Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services, Millbrae CA
Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services, Millbrae CA

Todd Wilson

Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services

About Us

I have been doing mortgages since 2001, surviving the crash of 2008 while starting a new hard money company in June 2007. During the crash, I lost pretty much everything, including going through foreclosure and bankruptcy.
This experience made me realize how many other people needed help but couldn't get it from "normal" lenders. This drove me to work hard and help as many people as I could.
Since the crash, I have helped hundreds of people get the loans they needed when others were telling them no. There is nothing quite like helping someone who really needs it, especially after others have told them it couldn't be done.
My main focus is to help my clients look for the best possible solution and to make sure it is a win-win for the borrower and the lender.

How We Got Started

After spending over 18 years in the mortgage industry and 12 years with a business partner at my last company, it was time to begin a new adventure and starting my own activity is what I decided to do.
Utilizing all the resources that I have built up over many years has made it possible to continue doing hard money loans while putting more focus on alternative lending options that make it possible to do mortgages that are larger than most hard money loans.

Products & Services
Alternative Mortgage Lending by Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services
For those who cannot get a bank loan, I specialize in helping you. This could be a hard money loan or it could be a different type of alternative l...
When you need to count on expertise, we're here to help. Todd Wilson - Golden Bear Financial offers free consultation calls to clients in and aroun...
Business purpose second mortgages can be a great way to get the cash you need for your business. It can be used to expand your business, handle bus...
Recommendations Given (14)
"Aaron goes the extra mile for his clients, making sure they get the best service possible and..." Read more "Aaron goes the extra mile for his clients, making sure they get the best service possible and find the home they are looking for."
"Robert helped me get my network set up, did it quickly and for a fair price. What more could you..." Read more "Robert helped me get my network set up, did it quickly and for a fair price. What more could you ask for? Of course, he also did it in a very professional manner and communicated clearly about it. "
Recent Activity

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on April 20, 2021
The PRO Act is horrible. There is legislation already in place that stipulates who is an employee and who is not. Further legislation on top of it is not necessary and is in fact a waste of taxpayer dollar (like much of the activity in our nation's capital).  The "B" part of the test is the... (more) The PRO Act is horrible. There is legislation already in place that stipulates who is an employee and who is not. Further legislation on top of it is not necessary and is in fact a waste of taxpayer dollar (like much of the activity in our nation's capital).  The "B" part of the test is the biggest part of the problem. It tells us that we cannot hire an independent contractor or freelancer unless they are performing work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business. This means that if a business has a temporary increase in work, they can't bring in outside help to take some of that work off their hands unless they add employees. This is even if they abide by the already extant rules regarding independent contractors vs. employees.  But don't forget that "C" has its problems too. It states that the worker must be customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed. Does that mean someone can't start a new business as a freelancer? It could be interpreted that way.  This is a bad deal overall.  Why can't lawmakers pass laws that address a single subject instead of trying to sneak other, often unrelated, items into the legislation so the proper attention is not paid to each part of a bill? 
1 Reply

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on April 01, 2021
Since there are already regulations on who is or is not an independent contractor, additional legislation to further regulate business is unnecessary and will only cause more problems for small business owners.  As an independent contractor myself, I like the freedom to choose how I do things... (more) Since there are already regulations on who is or is not an independent contractor, additional legislation to further regulate business is unnecessary and will only cause more problems for small business owners.  As an independent contractor myself, I like the freedom to choose how I do things and when I work, as well as what money goes where. If I had to be an employee, that freedom would go away.  Plus, my broker would then have to employ me and incur additional expenses related to work comp insurance, accounting and other administrative functions, thereby decreasing my income.  Overall, I would say the necessary legislation is already in place and we don't need another law to tighten the noose.
2 Replies

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on March 01, 2021
While I don't see any direct effect on my business, at least in the short term, increasing the minimum wage by such a large amount and not taking into account the negative effects of doing so is a huge mistake. Regardless of the fact that it is an increase over a few years, it will negatively... (more) While I don't see any direct effect on my business, at least in the short term, increasing the minimum wage by such a large amount and not taking into account the negative effects of doing so is a huge mistake. Regardless of the fact that it is an increase over a few years, it will negatively impact small businesses and it will effectively eliminate many jobs.  When I first entered the workforce as a college freshman, I had few marketable skills and was not worth much more than minimum wage. It was up to me to develop skills that would be  sufficient to cause an employer to be willing to pay me more than minimum wage. If I, and millions of other Americans, had not had the opportunity to start with an entry level position, I may not be where I am today. And it certainly would have been much harder to get there. At that time, I lived at home and didn't need a living wage. And I didn't deserve it either.  The other major problem with the increased minimum wage is how it is going to effect restaurants. That industry has been severely damaged by the shutdown and eliminating their exception to the minimum wage rules will cause further damage.  It will cause many small restaurants to close and will prevent other new ones from opening. Overall, this legislation will cause much more harm to small businesses than it will do to help employees. And if there are not as many employers willing and able to hire people, how is it going to lift more people out of poverty?

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on January 26, 2021
Widespread vaccinations will not have any direct impact on my business unless any clients have adverse reactions that impact their ability to do things. I am not looking for a PPP loan but I think that is much more important for overall economic health. (more) Widespread vaccinations will not have any direct impact on my business unless any clients have adverse reactions that impact their ability to do things. I am not looking for a PPP loan but I think that is much more important for overall economic health.

