Loans

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Real estate money and access to quick cash is the key for any real estate investor. Having cash to buy properties is the life blood of your investment business. But where does this money come from in the post-credit bubble market place?

Real estate investors are looking for better financing options as the old traditional sources of money are becoming more difficult to find and qualify for than in the past.

Here is a quick look at some of the traditional sources of real estate capital and the pros and cons of each and a new and better source of money in this market place. (more…)

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Getting a Commercial Mortgage is Tougher Today

We are, indeed, in the midst of a significant and severe credit crunch. Conventional lenders, such as banks, Wall Street investment houses and insurance companies have greatly curtailed their lending activity. Even the very best investors and developers are finding it hard to get projects funded.

The collateralized debt market has dried up. Few bond buyers are interested in mortgaged backed paper today. Big institutional lenders are finding it impossible to turn the mortgages they originate into cash. Put in simple terms; no mortgage buyers, no mortgage loans. (more…)

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Today’s high risk money lenders are mostly private lenders and small companies that specialize in making loans that the banks avoid. Some people call them hard money lenders, but regardless of the name that you use, you will find that there are many advantages to this unconventional source of financing, particularly if you are a real estate investor or rehabber. There are always profitable opportunities in the real estate market, but in order to take advantage of them, you must have a good source of funding. Let’s look at a few examples.

High risk loan lenders can help you buy property with “no money down”. You may have read a book or watched a video about buying property with no money down. You may have even tried a few deals. (more…)

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It’s no surprise that many individuals seeking personal loans to start a business or for personal needs sometimes have trouble getting such financing – And for a good reason. They often overlook one great source of personal loans – namely Private Lenders.

Private lenders are generally thought of as any person or entity that’s willing to lend funds that is not a bank or any other financial institution that accepts deposits. The list of sources could be any individual or group of individuals who use the excess funds they have available to make a wide variety of loans based upon their own preferences. (more…)

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When shopping for hard money loans online, there are certain things to look for and certain things to avoid. As with any internet transaction, when personal information is requested, the consumer needs to use caution.

The FTC says that con artists have “gone high-tech”. There are numerous reports from people who have been taken in. In many cases, alternatives to conventional financing are the best way to go. You just need to choose your lender carefully. Here, we hope to give you the information that you need to find a legitimate company to deal with.

Many of the companies that advertise hard money personal loans online are payday lenders. While the payday loan is not a true scam, the fees that the companies charge are equivalent to yearly interest rates in the double digits. This type of loan is not the right choice for anyone who has an option, but is definitely wrong for the real estate investor. If you are new to investing, looking to buy, build or flip a property, you should be looking for lenders that advertise rehab funding, construction loans or something similar.

Brokers are another group that advertises hard money loans online. If you use a broker, you are paying him or her to go out and find financing for you. (more…)

photo credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.comOne of the most prominent changes with every lender in today’s market are the stricter underwriting guidelines they are imposing on all their borrowers. Because of their previous lackadaisical approach, many lenders have found themselves in great trouble with many closing their doors and claiming bankruptcy. The lenders who are still in business now realize the importance of sound underwriting on all of the loans that come across their desk.

When a loan request is submitted to a lender, a loan processor is typically assigned to the loan to gather all of the necessary documents that the underwriter will need to evaluate the loan and to make sure the borrower will be able to make their payments and still have a reserve for emergencies. The documentation they will require is also required by the regulators that the banks have to answer to. Because of the mortgage crisis, regulators are running around as fast as they can and are extremely picky with what they need as documentation.

While this should have been happening over the past years, it has caused banks to reorganize their underwriting departments and request for more information than they need to ensure they will meet the regulators stringent requirements so they can keep lending. (more…)

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Believe it or not, hard money lenders want the same thing you want – a shot at a great investment. Remember: investing involves putting up your time and/or money with the intention of realizing a profitable return. When you keep this concept in mind, it’s astounding just how broad the investing arena actually is. High rise buildings, apartment complexes, condominiums and luxury office space can become a reality – not just a dream!

If, for example, your credit rating is bruised and you’re pressed for time, securing a hard money loan for a shot at a great commercial property – that’s investing. (more…)

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Getting a hard money loan with bad credit may be easier than getting a standard loan from a bank. It really depends on the individual situation and the lender. Most banks have raised the minimum required credit score for personal loans. If your score is low, you may still be able to get a mortgage for your primary dwelling from a regular bank, but if you are interested in real estate investing, rehabbing or flipping, your application will probably be denied.

For some hard money lenders bad credit is not an issue. It is their business. Some small companies and private individuals specialize in making high risk loans to property owners. The amount that a person can borrow is limited to the amount that the lender can expect to recoup in the case of foreclosure. These are risky deals for both the lender and the borrower, but sometimes it is the only option.

The best advice is to look at your situation carefully. Don’t be overly discouraged by low credit scores, but don’t go around putting in applications at every bank in town. Numerous denied applications will drive you score even lower. It makes you look desperate.

If you have been denied credit based on a low score, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report. (more…)

photo credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

You may be at the end of your rope financially if you have recently lost your job due to termination, layoff, or sickness that prevents you from working, or other reasons. The bills keep stacking up and yet you have no way to pay for things that you and your family need for everyday life. Perhaps you are the only one working in the household, and now that you have become unemployed, you are worried that you will not be able to feed your family or make your monthly housing payment.

Meet Living Expenses With Ease

An unemployment loan can be obtained to help meet your expenses while you either search for a new job or recuperate from illness. (more…)

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At first, hard money lenders may seem difficult to locate. However, you just need to know the right places to look. Professionals such as accountants, attorneys, and insurance agents have often have clients who are hard money lenders or more generically, private lenders. Especially, if they think they could profit by your endeavors, these professionals often will be eager to refer a source.

Settlement attorneys are often very knowledgeable of individuals in the field since they write loan documents for hard money lenders. Because of their familiarity with the work, attorneys may be hard money lenders themselves. (more…)