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Posts Tagged ‘real estate finance’

Hard Money Loans – How They Work

July 17th, 2009
by Morgan A. Scott

The most often asked question when dealing with San Diego Hard Money is how does this work. Private money is another term used when referring to hard money.

In this article you will learn about a San Diego hard money loan and the different aspects it takes to complete one. Refinance loans, development loans, purchase transactions and processing of the loan will be explained.

Typical ideas associated with a private money loan must be explained. The private loan must have a low LTV (loan to value) ratio. This is due to the basis of the loan being weighed upon the equity available for the property being promised as collateral.

Most of these loans are written for 65% LTV or lower, which means the loan amount must be 65% or less of the total value of the property. The property is going to have to be marketable. Some private lenders and investors will consider a property that has a low enough LTV even if it is in an area that is not as marketable if the risk is low enough.

Furthermore, the borrower who is taking the loan must be able to show the capacity and wherewithal to repay. Typically strong collateral, and a borrower’s ability to repay will justify making a hard money loan.

The type of transaction will govern the terms,as a result fees and rates will vary from transaction to transaction.

As a general rule, the rates are usually anywhere from 9 to 15% according to the risk of the loan, the type of property being used for collateral and the lien position. Unlike a bank loan, the terms for this type average from 1 to 3 years. However, the fees are double or even four times the fees charged for a typical loan.

Now that typical guidelines for private money have been explained, some different types of transactions will be explored.

1. Purchase Transactions – The purchase transaction loan will require the lender to check the purchase agreement very closely. This will go for the appraisal as well. The appraisal is the way the value is determined. The purchase agreement is the determination for the market and the foundation of the transaction.

Using the appraisal or the purchase price, the lower of the two will be the basis for the LTV and the loan amount. True value is normally the result of the price. Where a purchase is concerned, the price is the agreement reached by the buyer and the seller. Most lenders will evaluate purchases in this regard. In certain cases, equity consideration may be given for a discount in price as long as the borrower can prove an extreme discount has been made.

Another way that purchase loans differ from typical transactions is the borrower must set aside the down payment and fees into an escrow account.

2. Refinance Loans – In contrast to purchase loans, lenders are concerned primarily with the appraisal, existing liens and corresponding loan amount. Different than purchase transactions, refinance loans are typically written so that the fees are incorporated in to the loan amount. To clarify, the fees are added to any amount that the borrower needs to net after cash out and/or repayment of existing loans.

3. Development Loans – The construction loan or the development loan has three basic features. The LTV often is contingent upon the future value of the property. The funds are distributed according to a draw plan.

And last but not least, an account called an interest reserve account is opened for the money to be deposited for repayment during construction. This is what makes a development loan different than other private money loans.

Documentation will be required depending upon the loan that is being sought. Usually what will be required is the standard docs, while more specific information may be required. The standard package may include the title policy, appraisal, income documentation, borrower’s application, bank statements and the borrower’s credit report.

More specific documentation might include; purchase agreement, executive summary, construction breakdown, and draw schedule. With most private money loans you are usually looking at 7-14 business days from lender receipt of the entire loan package. These times may vary depending on the complexity of the transaction.

In the end, a San Diego hard money loan is the best way to get the money for a non-conventional undertaking in the least amount of time. Ideally this has given you a basic understanding about the workings of a hard money loan.

About the Author:

Morgan A. Scott Mortgage , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Reasons to Use San Diego Private Money

May 15th, 2009
by Morgan A. Scott

You may want to use San Diego Hard Money because a conventional loan through a bank is not available to you. A bank may not loan you the money for various reasons. They may have issue with the collateral or property; they may have concerns about your credit history.

Or maybe you are unable to provide adequate documentation according to the banks standards. Maybe you have the need for a bridge loan, have specific investment projects, or need money quickly. These all may be reasons you would obtain private financing.

10. Bank is unwilling to accept your property as collateral

There are essentially a number of reasons as to why a bank may not be willing to accept a property as a source of collateral. In particular, if a property has been designed for a specific purpose, banks are often reluctant to accept them. For example, these could include buildings such as care centers for the elderly, health and spa resorts or any other building where an appraiser has rated as being below average.

9. Poor credit history

Often times, you can you use San Diego Hard Money even though you have a troubled credit history.

Of course, this is not a rule which is set in stone but this does seem to be the way it usually works.

8. The bank needs more documentation

People who earn their income by means of investments, or even those who are self employed are often not able to provide all the documents which banks require in order to qualify for a loan.

