Investment Criteria & Underwriting Standards
We publish our investment criteria openly because we believe sellers deserve to understand how their property will be evaluated before submitting an inquiry. There are no hidden formulas, no moving goalposts.
Transparent, Asset-Specific Evaluation
Our criteria are designed to identify properties where we can create value through rehabilitation, repositioning, or strategic hold — while offering the seller a fair, certain, and timely exit.
Green Lane Equities evaluates residential real estate across the full condition spectrum. We do not require properties to meet any minimum cosmetic or structural standard as a precondition for consideration — but our underwriting does apply specific filters to ensure that each acquisition is viable for our investment model.
Our criteria are not rigid eliminations. If your property falls outside a standard parameter, submit an inquiry regardless. We evaluate every situation individually and have structured creative deals in circumstances where a conventional offer was not the right fit for the seller.
The criteria below represent our primary acquisition targets. Properties that align with multiple criteria typically receive offers at the top of our range. Those that fall partially outside still merit a conversation.
What We Prioritize in an Acquisition Target
Asset Type
Single-family residences are our primary acquisition target, representing the majority of our portfolio activity. We also acquire small multifamily (2–4 units), condominiums, townhomes, and mobile homes on owned land.
We do not currently acquire commercial or industrial assets, vacant land, or large multifamily developments.
Value Range
We operate across a broad value spectrum. Our acquisition range begins at $50,000 for lower-cost markets and extends to $1.2M+ for select metropolitan assets where the deal structure merits it.
There is no hard ceiling. Larger transactions are evaluated case-by-case based on market, condition, and structure.
Property Condition
We acquire properties across the full condition spectrum — from move-in ready assets to properties requiring complete gut rehabilitation. Condition does not disqualify a property; it informs the offer.
Properties with environmental issues (lead, asbestos, mold) are evaluated with specialist consultation and are not automatically disqualified.
How We Assess and Manage Acquisition Risk
Our risk framework is designed to protect both the firm's capital and the seller's interests — we only close transactions where we are confident in our ability to execute the business plan.
Clear Title Priority
We prefer transactions with clear, insurable title. Properties with liens, judgments, or clouded title are not disqualifying — we work with title counsel to structure around encumbrances when the deal economics support it.
Absorption Rate Analysis
We evaluate submarket absorption rates before committing. Properties in markets with six or more months of inventory receive more conservative underwriting assumptions to account for extended hold periods.
Scope-to-Value Ratio
We apply a maximum rehabilitation budget relative to the as-repaired value of the property. When renovation costs approach or exceed a viable return threshold, we explore alternative structures rather than forcing a conventional offer.
Foundation & Systems Assessment
Structural and systems issues — foundation, roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical — are evaluated for cost and feasibility. These do not automatically exclude a property, but they significantly influence offer pricing.
Deal Evaluation at a Glance
The following table summarizes the primary parameters we apply when evaluating a potential acquisition. These represent targets, not hard requirements.
| Parameter | Our Standard & Rationale |
|---|---|
| Minimum ARV | $50,000 in most markets. Lower-value properties may not support the fixed costs of acquisition, rehabilitation, and resale without compressing margins beyond viability. |
| Maximum Offer | Typically 65–75% of as-repaired value, net of estimated rehabilitation costs. This range accounts for our cost of capital, carrying costs, selling costs, and required margin. |
| Closing Timeline | 10 days minimum, no maximum. We close on the seller's schedule — whether that is 10 days or 90 days. A delayed closing can often be structured with a larger earnest deposit. |
| Geographic Coverage | All 50 U.S. states. We maintain closing infrastructure in every state and do not restrict our activity to specific metropolitan areas or regions. |
| Deal Structure | All-cash is preferred. We also execute subject-to, seller finance, hybrid structures, and lease-option arrangements where they produce a better outcome for the seller. |
| Occupancy Status | Vacant, owner-occupied, and tenant-occupied properties are all eligible. Tenant-occupied acquisitions are subject to applicable state tenant protection laws. |
Submit for a Confidential Evaluation
If your property meets some or all of these criteria — or if you are unsure — submit an inquiry. We evaluate every property and respond within 24 business hours.