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Truss Talk
Real strategies for self-employed borrowers, real estate investors, and homeowners looking to unlock their equity. Hosted by the team at Truss Financial Group, each episode breaks down the lending programs, market shifts, and financial tactics that traditional banks won't tell you about — from DSCR and bank statement loans to HELOCs, reverse mortgages, and retirement-smart financing options for seniors. No fluff. No jargon walls. Just the insights that move the needle.
All Episodes
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Episode 31: Insurance, Taxes, and HOA Fees: The Hidden Costs That Kill DSCR Deals
You ran the math on a rental property, the rent easily covers the mortgage, and the deal looks profitable on paper. But right before closing, your lender turns around and denies your Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loan. What went wrong? In this episode of Truss Talk by The Truss Financial Podcast, Jeff Miller (CEO) and Jason Nichols (CMO) expose the three hidden expense traps that sabotage real estate investor deals at the finish line: property taxes, insurance premiums, and HOA dues. Discover why comparing rental income to just your mortgage principal and interest (P&I) is a recipe for denial—and how underwriters actually calculate your true debt coverage using full PITIA (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, and Association dues). Before you make an offer or put earnest money at risk, tune in to learn the 4-step pre-offer due diligence framework that protects your cash flow and guarantees your DSCR deal qualifies from day one. In this episode, you’ll discover: The PITIA Disconnect: Why lenders underwrite rental cash flow against total housing expenses (PITIA) rather than just principal and interest (P&I). Property Tax Surprises: How regional tax rates (like 2.5% effective tax rates in Texas vs. California) can turn a 1.25 DSCR deal into an unqualifying 0.95 ratio. The 2026 Insurance Trap: Navigating rising landlord policy costs, FEMA flood zone mandates, and western wildfire risk designations that spike annual premiums. HOA & Special Assessment Pitfalls: Why lower condo purchase prices often hide deal-killing HOA dues and unannounced capital improvement assessments. Get in Touch with Truss Financial Group: Evaluating a rental deal and want to verify your DSCR calculation using real underwriting numbers? Connect with our team to run your deal with complete transparency with zero hard credit pulls and no obligation: Toll-Free Phone: +1 888-878-7715 Website: trussfinancialgroup.com Fill the form for us to contact you: trussfinancialgroup.com/contact.png)
EPISODE 30: Why Your CPA and Mortgage Lender May Disagree About Your Income
Have you ever sat down with your CPA, celebrated a brilliant tax strategy that saved you thousands, and then walked into a mortgage bank only to be told you don't make enough money to qualify? It’s one of the most frustrating experiences for self-employed business owners and real estate investors and it happens every day. In this episode of The Truss Talk owned by Truss Financial Group, Jeff Miller (CEO) and Jason Nichols (CMO) explain why your CPA and your mortgage underwriter look at the exact same financial documents and arrive at radically different numbers. They break down the fundamental conflict between minimizing tax liability and demonstrating qualifying income, reveal non-cash "addbacks" like depreciation that can restore your borrowing power, and outline how Non-QM products (like Bank Statement and DSCR loans) solve the write-off paradox. Before you file your next tax return or apply for a mortgage, tune in to learn how to align your CPA’s tax strategy with your lender’s underwriting requirements so you never get caught off guard. Self-employed or investing in real estate and want to see how a specialized lender evaluates your true qualifying income? Connect with our team to explore your options without affecting your credit score: Call us at : +1 888-878-7715 Website: trussfinancialgroup.com Fill the form at: trussfinancialgroup.com/contact.png)
Episode 29: Can You Get a HELOC If You Are Self-Employed?
If you're self-employed, tapping into your home equity through a traditional retail bank often feels impossible. You’ve built significant equity in your home, but the moment you hand over your tax returns, a traditional underwriter penalizes you for legal write-offs, averages down your growth, and declares your cash flow "insufficient." In this episode of The Truss Financial Podcast, Jeff Miller (CEO) and Jason Nichols (CMO) explain how self-employed entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business owners can bypass the traditional tax return trap. Discover how Bank Statement HELOCs allow you to qualify based on 12 months of actual bank deposits rather than taxable net income, how no-appraisal options accelerate your timeline, and what equity and credit score benchmarks you need to unlock your home's value on your terms. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The Write-Off Penalty: Why traditional bank underwriting treats legal tax deductions as lost income and how Non-QM options fix it. 2. The Growth Trap: How traditional two-year tax return averaging punishes expanding businesses and holds back growing income. 3. Bank Statement Qualification: How to use 12 months of business or personal bank statements to prove your real purchasing power. 4. No-Appraisal Options: Streamlining your application with Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) to bypass physical appraiser walkthroughs. 5. Key Qualification Targets: The ideal credit scores (680+ base, 720+ for optimal rates) and equity thresholds (at least 20% remaining equity) needed for approval. 6. Proactive Financial Defense: Why the best time to open a line of credit is while your cash flow is strong—long before an emergency hits. Get in Touch with Truss Financial Group Self-employed and ready to unlock your home equity without showing tax returns? Connect with our team to explore your bank statement HELOC options with zero pressure and no impact on your credit score: Call us at: +1 888-878-7715 Contact us at: Trussfinancialgroup.com/contact Read and Learn more about HELOCs: Trussfinancialgroup.com/blog
EPISODE 28: HECM vs Proprietary Reverse Mortgage: Which One Fits Higher-Value Homes?
In this episode of The Truss Talk by Truss Financial Group, Jeff Miller (CEO) and Jason Nichols (CMO) demystify high-net-worth equity extraction. They compare the traditional HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) against private Proprietary (Jumbo) Reverse Mortgages, exposing how FHA lending caps penalize high-value property owners and how proprietary programs unlock millions in hidden equity. Discover how homeowners as young as age 55 can access custom jumbo reverse loans, HELOC for Seniors retain estate flexibility, and tap into tax-free cash flow without liquidating stock portfolios or selling their primary residence. In this episode, you’ll discover: The HECM Lending Cap: Why the FHA max claim limit caps calculation values and penalizes homes worth over $1.2M. The Proprietary (Jumbo) Advantage: How private reverse mortgages evaluate full property valuations ($2M, $3M, $4M+) to yield double or triple the accessible cash. Early Equity Access (Age 55+): Why proprietary loans allow near-retirees to tap equity 7 years earlier than standard HECM age limits allow. Federal vs. Private Trade-Offs: Evaluating cost structures, interest rates, and non-recourse protections across both loan types. Strategic Wealth Preservation: How affluent retirees use jumbo equity lines to avoid capital gains taxes, fund long-term care, and protect investment portfolios. Get in Touch with Truss Financial Group: Own a high-value property and want to compare side-by-side HECM vs. Proprietary loan calculations? Connect with our team to analyze your estate equity with zero hard credit pulls and no obligation: Call us at Toll-Free Phone: (888) 878-7715 Website: trussfinancialgroup.com Fill the contact form at: trussfinancialgroup.com/contact