Hard money lenders on the other hand, will often be willing to accept income tax returns or even bank statements, in order to determine whether or not your income is sufficient for being able to make repayments.

7. You need a rehab loan

For anyone needing a loan for the sole purpose of renovating an existing property, there’s a strong possibility that hard money financing will be made available to you.

In most cases, if the borrower can contribute a certain percentage of the money required, San Diego private lenders will agree to take on this type of situation.

6. Building on vacant land

Construction loans are a common use for San Diego private financing. However, in order to qualify, the owner of the land will be required to show proof of ownership, building permits, draw schedule, construction cost break down and etcetera. Providing they can meet these requirements, then in all likelihood they will be granted financing.

5. You need to make use of existing equity in order to obtain an additional property

San Diego hard money can be used to secure cash out on residential and commercial property. The typical closing time is anywhere from 7-14 days from the time a full package is received.

4. You have financed multiple properties but you wish to acquire additional properties with financing.

In many cases, banks often have limits in places as to the number of loans an investor can have at any given time, and in this case, an investor’s best choice is to apply for private money financing.

Unlike banks, private lenders will usually make funds available, providing of course that the borrower is able to show they have the ability to make repayments.

3. You lack sufficient funds to meet escrow time requirements for acquiring additional property.

Unlike banks, where loan applications can take ages to process, private lenders are for the most part able to make decisions in a fraction of the time banks take.

2. Bridge Financing

Of course, the reasons for requiring a bridge loan vary from one person to the next. For example, you may require some financial muscle in order to secure a lucrative real estate offer, or you may be encountering some financial difficulties with an existing business.

1. Limited time

In circumstances where time is of the essence, San Diego hard money can in most cases fund loans in seven to fourteen days. Of course, for many people, the is the most important key benefit.

About the Author:

Morgan A. Scott Mortgage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

San Diego Hard Money Top 10 FAQ’s

May 13th, 2009
by Morgan A. Scott

1. Just what is a San Diego hard money loan?

A hard money loan, also known as private money, is a loan that is funded by a private individual, entity, or institution.

They are typically secured by a strong equity position in the underlying piece of real estate used as collateral. They are usually written with a low loan-to-value (LTV).

2. Conventional loans vs. hard money loans, what is the distinction?

Conventional loans also know as bank loans are unwritten or evaluated by placing a significant emphasis on the borrower’s income and the borrowers credit history.

A borrowers income and credit history are still important considerations in creating a hard money loan. However, the most weight is given to the collateral, which is the equity in the underlying real estate.

In California (this may very state to state), the instrument by which a borrower pledges their property as collateral is called the Trust Deed.

It is the size of this collateral, pledged by use of the Trust Deed, that forms the biggest distinction between conventional bank loans and private money financing. The private money lender will require that there will be substantially higher collateral than federally underwritten banks.

3. Can you use hard money for loans on commercial and residential property?

Absolutely! Hard money can be used for any type real estate: single family homes, land, apartments, industrial buildings, office buildings, and retail stores.

The steps taken to make a loan on commercial or residential real estate are similar. The concepts of value and equity between the two are significantly different.

4. I have a bad credit history. Will I be able to qualify for a hard money loan in California?

In the majority of cases where borrowers have credit histories that are less than stellar, this fact alone will not prohibit the availability of private financing. Having said this, almost all private lenders will look at the reports of your credit history.

There are basically two reasons for this. First, they need to determine how much debt you are managing on a monthly basis.

Another reason a San Diego hard money lender will consider your credit history is to determine risk. This is similar to the purpose of a credit report review by a conventional lender. However, the private lender will give less overall weight to this consideration.

Usually, your qualification for a loan will hold if the collateral and income portions of your package are within guidelines.

5. Hard Money Loans: Are there a variety of different types of loans?

Commercial loans for purchase and renovation, scheduled new construction loans, single family loans for refinancing and rehabilitation, and raw land acquisition loans are just a small sampling of the scenarios where San Diego hard money can be used.

6. If I wanted to get a hard money loan in California what would I need to provide?

This question is two fold. The documentation varies depending on whether it is a residential or commercial loan.

A hard money lender underwriting residential real estate will usually ask for 1-2 years tax records, the last two month bank statements, a current appraisal, a completed application, and a three bureau credit report.

Commercial: Application, Executive Summary, Pro Forma, Appraisal, Principals Financials, 2 Years Proof of Income.

