourself—it shows you're paying attention (even if secretly you're just winging it, like me)."
Haha, relatable. Honestly though, lenders appreciate when you show initiative—makes their job easier and builds trust. One thing I'd add: keeping track of occupancy milestones yourself can save headaches later, especially with DSCR loans where timing can impact your coverage ratios. Curious if anyone's had experience negotiating better terms by proactively addressing occupancy timelines...or is that wishful thinking on my part?
I've wondered about that too...but honestly, in my experience lenders don't budge much just because you're proactive about occupancy timelines. It does smooth things out though—less back-and-forth, fewer surprises. When I refinanced, I tracked milestones obsessively (probably too obsessively, lol), and while it didn't score me better terms, it definitely made the whole process feel less chaotic. Maybe someone else had better luck?
