Real Estate & Financing — Used Strategically To Build Wealth
Whether it's your first house hack or your fifth investment property, I help you use financing strategically to move your portfolio forward.
Already pre-approved? Perfect — let's make sure it's actually structured around what you're trying to accomplish.
Who I Work With
Short-Term Rental Investors
DSCR and STR-specific underwriting that qualifies the property on what it earns — Airbnb and VRBO income included — not on a long-term lease comparable that undersells it.
House Hackers
Owner-occupant financing on 2-4 unit properties, structured so the rents work for you from day one — the kind of deal a generalist loan officer sees maybe once a year.
Equity Holders
Structuring how to access equity — cash-out, delayed financing, HELOC strategy — without derailing the plan you've already built.
What A Specialist Catches
Short-term rental and projected income structured to qualify — not thrown out because it doesn't fit a standard lease.
DSCR financing qualifies the property, not your tax returns — useful the moment you own more than one or two.
2-4 unit house hacks financed as owner-occupied when they qualify — a distinction a lot of loan officers get wrong.
Financing structured with your third and fourth deal in mind, not just the one in front of you.
Deal Examples
House Hack
STR Purchase
Delayed Financing
About
Amber Stout · St. Pete / Tampa
I didn't exactly stumble into finance — I went to school for it. But understanding it on paper and actually buying real estate, financing properties, dealing with lenders, and building a portfolio are two very different things.
Once I started investing myself, I realized how confusing mortgage financing can be — especially when the deal doesn't fit perfectly inside the traditional box. That's ultimately what pulled me into the mortgage business.
Today, I'm a mortgage broker and real estate investor who spends a lot of time helping people figure out how to structure the deal, not just how to get a mortgage. That might mean financing a short-term rental, house hacking a multifamily property, figuring out whether a DSCR loan makes more sense than conventional financing, or looking at a deal someone was already told they couldn't finance. And sometimes it means telling you the deal doesn't make sense — I'm not interested in forcing every scenario into a loan.
I look at mortgages from three sides: finance, lending, and real-world investing. So when you send me a property, my first question usually isn't "can we get this approved?" It's "what are you actually trying to accomplish here — and what's the smartest way to structure it?"
If you're buying your first home instead of an investment property, I still love that work too. Same philosophy: understand your options, make a smart decision, and don't feel like you're supposed to already know how any of this works.
"Not only is she the best lender in Pinellas and surrounding counties, but she's a great person." — Adam P., first-time buyer
Guides
For STR Investors
How to figure out which loan type actually fits your income, your occupancy plans, and your next move.
For House Hackers
How rental income counts toward qualifying, and what actually makes a deal pencil.
For The Pre-Approved
Yes — and you don't have to blow up your transaction to find out if it's worth it.
What Clients Say
STR / Mega Investor
"There was never any ambiguity throughout the process — she is a consummate professional."
— Andrew F.
DSCR / STR
"Worked extremely hard to make sure I got the best rate/deal possible."
— Joshua S.
Realtor · 200+ Transactions
"Some good, some bad, and some AMAZING, like Amber — always thinking a step ahead."
— Heather K.
Common Questions
A DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loan qualifies you based on the property's rental income instead of your personal income or tax returns. No W-2s, no personal debt-to-income ratio — the decision is based on whether the property pays for itself.
Yes. STR-specific underwriting can use projected or actual short-term rental income, rather than a long-term lease comparable that undervalues what the property actually earns.
House hacking a 2-4 unit property can qualify for owner-occupant financing with a meaningfully lower down payment than a standard investment property loan, since you're living in one unit while renting the others.
Often, yes — through a cash-out refinance, a delayed financing exception if you originally purchased in cash, or a HELOC, depending on the property and your goals. The right structure depends on whether you want to keep your existing rate, free up cash for another purchase, or both.
Depends on your income documentation, occupancy plans, and long-term strategy. Conventional looks at your personal DTI. Second-home offers better terms but has occupancy requirements. DSCR qualifies the property on its own income — often the right call when your tax returns don't tell the full story.
Yes, in most cases. Projected or existing rental income from the other units can count toward qualifying — often what makes a house hack pencil out when it wouldn't on your income alone. How much counts depends on the loan program and whether the property already has tenants.