7. At what interest rate can I expect to borrow hard money in San Diego?

There really is no set answer for this question. The interest rate will differ from deal to deal. To illustrate this, commercial rates are often different from residential rates from the same lender.

The interest rate will also vary depending on the following; lien position, term, credit worthiness of the borrower and property condition. Generally speaking the interest rate could range anywhere from 9-16%.

8. What type of loan can I request?

San Diego hard money loans can be made fully amortized, as well as interest only, balloon loans.

9. How long will I have to repay my private financed loan?

The length of loan terms for private money loans are normally not as long as conventional loans. Every hard money lender will be different. Typical San Diego hard money loans are made from anywhere from one to five years.

10. Do San Diego hard money investors charge penalties for pre-payment?

This is an issue that is up for negotiation. It will not hurt to ask for terms that do not include a prepayment penalty. Each lender will consider this request in light of the overall strength of your loan package.

About the Author:

Morgan A. Scott Mortgage , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Info for the new Real estate investor

April 16th, 2009
by Doc Schmyz

So you decided to get into real estate investing.Good for you! While at first, real estate investing can seem a bit overwhelming, if you pay attention, you will be paid in rewards and dividends for years.

How does one start with the business of real estate investing? Let’s look at plans to get started buying and selling real estate property:

Every where you turn these days some one is a member of a Real Estate group. Find where they meet and be willing to ask the most basic of questions.

Most of these clubs are very open with new members or any one intrested in investing. So show up and mingle. Most investors love to share war stories or exchange information on purchases they have mad or services they have used.

Before actually buying any investment properties, beginning real estate investors should begin to put their organizations together by outlining a specific business plan. The plan should go over every step in the purchase of a property, from the marketing strategies on through the sale or leasing of a property.

At first you need to decide on what type of property to start with. If your goal is to find distressed houses then focus on those. If you want to deal with the condo market..then thats where you look. Keep in mind when you focus on one area you will become more understanding of what those types of property can be sold for, not to mention how much it cost to get them sale ready.

Begin to get together a group of contractors and sub-contractors who you can trust to work within your new system and according to your business plans and your budget.

If you will be working with “fixer-upper” houses, line up a plumber and an electrician, as well as heating and air-conditioning experts. Better yet, find a reliable “handyman” who is capable of doing many of the jobs needed in fixing up houses.

Find a good agent. THis is harder then you might think. You see most agents dont work well with investors. Why? Investors want the agent to do tons of work the normal buyer doesnt. Offers counter offers…spread sheets to show profits and losses..not to mention all the surrounding research on the sales in the area in the last 6-12 months. A good agent will do this. a good agent understand that they may sell you more then one house in a years time..and that means repeat business for the agent.

Exit Stratagy. How to unload your investment. think about how your going to sell it. are you listing it yourself?? Or useing the great agent you found. How long will you stick with a price before you lower it? These are things to make sure you have set up in your plan already.

Understand your going to make mistakes. We all do. the goal is to see them before they eat in to your profit.

Be efficent, and resourcefull. Keep your eye on your bottom line and you will grow a nice little investment business.

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz Investing , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Mortgage Refinance for 2009

April 16th, 2009
by Amanda Jackson

As Long-term rates have dropped to all time lows looking at Mortgage Refinance may be something in which you will want to pay attention. Make sure to take the appropriate steps and ask the usual questions to figure out if Refinancing makes sense. Try to do this without putting too much emphasis on the fact we are experiencing the lowest interest rates we have seen in a while.

Mortgage Refinance probably makes very little sense if you plan on moving or foresee paying off your loan within the next few years. Monthly bills won’t be around long enough to see the savings that would cover the costs. Refinancing makes sense if you are paying high interest rates, but as we have seen recently, that is usually not the case these days.

Deutsche Bank analyst Nishu Sood wrote in a report to clients on Tuesday, “There are too many factors working against lower rates, including the smaller stimulus this time in terms of payment reduction, falling home prices and tighter mortgage standards.” We are aware of the changing conditions in the U.S. Finance Market. This means uncertainty for people considering a Mortgage Refinance.

Change in restrictions has caused what could be a temporary decrease in lending. In January of 2009, Wall Street Analysts suggested the market for 2009 may show deeper losses, as last year’s ripple effect works its way through the U.S. We will also see to what degree the growing unemployment rate will affect both original loans and Mortgage Refinance in 2009.

