DSCR vs Conventional | Which One Actually Works? | Charles Goodwin

In this episode of the Real Estate Update podcast, host Paul Centopani sits down with Charles Goodwin, VP and Head of Bridge and DSCR Lending at Kiavi. With a decade of private lending expertise under his belt and having personally owned roughly 50 single-family investment properties, Charles pulls back the curtain on how to navigate today's housing market as both an investor and a first-time home buyer.Charles breaks down the exact formulas necessary to scale a real estate business safely, including a deep dive into the "75% rule" equation for backing into a profitable purchase price. He highlights the common pitfalls of the "HGTV movement", warning viewers not to let delusions of grandeur override objective logic—and shares essential advice on line-item contractor budgets. For rental property owners, Charles reveals his rule of thumb for checking big-ticket items like HVAC units and electrical panels to prevent compounding maintenance issues.Shifting gears to traditional home buying, Charles addresses the challenges buyers face in a competitive environment. He explains why move-in ready homes are triggering bidding wars while properties needing a little sweat equity sit on the market. Discover the affordability "sweet spots" of the Midwest—like Indianapolis, Columbus, and Pittsburgh—versus the high-competition zones of the Northeast. Whether you're trying to qualify for an FHA loan or negotiate mortgage rates with your team of lenders, this interview is packed with actionable insights to give you the ultimate edge in real estate.Connect with Mortgage Research Network:YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageResearchNetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mortgageresearchnetwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mtgresearchnews⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠MortgageResearch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Charles Goodwin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-goodwin-13027249/First Time Homebuyer Cheat Sheet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4w8CiVM⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebuyer Calculators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4n0hDPv⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect With a Lender: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/426Gyaw⁠⁠------00:00 Intro00:10 Meet Charles Goodwin from Kiavi 00:32 Kiavi's data-driven approach to investment lending00:53 What "Kiavi" stands for (The Italian word for key: chiave) 01:12 Private lending growth02:00 Charles’s personal journey: Scaling up to 50 single-family investment properties02:45 The ultimate advice for beginner investors03:22 Knowing your numbers03:40 The 75% Rule Explained: Backing into your maximum purchase price04:12 Factoring in hidden flip costs: Holding fees, interest rates, and closing costs04:46 The HGTV pitfall: Overcoming logic and emotional traps with objective data05:12 Consulting secondary valuation opinions and contractors05:43 The hidden joy of flipping06:21 Rental property due diligence07:02 The 6-to-8-year rule of thumb for replacing mechanical units07:22 Why looking outside the property walls matters (The pitbull test)08:00 2026 Market Analysis: Renovated homes vs. unrenovated opportunities08:26 Building sweat equity as a homebuyer to avoid bidding wars08:52 Alternative loan options: Utilizing FHA subsidies and low-down-payment programs09:30 Preparing your home buying profile: Credit health, income history, and pre-approvals09:50 Assembling your real estate dream team: How to find trusted agents and lenders10:20 Understanding the jargon: Overcoming the mortgage terminology learning curve10:41 The art of negotiation: How to leverage competing rates with for-profit lenders11:06 Affordable U.S. Sweet Spots11:51 High-Demand Bidding Zones: The seller's market dynamics of the Northeast12:01 Loan type options for first-timers13:05 The proper steps to get prepared14:10 Final takeaways: Charles Goodwin's top advice for first-time home buyers------#RealEstateInvesting #FixAndFlip #HomeBuyerEducation