Ep. 84 - Building Trust, Not Just Loans: Community Banking in Action

Deals don’t get done by accident; they get done with clarity, trust, and timely capital. We sit down with Armstrong Bank’s Alec Tahy to reveal how relationship banking unlocks real estate momentum across Northwest Arkansas, from multifamily value-add to ground-up construction and portfolio roll-ups. Alec shares his path from D1 golf to Walmart to community banking, and how competitive focus plus operator discipline translates into faster decisions, cleaner structures, and fewer surprises.

We pull back the curtain on underwriting: why a 1.25x DSCR still anchors approvals, how rising taxes and insurance should shape your proformas, and where banks will flex when assumptions are credible and experience is real. You’ll learn what to send first, rent rolls, personal financial statements, realistic expense loads, and how those documents inform terms, rates, and timelines. We also walk through credit committee flow, appraisal bottlenecks, and why construction draws can be a strategic advantage when the bank’s communication is tight, and treasury tools work from your phone.

The market pulse is clear: modest rate relief is nudging refinancing, GP/LP structures are making larger deals workable, and fundamentals across Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville remain resilient even as A-class supply tests absorption. Deposits matter, experience matters, and proactive prep matters most, especially for 2026. If you want better terms next year, start the relationship now, pressure-test your deals, and keep your financials current so you can move the moment a good asset hits.

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