Sunday, August 5, 2018

Learn About Hard Money Loans Before You Take the Plunge

Are hard money loans too good to be true? Learn the truth about this often-misunderstood investment opportunity.

Are you a typical real estate investor seeking the best opportunity and the next best purchase? While years of experience often affect the pursuit and tactics used to find the next property, finding ways to finance your project is faced by beginner and professional alike.

On a rental property that you are analyzing to invest in, how you will be financing your investment is always on your mind. Covering your costs that come along with purchasing your investment property is another hot topic. When purchasing a rental property, hard money loans can be used to purchase the property. A little more due diligence and investigation is to be done before committing to using this type of loan to purchase your property.

Have you been wondering just what a hard money loan is? These loans are secured by real estate and the value of the investment property rather than the credit worthiness of the borrower. The term of these loans usually has a maximum of 12 months and have higher interest rates than traditional loans. The source of the funds for these loans is from private money lenders. When Should you Consider Obtaining a Hard Money Loan?

Hard money loans are perfect partners in certain situations. Some of these are:

· Turnaround Situations

· Short term financing

· A problem in your life has caused your credit to be “challenged”. If the investment property that you are seeking to invest in has substantial equity, this should overcome any credit challenge.

Brokers offer loans through private hard money lenders to real estate investors secured by one or more properties. Unlike banks, these lenders charge higher rates and fees but move much more quickly. Their main focus is the value of the collateral (property) for the loan. There is less focus on the borrower’s financial status and credit score. A typical hard money lender may be a mortgage broker with high net worth clients who will invest in the loans. Lenders have certain criteria when deciding if they will provide hard money loans.

Hard Money Lenders Differ from Each Other in a Multitude of Ways

Some of the aspects that different lenders look at include:

Deliverability of the loan, risk of loss based on the amount/underlying asset value, borrower strength, and what the borrowers repayment plan is. Then the hard money lender will look at the property itself including: the actual worth of the property, how much improvement is needed for the property and what will the actual value be after the improvements, how easy the property bill be to foreclose on if the borrower defaults, and how quickly will it be to sell the property in the market that it is located in should the borrower default.

Remember, real estate investing is risky. Explore all possibilities and get your ducks in order before proceeding.

Rejections come in all forms, but some of the main reasons lenders turn down a loan are:

· The loan is outside of the lender’s lending parameters

· The lender wishes not to lend to a particular borrower

· The loan requirements for a loan fall outside the lenders capital

Happy senior business man making his notes at work Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel: (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel: (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com

About the Author: Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: private hard money lender,owner occupied home loans,hard money loans,hard money loan

Saturday, August 4, 2018

How to Choose a Hard Money Lender

With today’s tight bank lending restrictions, you may not qualify for traditional financing and need to seek other avenues to finance your project. Regardless if you need capital for purchase or refinancing of either residential or commercial property, you may need a specialized approach—a hard money lender.

If typical mortgages cannot be secured, then a hard money bridge loan may be an alternative. These loans are secured by real estate, carry higher interest rates and are short-term in nature. Consider the following a checklist when choosing a hard money lender.

· Requires sufficient capital. The hard money loan company you want to work with must have enough capital to service multiple short-term and long-term loans at the same time. These loans run one to two years, although some loans may have terms up to seven years or longer.

· Proven track record. A veteran lender that has a proven track record who knows the complexity and difficulty to structure a hard money loan will put you at ease and make you feel more comfortable with the process.

· A diverse portfolio of lenders. When seeking out a hard money loan for your project, look for a lender with a deep bench of investors who are varied in projects that they finance and have the depth in net worth to create varied loan structure solutions. When you verify that the hard money lender has a deep portfolio of investors then this assures you more loan structure options.

· Shortened turnaround time. You have done your research, visited a number of properties and located your new project. Your offer to buy has been submitted and accepted. Now you need to finance the project. Time is of the essence and you need a hard money lender who can put together financing quickly. In narrowing your search for a lender, you need to discuss this with the lender upfront.

What Other Benefits are Available?

To improve your chances of investment success and continued training, lenders will have programs, software and tools they will offer with the loan to assure their investment is in good hands. Do not be afraid to ask what tools the lender is willing to provide. A reputable hard money lender will be invested in your success and, let’s face it, they do not want the property back.

Make your list of the pros and cons of each lender when making your final choice.