The carryover from last year’s events will cause Lenders to become ever strict, making Mortgage Finance and its ease of access not as attainable for customers as previously witnessed. We will find out if Mortgage Refinance will be different based on payment history and equity with which to negotiate.

The $3.4 Trillion commercial market began to show its struggle in the fourth quarter of 2008 begging the question, “To what degree will this play a role in the Mortgage Refinance outlook for 2009?” According to the newest data from Deutsche Bank, delinquencies on commercial mortgages, that are packaged and sold as Bonds, nearly doubled during the past three months to about 1.2%. This represents nearly a third of the commercial real-estate debt market.

Discussion about investing money you would spend on a Mortgage Refinance rather than actually Refinancing is becoming a popular topic as stocks have gone down. There is an alternative being suggested; comparing the cost of refinancing that would go into the life of a 30 year loan compared to putting the same amount into a 30 year investment. An investment that shows a 9% growth rate on $2,000 could grow to an approximate $26,500 in 30 years. This is simply another option in which to take a look.

Today’s finance rates are subject to change at any time and as mentioned previously, without warning. Take a look at both options then make a decision based upon the reason for looking at a Mortgage Refinance in the first place. Try not to rush out and make a rash decision simply to beat the interest rates possibility of going back up, but don’t sit around and wait until it is too late if it truly turns out to be in your best interest to Refinance.

About the Author:

Amanda Jackson Mortgage , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New to RE investing?

April 15th, 2009
by Doc Schmyz

One of the best ways to get started with building your own personal wealth-building system is by investing in real estate. Becoming a real estate investor is a daunting task, but one that will, if operated efficiently, pay dividends forever.

How does one start with the business of real estate investing? Let’s look at plans to get started buying and selling real estate property:

Every where you turn these days some one is a member of a Real Estate group. Find where they meet and be willing to ask the most basic of questions.

People gathered together with like minds create a social atmosphere that motivates new investors to take action. Club members share ideas with other members, discussing what works and what does not work in real estate investing.

Before actually buying any investment properties, beginning real estate investors should begin to put their organizations together by outlining a specific business plan. The plan should go over every step in the purchase of a property, from the marketing strategies on through the sale or leasing of a property.

In the beginning it is important to decide what types of properties to focus on. If you wish to buy rental properties, then focus on those. If flipping houses is in your plans, then concentrate on those types of properties. This is important because it allows the new investor to become a specialist within that area. Becoming a specialist leads to fewer costly mistakes.

Ok now comes the fun part. you need to find the people that offer the skills you need to accomplish your plan. Contractors,handy men, sub-contractors etc. Finding the right people to make your team is the hardest part of this game. (I use the same people for the same job on EVERY property I buy)

Lets say you choose a “fixer” for your first project. Be ready to put on your team a contractor, a electrician, heating and AC guy..and of course a plumber. Now a word to the wise. IF you can find one…a GREAT handyman will be able to do all the above metioned and normally at a far cheaper cost.

Find a good agent. THis is harder then you might think. You see most agents dont work well with investors. Why? Investors want the agent to do tons of work the normal buyer doesnt. Offers counter offers…spread sheets to show profits and losses..not to mention all the surrounding research on the sales in the area in the last 6-12 months. A good agent will do this. a good agent understand that they may sell you more then one house in a years time..and that means repeat business for the agent.

Exit Stratagy. How to unload your investment. think about how your going to sell it. are you listing it yourself?? Or useing the great agent you found. How long will you stick with a price before you lower it? These are things to make sure you have set up in your plan already.

Are mistakes going to happen yes. They happen to every real estate investor..the trick is to learn how to spot them. the longer you hold on to a property the lower your profit.

Be resourcefull and pay attention to your bottom line. build a good team and you will have a nice profit at the end of every investment.

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz Investing , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

your different choices for Mortgage Refinance in 2009

April 13th, 2009
by Amanda Jackson

When looking at Mortgage Refinance there are quite a few details to which you will want to pay attention. It is very important to realize there are variations from one state to the next when it comes to interest rates, Loan to Value, supply vs. demand and these items will fluctuate without warning.

Mortgage Refinance probably makes very little sense if you plan on moving or foresee paying off your loan within the next few years. Monthly bills won’t be around long enough to see the savings that would cover the costs. Refinancing makes sense if you are paying high interest rates, but as we have seen recently, that is usually not the case these days.

Deutsche Bank analyst Nishu Sood wrote in a report to clients on Tuesday, “There are too many factors working against lower rates, including the smaller stimulus this time in terms of payment reduction, falling home prices and tighter mortgage standards.” We are aware of the changing conditions in the U.S. Finance Market. This means uncertainty for people considering a Mortgage Refinance.

