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Resasco Investment Financing Strategy

Zero-Down Leverage — 4-Phase Acquisition Playbook
The Property Joes Group • Keller Williams Memorial • March 2026
v1.0 — Dr. Marc Resasco — Investment Strategy Analysis
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This document analyzes Dr. Resasco's financing strategy. For the property-level analysis with DSCR calculations, condition assessments, and individual rankings, see the Fourplex Investment Analysis →
$1M+
Target Portfolio
104%
LTV Phase 1
$0
Down Payment
4
Phase Strategy
Sec. 8
Tenant Ready
“Squeezing the buffalo to make it scream”
Dr. Resasco — on stretching leverage as far as possible

I. Financing Strategy Overview

Dr. Resasco's approach targets $1M+ in investment properties using a zero-capital-down, pure leverage model. The strategy sequences four distinct loan products to create a perpetual acquisition cycle where each property funds the next.

Core Approach

II. 4-Phase Loan Sequence

The financing strategy is structured as a sequential pipeline. Each phase uses a different loan product, and the output of each phase feeds into the next.

Phase 1
104% Financing
First 2 deals
Phase 2
Conventional
2 more loans
Phase 3
DSCR Loans
Unlimited
Phase 4
FHA Recycle
Every 6 months
Phase 1 — First 2 Deals ($1M or less)

104% Financing — Zero Down

  • Coming in with nothing down
  • 104% LTV covers ALL closing costs + agent fee
  • No cash out of pocket whatsoever
  • Up to 2 properties in this tier

ENTRY POINT

Phase 2 — Conventional Loans

Standard Conventional — Equity-Funded

  • 2 additional conventional loans available immediately after Phase 1
  • Standard terms: 20–25% down
  • Down payment sourced from equity built in Phase 1
  • Better rates than Phase 1 (lower LTV = lower risk to lender)

EQUITY RECYCLING

Phase 3 — DSCR Loans (Continuous)

Debt Service Coverage Ratio — Unlimited

  • No personal income verification required
  • Property cash flow must cover debt service
  • Typical requirement: DSCR ≥ 1.20–1.25
  • No loan count limits — can do these indefinitely
  • Qualify on property performance, not personal W-2

SCALE ENGINE

Phase 4 — FHA Recycling (Every 6 Months)

FHA Loop — Perpetual Acquisition

  • New FHA loan eligibility every 6 months
  • 3.5% down payment required
  • Down payment funded by equity created automatically
  • Tenants paying down principal = growing equity pool
  • Creates a perpetual acquisition cycle

PERPETUAL CYCLE

III. Tenant Placement Strategy

With 104% LTV on the first two deals, immediate rental income is critical. Every month without tenants amplifies debt service exposure.

Channel Status Details Priority
TPJG Tenant Placement PRIMARY Resasco willing to pay for professional placement. TPJG team handles screening, showing, lease execution. HIGH
Section 8 (HCV) LEARNING Wants TPJG to learn the Section 8 play and assist. Government-backed rent via HUD Housing Choice Voucher program. MEDIUM
Back-Pocket Section 8 Contact BACKUP Has an existing Section 8 contact but personality conflict. Will use as last resort if needed. FALLBACK

Section 8 Basics — Housing Choice Voucher Program

  • What it is: HUD program where government pays a portion of tenant rent directly to landlord
  • Houston admin: Houston Housing Authority (HHA)
  • Fair Market Rents (FMR): Harris County supports $1,500–$2,200/unit for 2–3BR units
  • Payment structure: HUD pays guaranteed portion + tenant pays the difference
  • Vacancy risk: Significantly reduced — guaranteed government-backed income
  • Inspections: Annual HQS (Housing Quality Standards) inspections required
  • DSCR impact: Guaranteed rent strengthens DSCR ratios for Phase 3 loans

IV. How This Strategy Changes Property Selection

The 104% financing / zero-down approach creates four critical selection criteria that differ from a traditional 25% down investor.

The 104% LTV Rule

At 104% LTV, the property is underwater from Day 1. There is zero equity cushion. This means:

  • DSCR becomes THE critical metric — the property MUST cash-flow to qualify for Phase 3 DSCR loans
  • Existing tenants = immediate income — essential for covering the 104% debt service from close
  • Section 8 potential adds value — guaranteed rent strengthens DSCR and reduces vacancy risk
  • Condition matters less IF renovation is financed into the loan, BUT carrying costs during rehab at 104% LTV are extreme

Best Fits for Resasco's Strategy

From the Fourplex Investment Analysis (15 properties analyzed):

1313 Peden St — Best Risk-Adjusted Return

$995,000 • MLS# 30551721 • 378 DOM • OCCUPIED

Occupied Day 1 — immediate income for 104% debt service coverage. 378 days on market creates strong negotiation leverage. DSCR improvable to 1.25 at approximately $890K. Existing tenants eliminate the "dead zone" of mortgage payments with no rental income.

5763 Easthampton Dr — Lowest Risk Entry

$849,900 • MLS# 92066932 • 2017 Build • TURNKEY

Turnkey 2017 construction. Income Day 1 with no renovation needed. Lowest risk profile for a zero-down strategy. Minimal maintenance exposure in the critical first 12 months of 104% LTV debt service.

1409 Wentworth St — Cash Flow Ready

$870,000 • MLS# 97166472 • $25K Seller Credit • ALL LEASED

All units currently leased. $25K seller credit offsets initial costs. Immediate cash flow from close. The seller credit is particularly valuable in a 104% scenario — effectively reduces the true LTV burden.