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on December 08, 2020
I am going to start a new business to educate people on credit so they don't have spend hundred (or even thousands) of dollars on credit repair. Plus, they will spend less to learn what to do and what not to do than they would ever spend on credit repair. (more) I am going to start a new business to educate people on credit so they don't have spend hundred (or even thousands) of dollars on credit repair. Plus, they will spend less to learn what to do and what not to do than they would ever spend on credit repair.

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on July 27, 2020
Most loan modification companies aren't in business anymore or are doing something else now. As you are probably aware, some of those companies took money without preforming the service.  Since then, laws have changed and loan modification companies are not allowed to collect any money up front.... (more) Most loan modification companies aren't in business anymore or are doing something else now. As you are probably aware, some of those companies took money without preforming the service.  Since then, laws have changed and loan modification companies are not allowed to collect any money up front. In fact, they can't charge you anything until they have gotten a modification offer from your lender and you have accepted it. (They have required disclosures with the exact language required on this.) Important things to know about modifications: 1) It is usually best to work directly with your lender. 2)  Put everything in writing even when you speak to your lender on the phone. Confirm it with an email. 3) If you send anything to the lender, get a receipt showing the got it. This includes emails and hard copies sent to them. 4) Don't send anything regular mail. Instead, send it certified or use a courier service like UPS or Fedex. If using a courier service, you can send it in a large box instead of an envelope. 5) If you are current on your mortgage and stop making payments in order to get a modification, your credit score and ability to get a mortgage in the future will be affected. 6) If you decide to stop making payments in spite of #1, don't spend the money. You may need it to pay your mortgage current. 7) Never pay anyone up front for modification services. If they accept it, they are breaking the law. 8) If you are over 62 years old and can't afford your mortgage, a reverse mortgage could be a solution. I could go on much longer but this should give you a good place to start. I hope this helps.

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on June 26, 2020
It is doubtful that it is your responsibility but it really depends on the terms of your lease. Even if you are responsible for maintaining the building, that doesn't normally include structural issues. The first thing I would do is review the lease to see what is your responsibility and what is... (more) It is doubtful that it is your responsibility but it really depends on the terms of your lease. Even if you are responsible for maintaining the building, that doesn't normally include structural issues. The first thing I would do is review the lease to see what is your responsibility and what is the landlord's. If there is anything ambiguous or uncertain, you may need to have an attorney look it over. 

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on February 25, 2020
As a lender, I can say there are a lot of things to look out for. Here are three of them: 1) Make sure you have the mortgage lined up before you start shopping for a home. If you fall in love with a home but you can't qualify for the loan, it wastes a lot of time and causes frustration.  2) Get... (more) As a lender, I can say there are a lot of things to look out for. Here are three of them: 1) Make sure you have the mortgage lined up before you start shopping for a home. If you fall in love with a home but you can't qualify for the loan, it wastes a lot of time and causes frustration.  2) Get exact numbers on the loan so that you know exactly how much your payments will be, what terms you are getting and how much you need to have for the down payment and closing costs.  3) Know how long your lender will need to close and what you can do to speed up the process. Ideally, you can provide your lender with income and asset documentation before you start shopping for a home. This saves time once you get an accepted offer. Additionally, make sure your loan officer and real estate agent are working together. If they aren't (like when one of them is trying to steer you away from the other) you could end up with a transaction that is not smooth. Obviously, there are more details of things to watch out for but if you do these, you will be on the right track.

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on February 14, 2020
I have experience using a few of the lead generation systems but none of them were productive enough to continue using them. The biggest problem aside from poor quality leads was that many leads get sold to multiple people.  As Mike Stover so accurately stated, the best method is to develop your... (more) I have experience using a few of the lead generation systems but none of them were productive enough to continue using them. The biggest problem aside from poor quality leads was that many leads get sold to multiple people.  As Mike Stover so accurately stated, the best method is to develop your own lead generation process because whether you are in mortgage or real estate, people selling leads can never qualify them as well as you can. And when you generate the lead, you aren't competing with 5 other guys (or more) for their business, hoping no one else outbids you for the business, whether by having a better offer or by lying about what they can do. The short answer is that I don't recommend lead generation sellers unless you are able to find something I have not seen which is a good, workable, productive system that gives you high-quality leads at a fair price without selling them to your competition.

Todd from Todd Wilson - Bay Area Financial Services Answered this on February 11, 2020
There is a lot of good data in previous answers but I thought it might be helpful to answer from the viewpoint of hard money loans and alternative lending options. While the time frames are a little longer to get loans done on commercial property, it is mostly due to the length of time it takes... (more) There is a lot of good data in previous answers but I thought it might be helpful to answer from the viewpoint of hard money loans and alternative lending options. While the time frames are a little longer to get loans done on commercial property, it is mostly due to the length of time it takes to get an appraisal. On residential property, the appraisal takes about 3-7 days on average but on commercial it usually takes about 2-3 weeks. Commercial property usually requires a higher down  payment and rates tend to be higher but in the alternative lending world, the difference isn’t as much as it is with typical bank loans. The other thing that comes as a surprise to people buying commercial property for the first time is that the cost of the appraisal is much higher than residential property, usually costing $2,500 and up. The important thing is to get the loan information before you get into contract to buy a property so you can be prepared.

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