Now you have located your property, your offers been accepted, and you’ve spent time locating and narrowing down the lenders that you would like to use. The next step is to spend hours talking with varied lenders and contact the BBB. Find out which tools each lender will add in with the loan to help with your success. Make up your Pro and Con List. On your list, add the lenders capitalization, BBB ranking, do they offer financing in the state of project, provide tools over the competitor’s, and which one is eager to work with the type of project you are investing in. Now is the time to choose, finance your project and begin.

Technorati Tags: private hard money lender,owner occupied home loans,hard money loans,hard money loan

Friday, August 3, 2018

How do Hard Money Lenders Differ from Each Other?

Know your lending options so that you are educated on what to expect when you’re ready to obtain that first commercial loan. There are several things to consider when evaluating hard money lenders.

The following are the varying differences you will encounter when obtaining a commercial loan:

· What is the loan to value ratio of your project? If the ratio is high, the more cash that you will receive for your project.

· What is the minimum and maximum loan amount of the lender?

· Are the hard money lenders that you’re talking with direct lenders (funds in house) or are they a broker? Brokered loans can delay delivery unless dealing with agents that have an extensive rolodex.

· Is the lender local or what geographic region do they serve? Where is your project located?

· What are the closing costs and interest rate?

· Can they close the loan quickly? Are they responsive to you and your project?

· Is the lender trustworthy and experienced in the type of project you are seeking to fund?

When searching for hard money lenders, a Google search will produce hundreds of options. Be sure to look for the following:

Experience. The lender you are talking with should have plenty of experience in the real estate industry as well as experience in the niche industry of hard money loans. An experienced lender will have knowledge in the specifics of hard money loans. The experienced lender will also have the knowledge of procedures and regulations that must be followed which will simplify the process.

Licensed. A hard money lender should hold licenses with state and local real estate bureaus and associations. If the lenders originate consumer loans, then they should be registered with Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS).

Rates and Terms should be Competitive. Look out for lenders who charge interest rates that seem too good to be true. This may be indicators that the lender you are talking with or negotiating with is either unexperienced or untrustworthy.

Transparency is Key

Some lenders will use a bait and switch tactic. Published rates that are very low are often used to attract novice investors looking for the best deal. In all communications, a reputable hard money lender should be clear and upfront about rates, fees and terms.

Quick funding is one of the most common reasons that real estate investors choose to obtain capital from a lender specializing in hard money.

You locate the real estate you want to invest in, your offer is accepted, and now the clock runs, and time is of the essence. You may be choosing this type of lender because of the time-consuming process a conventional lender takes to approve a loan. Then, of course, there is the massive documentation that is needed with a conventional lender. Hard money lenders are known to deliver the loan quickly. As many an investor will tell you, if you do not get the loan funded quickly, you may very well lose the deal. If the lender you’re working with cannot fund the loan in an expeditious manner, you may want to seek capital elsewhere.

Technorati Tags: private hard money lender,owner occupied home loans,hard money loans,hard money loan

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Considering a Fix & Hold? Read What This Broker Says First

Broker Explains Why Arizona is Tops for Investment Properties

Most of the people we help at Level 4 Funding work in the fix-and-flip industry. They use hard money loans to purchase a property, make repairs, and get it back on the market quickly. We’ve recently interviewed several clients who do just this. However, hard money loans are also utilized by borrowers who need to move quickly in the market; particularly if they’re trying to grab up an investment property before someone else does. This unique angle is attractive to a different category of real estate investors; perhaps those who fix-and-flip, but also those who fix-and-hold in situations where a traditional bank loan won’t suffice. Realtor Chris Mendenhall of Harcourts Prime Properties spoke with us on this front and gave us a few insights for those hoping to make smart real estate investments.

Chris has Been in Real Estate Since 1987

A true veteran of the industry, Chris began his career as a real estate broker more than three decades ago. Although he works primarily in north Los Angeles County, he also serves Orange, San Diego, and Riverside Counties. Chris was working in lending during the 90s crash, helping buyers with their loan applications. “It was a tough time,” he says. “There were only 12,000 sales that year, in an area with 12,000 realtors.”

His Current Focus is on Asset-Based Auctions

Working with Harcourts Prime, Chris’ current focus is on asset-based auctions. He helps sellers get top dollar for their properties within a very short period of time and also gives buyers the chance to purchase property at public auction using a transparent process. Unlike other auctions, buyers can see everything from home inspections to pest inspections prior to making a bid. Despite the quick turnaround, Chris says most properties are grabbed before they make it to auction. Those that do land in the hands of trusted auctioneer Ben Brady, who has handled $4.5 million in properties over the past year alone.

