February 11, 2012

Finding Investors for Homes in Foreclosure

investing in foreclosures
Jonathan Heusman asked:


Finding investors for a home that is in foreclosure should not be difficult in theory – inexpensive prices, quick sales – why are investors so hesitant to invest in foreclosure properties? Here are some things that you should know when searching for investors to purchase your first investment foreclosure property. Keep in mind that investors come at a cost, the only investors that are free of interest rates, charges or fees are most often friends and family.

Consider searching for investors through a private investor site. These are available if you search the internet, and come at cheaper interest rates than the traditional methods. Many real estate professionals seeking investors are using the internet as a valuable tool to search for investors, join investor and investment pairing websites, this strong internet marketing campaign has been a success for many. Often, at minimal cost, full features are available to take advantage of the vastness of the internet.

A well designed site can not only attract real estate investors but also those sellers facing foreclosure. This powerful tool will create a strong internet marketing campaign and can demonstrate immense professional images for the business. Many small companies are choosing to create an internet presence and enhance the legitimacy of their companies.

Investing with family and friends in a rental property, a real-estate flip, or an investment for the future can be a great way to share the profits, and the work involved in the renovations. This way, profits are shared within a group of people that have ties with each other. Family investment groups are growing in popularity. Investing with family has the benefits of no interest charges, or fees if the buyer is borrowing the money – with the intention to repay within a set amount of time but can put strain upon the relationship should one side of the relationship not fulfill their end of the contract.

A more traditional method to finance your real estate investment, and finance a foreclosure is through a hard-money lender. The hard-money lender will generally charge a percentage of the amount borrowed – rather than an interest rate, or what is known as points. Six points would be six percent of the transaction, in where each percent represented one percent. Therefore, if you borrowed $100,000, at 6 points, that would be $6000. Many of these lenders will charge merely the interest and they get the principal back in full. Interest rates can be higher (up to twenty percent) and terms are shorter – but if you are looking for a guaranteed route to finance the foreclosed home, than this may be an option to consider.

All of these ways may yield positive outcomes for the investor, and the homeowner. It is important to maintain open, ethical, and legally binding contracts with investors. Ensure that investors are kept up to date on progress if they choose, and determine the type of relationship that will exist, as well as the input that will be allowed before any investment capital is accepted.



Caffeinated Content

Flipping Real Estate

Flip this house
Jeanette Fisher asked:


eginning real estate investors get started by flipping real estate to make quick cash. If you would like to make more money by investing in real estate, you need to know a few essentials.

What is the definition of real estate flipping?

Simple definition: Buying property and reselling quickly, hopefully for a great profit. Usually, people think of flipping houses, or the buying and selling of a home fast, as the only way to make money flipping real estate. However, some investors specialize in other types of real estate such as land or strip centers. Some confusion arises over the process of making money flipping property. People who specialize in finding bargain real estate, obtain a purchase contract, and then sell the contract before taking title to the property are known as "Bird Dogs." These beginning real estate investors get started with no money down by: Finding a seller under stress with a bargain property Securing a sales contract Selling their contract for roughly $500 to $5,000 to a seasoned real estate investor Isn't real estate flipping illegal? Flipping real estate isn't illegal.

However, many unscrupulous investors committed mortgage fraud to make fast money. Some of these investors, working with mortgage brokers and appraisers, resold houses to unqualified buyers inflating the property value and home buyer's qualifications. Often these home purchases had no money or little money down. When these new home owners defaulted on the mortgage payment, the mortgage lenders lost money because the house wasn't worth the inflated purchase price. To avoid legal problems in real estate flipping, don't commit mortgage fraud.

To make money real estate flipping:

1. Prepare your financing so you can close on a deal quickly.

2. Learn your market so you know what makes a good deal.

3. Find a bargain property owned by a seller under stress to sell.

4. Secure a purchase contract in your favor.

5. During escrow, plan your selling actions.

6. Close on the property on time.

7. Immediately set your selling plan into action. If the property needs fixing, be prepared to get this done right away.

8. Market your property to your target market. Don't just list the property and hope for the best.

9. Find a qualified buyer. Have a loan officer check to make sure your buyer meets all the mortgage requirements.

10. Stay legal.

Don't use an inflated appraisal. Don't gift your buyer the down payment. Don't help your buyer create false W2s, write phony credit letters, or prepare any false documents. You can pay many of your buyer's closing costs to make the purchase easier. You can make money flipping real estate.

Buy low, sell for full-market value, avoid mortgage fraud, and enjoy your profits! Copyright © Jeanette J. Fisher



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