In today’s financing environment, money talks now more than ever. If you’re looking to buy or build anything, if you don’t have it, you probably won’t get a loan. Years ago, you used to be able to get high Loan To Value (LTV) loans with minimal down payments, which often was borrowed from the FRP Express (Friends, Relatives and People that Love You) or from home equity loans and other sources. While this is not illegal by any means, underwriters want to see your OWN sweat equity and not someone else’s. You might think “My home equity IS my own sweat equity!” This is true, however, that is also a loan and is has to be paid back. This ends up being looked at as a Combined Loan To Value (CLTV) and not just what the bank is lending.