Avoid for This Strategy

1539 Westheimer Rd — Renovation Risk

$850,000 • MLS# 5452319 • 4–8 MONTH REHAB

4–8 month rehab window = $19K–$37K in carrying costs with ZERO income. At 104% LTV, every vacant month is devastating. Mortgage payments are higher (larger loan), rate is likely higher, and there is no income to offset. Only viable if Resasco has separate cash reserves for carry (contradicts the zero-down strategy).

1920 Binz St — DSCR Failure

$750,000 • MLS# 17724839 • DSCR WILL NOT QUALIFY

Rehab needed with rents projected below $2,000/unit. At 104% financing on $750K, the debt service is too high relative to achievable rents. DSCR will not reach the 1.20–1.25 threshold needed for Phase 3. This property breaks the acquisition pipeline.

V. Section 8 Opportunity Analysis

Section 8 tenants create a strategic advantage for Resasco's 104% LTV approach by providing government-backed income certainty.

Factor Impact on Resasco's Strategy Rating
Guaranteed Rent Portion HUD pays directly to landlord — reduces collection risk to near zero on government portion STRONG +
DSCR Strengthening Lenders view Section 8 income favorably — guaranteed portion improves DSCR calculation for Phase 3 STRONG +
Vacancy Reduction Section 8 waiting lists are long — high demand means low vacancy risk STRONG +
FMR Rates (Harris County) $1,500–$2,200/unit for 2–3BR — aligns with fourplex rent targets ALIGNED
HQS Inspections Annual property inspections required — properties must meet Housing Quality Standards OVERHEAD
Tenant Quality Varies — screening still recommended. Section 8 does not guarantee tenant behavior, only rent payment. NEUTRAL

Section 8 + 104% LTV = Risk Mitigation

The combination of Section 8 guaranteed rent and Resasco's zero-down strategy is synergistic. Section 8 directly addresses the biggest risk of 104% financing: vacancy exposure. Government-backed rent means the debt service is covered even if the tenant has personal financial difficulties.

VI. Risk Factors at 104% LTV

Zero-down financing amplifies both upside and downside. These are the specific risks and their mitigations.

Zero Equity Cushion

Any value decline = immediately underwater. No buffer between loan balance and market value.

SEVERITY: HIGH

Higher Monthly Payments

Larger loan amount (104% vs. 75% conventional) + likely higher interest rate = significantly higher P&I per month.

SEVERITY: HIGH

DSCR Qualification Pressure

Property must generate enough NOI to cover 104% debt service at the DSCR threshold (1.20–1.25). Fewer properties qualify.

SEVERITY: HIGH

Amplified Vacancy Exposure

Every vacant month is worse with higher payments. At 104% LTV, monthly burn rate during vacancy is 30–40% higher than conventional.

SEVERITY: HIGH

Interest Rate Sensitivity

Full leverage means 100% exposure to rate changes on refinance. No equity cushion to absorb rate increases.

SEVERITY: MEDIUM

Pipeline Dependency

Phase 3 and 4 depend on Phase 1 and 2 performing. If early properties underperform, the entire acquisition pipeline stalls.

SEVERITY: MEDIUM

Critical Mitigations

  • Section 8 tenants — guaranteed rent covers the vacancy risk (the #1 threat)
  • Occupied properties only — income from Day 1 prevents dead zones
  • Long DOM = negotiation leverage — properties sitting 300+ days have motivated sellers willing to accept below-ask
  • Seller credits — reduce effective cost even within 104% structure (e.g., 1409 Wentworth $25K credit)
  • Conservative property selection — only properties with achievable DSCR ≥ 1.25 post-negotiation

VII. Strategic Implications for TPJG

What Resasco Needs from Us

Service Details Revenue Opportunity
Buyer Representation Source and negotiate fourplex acquisitions — focus on occupied/turnkey properties with DSCR ≥ 1.20 COMMISSION
Tenant Placement Screen, show, lease execution for vacant units. Resasco explicitly willing to pay for this service. FEE INCOME
Section 8 Expertise Resasco wants TPJG to learn the Section 8 play. Opportunity to build Section 8 landlord services as a vertical. BUILD
Ongoing Property Search Perpetual acquisition cycle = ongoing deal flow. Phase 4 FHA recycling creates new purchase every 6 months. RECURRING
Property Management Referral At scale ($1M+ portfolio), investor will need PM. Referral opportunity or in-house capability. FUTURE

Long-Term Client Value

Resasco is not a one-transaction buyer. The 4-phase strategy creates a perpetual acquisition pipeline — a new property every 6–12 months for years. Each transaction = buyer commission + tenant placement fees + potential PM referral. Total lifetime client value could reach 6–10+ transactions across the next 3–5 years.

Disclaimer

This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Financing terms described are based on general market understanding and the buyer's stated strategy — actual loan products, rates, terms, LTV limits, and qualification requirements will vary by lender and are subject to change without notice. DSCR loan requirements, FHA eligibility rules, conventional loan limits, and Section 8 program details should be verified independently with appropriate lenders, HUD, and the Houston Housing Authority. The Property Joes Group provides real estate brokerage services and does not originate loans, provide mortgage advice, or guarantee financing availability. Buyer should consult with a mortgage broker, financial advisor, and/or CPA before making investment decisions.

Prepared by: The Property Joes Group | Keller Williams Memorial | Joseph@ThePropertyJoesGroup.com

Strategy Analysis v1.0 — Dr. Marc Resasco — March 2026

Glossary