Change in restrictions has caused what could be a temporary decrease in lending. In January of 2009, Wall Street Analysts suggested the market for 2009 may show deeper losses, as last year’s ripple effect works its way through the U.S. We will also see to what degree the growing unemployment rate will affect both original loans and Mortgage Refinance in 2009.

The carryover from last year’s events will cause Lenders to become ever strict, making Mortgage Finance and its ease of access not as attainable for customers as previously witnessed. At least with Mortgage Refinance, there will be payment history and equity to negotiate with. Whether it will make a difference, we will see.

We will also see to what degree the growing unemployment rate will affect both original loans and Mortgage Refinance in 2009. The outlook for the other leg of the real estate market: commercial properties, not looking any better as the $3.4 Trillion commercial market began to show its struggle in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Discussion about investing money you would spend on a Mortgage Refinance rather than actually Refinancing is becoming a popular topic as stocks have gone down. There is an alternative being suggested; comparing the cost of refinancing that would go into the life of a 30 year loan compared to putting the same amount into a 30 year investment. An investment that shows a 9% growth rate on $2,000 could grow to an approximate $26,500 in 30 years. This is simply another option in which to take a look.

Today’s finance rates are subject to change at any time and without warning. Take a look at all options before making a decision. Looking at a Mortgage Refinance can turn out to be a great idea, just try not to rush out and make a rash decision simply to beat the possibility of interest rates rising unexpectedly. But don’t sit around and wait until it is too late if it truly turns out to be in your best interest to Refinance.

About the Author:

Amanda Jackson Credit , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Mortgage Refinance for 2009

April 13th, 2009
by Amanda Jackson

When looking at Mortgage Refinance there are quite a few details to which you will want to pay attention. It is very important to realize there are variations from one state to the next when it comes to interest rates, Loan to Value, supply vs. demand and these items will fluctuate without warning.

Mortgage Refinance probably makes very little sense if you plan on moving or foresee paying off your loan within the next few years. Monthly bills won’t be around long enough to see the savings that would cover the costs. Refinancing makes sense if you are paying high interest rates, but as we have seen recently, that is usually not the case these days.

Deutsche Bank analyst Nishu Sood wrote in a report to clients on Tuesday, “There are too many factors working against lower rates, including the smaller stimulus this time in terms of payment reduction, falling home prices and tighter mortgage standards.” We are aware of the changing conditions in the U.S. Finance Market. This means uncertainty for people considering a Mortgage Refinance.

If the mess of 2008 wasn’t bad enough, the most current news on the Mortgage Finance Industry gets a little scarier with its predictions for 2009. On January 13, 2009 as Wall Street Analysts suggested a worsening of the market for 2009 with deeper losses, as last year’s tribulations work their way through the U.S. economy. This phenomenon will most definitely cause Lenders to become more stringent, making Mortgage Finance availability and affordability not as attainable for customers as previously experienced. Where does this leave customers looking for Mortgage Refinance?

The carryover from last year’s events will cause Lenders to become ever strict, making Mortgage Finance and its ease of access not as attainable for customers as previously witnessed. We will find out if Mortgage Refinance will be different based on payment history and equity with which to negotiate.

The $3.4 Trillion commercial market began to show its struggle in the fourth quarter of 2008 begging the question, “To what degree will this play a role in the Mortgage Refinance outlook for 2009?” According to the newest data from Deutsche Bank, delinquencies on commercial mortgages, that are packaged and sold as Bonds, nearly doubled during the past three months to about 1.2%. This represents nearly a third of the commercial real-estate debt market.

During these shaky financial times, there has been discussion about investing the money you would spend on a Mortgage Refinance rather than actually Refinancing. This suggestion was based on the comparison of the cost of refinancing being put into the life of a 30 year loan vs. putting that amount into an investment over 30 years. If you could get an investment that shows a 9% return on the $2,000 dollars then it would grow to approximately $26,500.

Today’s finance rates are subject to change at any time and as mentioned previously, without warning. Take a look at both options then make a decision based upon the reason for looking at a Mortgage Refinance in the first place. Try not to rush out and make a rash decision simply to beat the interest rates possibility of going back up, but don’t sit around and wait until it is too late if it truly turns out to be in your best interest to Refinance.

About the Author:

Matt Smith Credit , , , , , , , , , , , , ,