Chris Says Arizona’s the Place to Be for Fix & Flips and Fix & Holds

One of the most recent deals that left Chris in awe was a 26-unit building in Phoenix, which was purchased by investors with the intent to flip and hold. “Mark changed their lives,” Chris says of Level 4 Funding partner Mark Gowlovech. “He helped them generate close to one million dollars in equity.” After a few rounds of funding, the property, which was purchased for next to nothing, now has a value of about $1.5 million and is filled with renters on month-to-month leases. When asked what he thinks of the industry, Chris compared the Arizona market to California. “Arizona’s a better place to do it,” he explained. “It’s easier to rent. The laws are more favorable.”

Focus on the Numbers if You Plan to Get into the Industry

Aside from working in Arizona over California, Chris gives investors some additional advice: “Identify a property that has the numbers. It’s all a numbers thing. Not, I like this color or I like this floorplan,” he explains. He also adds that working with someone like Mark is advantageous. “He has tools that really help his clients,” and ensures they’re making smart investment decisions.

Work with Chris or Learn More About Hard Money Loans

Chris says he often works business professionals who run into situations in which properties have to get to market quickly and the sale must be handled by a neutral third party, which is quite common when it comes to the legal realm, especially family law. Harcourts Prime Properties is only in California thus far, with plans to expand across the US in the near future. If you’d like to connect with him, you can visit his LinkedIn profile, follow him on Facebook, or visit his site ChrisMendenhall.HarcourtsPrime.com.

Level 4 Funding, on the other hand, helps people in California, Arizona, and Texas. If you need funding for a project, such as a multi-family dwelling or general fix-and-flip, and a traditional bank loan isn’t a viable option, learn more about how we can assist you.

Technorati Tags: fix and flip,hard money loan,hard money loans,hard money lender

Here’s What it Takes to Be a Rebel Rehabber/ Fix & Flip Pro

Curious what it takes to be a rebel rehabber? At Level 4 Funding, we have the pleasure of helping some amazing people who work in the fix and flip business and sometimes they’re kind enough to share their stories with us. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Yvette Stevens of Miami Beach Fix & Flip, and she not only gave us her personal story, but some epic tips for those of you who are interested in becoming a house flipper as well.

Yvette Always had a Fascination with Finance and Homes

While she may not have known it at the time, Yvette was being primed for the fix and flip business from an early age. Growing up in Chicago, she often visited her father’s construction sites and fell in love. It wasn’t long before she was begging her parents to take her on tours of the city, so she could soak up the architecture and imagine what it would be like to create similar homes. While other kids were nagging their parents for spending cash, Yvette was happily balancing her mother’s checkbook and paying the household bills. It’s no surprise, then, that when it was time for Yvette to choose a career, she jumped headfirst into lending.

One of Yvette’s current projects: completed stock plan, a 2,721-square-foot beauty

She Decided to Kiss the Corporate Ceiling Goodbye

Although Yvette loved many aspects of her career, particularly reading the plans that came in with loan applications, she wasn’t content to sit still. “Corporate America has a ceiling,” she says, “especially for women.” She rebelled. Using her expertise in both construction and lending, Yvette began transitioning into development in 2005, building homes from the ground up.

The Market Crash Left Her with “Beans”

“Real estate goes in ten-year cycles,” she says. The money, mortgages, real estate, and politics are all tied together, resulting in regular shifts. This, she says, is also the cause of the “steak and beans” lending cycle. During lean times, Yvette has been able to refocus on her career in finance, while searching for development opportunities when the market has been good. Like many others, the crash of 2008 hit Yvette hard. She was working on building an entire subdivision that September, but she managed to climb back up out of it and now does fix-and-flip work too.

When Choosing Fix-and-Flip Properties, Yvette Goes for a Blank Slate

Every fix-and-flip pro has a specialty. For Yvette, her ideal property is one she can tear down to the studs, simply because she loves having a blank slate to work with. “The uglier they are, the more we like them,” she says. Her current project is an older home in a historic district, which comes with rigid requirements for what can be done to the outside of the home, but she doesn’t mind at all. “Construction feeds my creative side,” she adds. Her primary focus is Florida these days, but Yvette researches various markets and finds new opportunities all over the country.

