Benefits of the VA Loan

So, you’ve been told that you should use your VA Loan for your home purchase, but the question is: Why? In this post, we’ll talk about some of the benefits and advantages of using your VA Loan for your home purchase.

1. No Down Payment

The VA Loan does not require a down payment for an eligible property purchase. While a 20% down payment on a conventional loan would be difficult for most service members, the VA Loan enables borrowers to put down 0% to buy a home. As of January 2020, there is no cap to a first-tier VA Loan-making it even better! Remember, though – there are still closing costs involved – even if there’s no down payment, so make sure to budget those in when considering a home purchase!

2. No PMI

While other types of mortgages usually require Private Mortgage Insurance for a lower down payment, the VA loan does not require it. This means less money out of pocket for borrowers and is yet another benefit of...

Press Release:

ADPI Brings on Top-Tier Talent to Education and Community

October 2020: As another historic moment in Active Duty Passive Income’s growth, the announcement of two tremendous additions to the team comes as no surprise. 

Tim Kelly and Jill Campbell will now formally lead two critical areas of ADPI’s advancement as the premier military real estate investing education platform and community in the U.S.; Education and Member Experience divisions, respectively.

After serving for 15 years, Tim recently separated from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer to pursue real estate investing and building ADPI full time. 

Through Tim’s years in the military he has not only learned the power of high-level leadership, teamwork, discipline, and grit; he became a certified Command Financial Specialist, educating hundreds of Sailors and Marines on personal finance and how to achieve financial freedom. 

As the new VP of Education, and...

Becoming a Military Spouse Real Estate Investor

My name is Victoria--and I am a military spouse real estate investor.

Most days, I am in awe of how I came to do what I do. I love it. I have found a career and a passion that I only dreamed existed a few years ago. As an Active Duty Military Spouse, for the last decade, I have mostly been unemployed - and I only say mostly because now I technically work for myself. In ten years, I have not worked for another person. I have volunteered; I have parented, but I haven’t brought in a paycheck.

And that is so hard.

I always envisioned myself working--even with children. So when I married into the military, moved several states away to start our life together, and had my first child within a year--I found myself in a perplexing and frustrating situation. My husband and I knew that I wanted to actively participate in our future by contributing to our financial plan in ways other than couponing. But that has been harder to do than...

How To BRRRR Your Way to Financial Freedom

Bro, Do You Even BRRRR?

By now I’m sure most of you have heard the term BRRRR which stands for Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat.  Famously coined by BiggerPockets’ Brandon Turner a few years back, the strategy itself has been around forever.  Remember, buy low and sell high. It’s kind of like that, except in this case, the end buyer is actually the bank.  

 Investors from all walks of life love to BRRRR because it offers a lot of flexibility, as opposed to standard fix and flip or buy and hold deals, and a significant marketplace competitive advantage (more on this in another blog).   Like most real estate investing (REI) strategies, a profitable BRRRR hinges on the After Repair Value (ARV) and your Estimated Rehab Costs (ERC). If you can master evaluating these figures, then you are one step ahead of your competition and well on your way to some solid deals! The topic of calculating ARVs...

How to Refinance with a VA Loan

The VA Loan is full of awesome benefits for veterans and service members. Among others, the no down payment option is a great opportunity to turn the dream of homeownership into a reality. In the current markets, it seems like interest rates can rise and fall like the tide –so what then? What if you need cash for home improvements? What is involved in refinancing a VA loan?

Two Types of VA Refinance Loans

1. Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL or VA Streamline Refinance)

2. VA Cash-Out Refinance

VA IRRRL

The VA IRRRL can benefit you if you currently have a VA mortgage. By using this option, you will refinance to a lower interest rate or you can switch to fixed-rate from an adjustable-rate mortgage. If you’re looking for cash-out from your home equity, this option isn’t for you.

When borrowers use the VA Streamline Refinance to lower their interest rate, this can also reduce monthly mortgage payments. Not only this, but...

4 Important Insurance Considerations for New Homeowners

Buying your first home is an important step in life, and whether you plan to sell, rent, or live in the place--there is no denying that there are many topics to take into consideration. Of course, one of your top priorities should be to find the right insurer and the best insurance plan for your long-term needs. Aside from getting a term life insurance policy to protect yourself and your loved ones, you should also insure your home and all of your assets to safeguard your investments from harm. After all, you never know what might go wrong the moment you move in--and the last thing you want is to pay for a cumbersome repair job out of your pocket after buying a property.

That’s why we’ll be going over the key steps you need to take to insure your new home and all of your assets, preferably without breaking the proverbial bank. Here are the important considerations you should keep in...

A limited liability company (LLC) operating agreement is an important document that every LLC should consider creating. In fact, in some states, this agreement is required to do business. When creating your LLC operating agreement, be sure to include the following information:

9 Elements of an LLC Operating Agreement

1. Business Name
2. Business Purpose
3. Terms of Agreement
4. Ownership
5. Management
6. Member and Manager Responsibilities
7. Allocation of Profits, Losses, and Distributions
8. Books and Records
9. Limitations on Liability and Other Legal Additions

A limited liability company operating agreement is an important legal document that details the agreement between the owners. In a single-member LLC, an operating agreement is still used to separate the company from the individual and is therefore essential for liability protection. The LLC operating agreement is similar to the bylaws that a corporation creates to provide more detailed specifications on business operations.

Depending on the...

I Liquidated My IRA--and Why You Should Too!

I established my Roth TSP as soon as I could after I joined the Army (for those non-federal employees, a TSP is a retirement account, the equivalent to a 401(k) or other IRA). I educated myself and immediately moved my allocations from the G Fund (extremely conservative) to the C and S Fund (aggressive). When the Department of Defense unrolled the Blended Retirement program in 2019, I enrolled immediately and have maxed out the matching program ever since. I was proud to see my retirement account increase--knowing that I was putting money aside now to support my family when I'm retired. I was very content with the wise advice, "set it and forget it."

BUT NOW- I am going against the grain--I LIQUIDATED ALL OF IT! 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act allows anyone negatively affected by the Coronavirus (see requirements here) to withdraw up to $100,000 from his or her retirement account...

3 Tips for Visualization as a Real Estate Investor

Visualization techniques are practiced by successful people who know their desired outcomes and strive to achieve them. Many achievers consider visualization a superpower. Visualization helps them to create their dream lives by fulfilling their goals and tasks. These goals are completed one at a time-- coupled with hyper focus and confidence. 

This superpower is embedded in everyone, but we do not know how to use it effectively. With the daily practice of visualization, it can rapidly accelerate your achievement of goals, dreams, and ambitions. Visualizing is a way to convince our minds that something is real when it is not.

Tips to Achieve Visualization as a Real Estate Investor

1. Set Your Goals and Check Your Vision Board Before Initiating An Action

A general goal such as "being happier" does not need visualization. You could be happy by changing your dreams and with small achievements too. However, visualization techniques...

What is a VA Loan?

Although some veterans and service members know about the VA loan, a surprisingly high percentage of them do not know about this awesome benefit available at arm’s reach. Here at ADPI, our entire existence revolves around educating and preparing veterans to use and understand their VA loan options.

The VA loan offers a wide range of benefits for veterans. It is a private lender-issued, federally-backed loan, and its purpose is to provide servicemembers and their families the option for home-ownership – made easier (and more possible!) by not requiring a down payment.

VA Loan Eligibility

To be eligible for the VA loan, borrowers must have a history of active duty service and have achieved a discharge other than dishonorable. Before they can use their loan benefits, veterans must have served a minimum of 90 days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime.

For those who are National Guard and Reservists, there is a 6-year duty requirement before...