Posts by Mark Neely
5 things most people get wrong about bank statement loans
When most people hear “bank statement loan,” they picture a full-time business owner with no W2 income. That’s the loan, and if you don’t fit that description, it’s not for you. Not true. And hasn’t been for a while. Bank statement loans have quietly become one of the most flexible financing tools out there for…
Read MoreMiddle TN Market Update – May 8, 2026
Your Middle Tennessee Market Update We’re deep into peak spring season, and the rhythm on the ground tells the real story. Showings are up, but offers are landing slower and more thoughtfully than they did even a month ago. Price reductions are becoming a weekly headline, with roughly one in three active listings now sitting…
Read MoreInvest Series: How Much Money Do You Need Upfront?
If you’ve ever caught yourself running the math on a rental property at 11 p.m., wondering whether you should actually pull the trigger, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common conversations I have. So for the next five weeks, I’m tackling the five questions I hear most often from people thinking about their…
Read MoreReal estate mortgage loans without ‘perfect’ tax returns
If you think you need stellar tax returns to get a loan to purchase real estate, think again. A lot of the clients and real estate investors I help either come to me direct or through their CPA or financial planner, often because they have irregular income. They don’t look good on paper, but their…
Read MoreTaking a Breath and Being Present
This week I get to do something I don’t always do well enough, and that’s just slow down and be present with my family. Spring break has a way of forcing that on you, and honestly, I needed it. There’s something that happens when you step away from the grind for a few days. You…
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About 50-year Mortgages
The Middle Tennessee market is still in a holding pattern. Inventory remains about 30 to 40 percent below pre pandemic levels, which keeps prices steady even with rates in the mid sixes. Well priced homes in Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, Mount Juliet, and Hendersonville are still selling, but overall days on market are longer. Buyers have…
Read MoreFrom Write Offs to Approval
If you’re self-employed, you know the drill. Your CPA helps you save money by maximizing write-offs. It’s great for taxes. But when it comes to qualifying for a loan, those same write-offs shrink your income on paper. We had a client in this exact situation. Their tax returns showed almost nothing. But their business bank…
Read MoreHow We Helped an Investor Keep their Short Term Rental Permit
Short-term rentals can be incredible investments. But they also come with red tape. In some areas, the short-term rental permit doesn’t just stay with the property. It’s tied to the LLC that owns the property. That means if you buy the house but not the LLC, you risk losing the permit. We had an investor…
Read MoreMarket Update November 6, 2025
Here’s what’s happening right now in our Middle Tennessee housing market and why the timing might matter for what you’re thinking of doing next. Local Market Snapshot In the Nashville metro area, there were 3,356 home closings in July, which is about a 3 percent increase from the same period last year. Home values in Nashville are holding mostly…
Read MoreMarket Update October 31, 2025
What Happened With Powell and Rates Yesterday, Powell took a more hawkish tone in his comments. He emphasized that inflation remains a concern and that the economy continues to perform well. Because of that, the Federal Reserve isn’t in a rush to cut rates. That kind of language tends to make bond markets nervous, and…
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