Yvette Offers a Wealth of Advice for Potential Fix-and-Flippers

“It’s not that easy,” she says. “People think they’re going to jump in and make money,” but there’s so much more involved. You have to “live, breathe, and eat real estate.”

“You’ve gotta have some cash.” Even if you get 100%, you’ll need to have money set aside for things like closing and emergencies.

“Look at it like a line of credit.” Lenders look for 20% verified liquid assets in order to ensure the borrower can finish the project. “Be prepared. Everybody wants something for nothing these days, but it just doesn’t work that way.”

“Learn, learn, learn before you earn.” Research your market; don’t jump into it. Get a good understanding of how credit and assets work. Learn about the business and concentrate on a market. Yvette’s a fan of BiggerPockets.com and points out that newcomers may benefit from the free information and tools the site offers, like fix-and-flip calculators.

“Make a lot of offers. Keep throwing them up against the wall until one sticks.” Resilience is paramount because you’ll get a lot of rejections before you find one that’s really a great deal you can work with.

“Love what you do. If it’s not fun, you’re not going to be successful.” There will be a lot of ups and downs when you do home rehabs. Enjoying what you do will keep you motivated and on your toes, even when things are difficult.

Learn More

If you’d like to connect with Yvette, head over to her LinkedIn profile and say “Hello.” We’ll be covering the stories of other Level 4 Funding clients as well, so pop back over soon for the next installment. You can also reach out to us directly if you’re interested in financing your next fix-and-flip with a hard money loan.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Owner Occupied Borrowers Can Get a Private Hard Money Loan From Lenders

Welcome we offer Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans in Arizona up to 80% LTV. Our Arizona owner occupied hard money loans program makes it easy for you to get the new home you need despite not having credit, having bad credit, or even if you’re not from the United States. Owner occupied loans have easier requirements than investor loans and can even benefit from our cross collateral 100% LTV loan option.

Owner occupied hard money loans are also considered Principle Residence Loans, alternative financing, and private money loans.

We continuously stay up to date on all regulation required to offer owner occupied hard money loans.

Poor Credit, BK, Foreclosure, TIN Numbers, Self Employed YES we can!

No Up-Front Fees and No Cost to Apply.

Quick and simple to Apply for a Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan

Reasons Why Borrowers Use Owner Occupied Loans using Private Money

Bad credit

Hard to prove income

Dealing with a problem property

Cannot qualify for conventional or FHA/VA financing

Common Uses Of Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loans Arizona

Buying first or second home

Refinance an existing loan

Cash out for repairs or remodeling

Cash out for debt consolidation

Hard Money Owner Occupied Loan Program Options

100% FINANCING AVAILABLE if the borrower has another property that is free and clear or has a small mortgage in relation to value (substantial equity) to pledge as additional collateral.

We are a Private Hard Money Lender in Arizona, making real estate loans to both Investors & Owner Occupants in Arizona.

NO PRE-PAYMENT PENALTY

We have no pre-payment penalties on our loans.

PURCHASE - REFINANCE

Down payment: 20-30%

Can accept co signers

Allow seller carry back for the Down Payment

Up to 70% or 80% of appraised value

Up to 100% financing with a 2nd free and clear property.

Interest Rates from 9.5% for Owner Occupied Private Hard Money in Arizona.

Requirements for Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans

Income verified – 3 months banks statements or tax return.

BK, Foreclosure, INN, Self Employed YES we can!

Apply for an Owner Occupied Hard Money Loan

If you are interested to see if you qualify for an owner occupied hard money loan in Arizona, give Jamie a call today at 623-582-4444 or fill out our loan application to get started.

What is an Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan?

These types of loans are considered consumer loans. This means that they are for the individual home owner not an investor or corporation. These loans are for borrowers who will live in the home as their primary residence home. These are loans where the borrow will use the funds for consumer purposes, such as paying down debt, buying a boat, debt consolidation or paying a tax lien. The funds are going to be used to help the consumer. When you are applying for a consumer Private Hard Money home loan there are a lot of requirements that the lender must do to make sure that the borrower fits the loan. These are recent requirements, but the main requirement is that the Private Hard Money Lender Lending for an Owner Occupied Homes needs to make sure that the borrower can make the payments. They call this verifying the ability to pay the loan. Since this a Private Loan, these requirements are easier and more relaxed that the traditional lender. Additionally, Arizona Private Hard Money for Owner Occupied Loans usually have a lower credit requirement. Another requirement is that the loans must be ‘fully amortized over 30 years’ and cannot have a balloon payment. The advantages of a Private Hard Money Lender are that the loan is completed quickly, and the borrower can move fast. Typically, the lender is private individual that will look at the property and make a quick decision. Rates on the loan are higher that a traditional loan, but usually range from 6-12%.

A few other reasons for a Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Consumer Loan:

Self-employed

Trouble documenting income

Inconsistent income history

Credit issues due to a recent loan modification, short sale or foreclosure

Bankruptcy

Client already owns the home and needs to refinance, the purpose is consumer in nature, and there’s no purchase component

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Private Hard Money for Owner Occupied Borrowers in Phoenix

Welcome we offer Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans in Phoenix up to 80% LTV.

Our Phoenix owner occupied hard money loans program makes it easy for you to get the new home you need despite not having credit, having bad credit, or even if you’re not from the United States. Owner occupied loans have easier requirements than investor loans and can even benefit from our cross collateral 100% LTV loan option.

Owner occupied hard money loans are also considered Principle Residence Loans, alternative financing, and private money loans.

We continuously stay up to date on all regulation required to offer owner occupied hard money loans.

Poor Credit, BK, Foreclosure, TIN Numbers, Self Employed YES we can!

No Up-Front Fees and No Cost to Apply.

Quick and simple to Apply for a Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan

Reasons Why Borrowers Use Owner Occupied Loans using Private Money

Bad credit

Hard to prove income

Dealing with a problem property

Cannot qualify for conventional or FHA/VA financing

Common Uses Of Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loans Phoenix

Buying first or second home

Refinance an existing loan

Cash out for repairs or remodeling

Cash out for debt consolidation

Hard Money Owner Occupied Loan Program Options

100% FINANCING AVAILABLE if the borrower has another property that is free and clear or has a small mortgage in relation to value (substantial equity) to pledge as additional collateral.

We are a Private Hard Money Lender in Phoenix, making real estate loans to both Investors & Owner Occupants in Phoenix.

NO PRE-PAYMENT PENALTY

We have no pre-payment penalties on our loans.

PURCHASE - REFINANCE

Down payment: 20-30%

Can accept co signers

Allow seller carry back for the Down Payment

Up to 70% or 80% of appraised value

Up to 100% financing with a 2nd free and clear property.

Interest Rates from 9.5% for Owner Occupied Private Hard Money in .Phoenix

Requirements for Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Loans

Income verified – 3 months banks statements or tax return.

BK, Foreclosure, INN, Self Employed YES we can!

Apply for an Owner Occupied Hard Money Loan

If you are interested to see if you qualify for an owner occupied hard money loan in Phoenix, give Jamie a call today at 623-582-4444 or fill out our loan application to get started.

What is an Owner Occupied Private Hard Money Loan?

These types of loans are considered consumer loans. This means that they are for the individual home owner not an investor or corporation. These loans are for borrowers who will live in the home as their primary residence home. These are loans where the borrow will use the funds for consumer purposes, such as paying down debt, buying a boat, debt consolidation or paying a tax lien. The funds are going to be used to help the consumer. When you are applying for a consumer Private Hard Money home loan there are a lot of requirements that the lender must do to make sure that the borrower fits the loan. These are recent requirements, but the main requirement is that the Private Hard Money Lender Lending for an Owner Occupied Homes needs to make sure that the borrower can make the payments. They call this verifying the ability to pay the loan. Since this a Private Loan, these requirements are easier and more relaxed that the traditional lender. Additionally, Phoenix Private Hard Money for Owner Occupied Loans usually have a lower credit requirement. Another requirement is that the loans must be ‘fully amortized over 30 years’ and cannot have a balloon payment. The advantages of a Private Hard Money Lender are that the loan is completed quickly, and the borrower can move fast. Typically, the lender is private individual that will look at the property and make a quick decision. Rates on the loan are higher that a traditional loan, but usually range from 6-12%.

A few other reasons for a Phoenix Private Hard Money Owner Occupied Consumer Loan:

Self-employed

Trouble documenting income

Inconsistent income history

Credit issues due to a recent loan modification, short sale or foreclosure

Bankruptcy

Client already owns the home and needs to refinance, the purpose is consumer in nature, and there’s no purchase component.