Hard Money Loans

A $12 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission against National Foreclosure Relief Inc. A $60 million lawsuit was filed in October by California’s attorney general against US Loan Auditors. In Florida, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Peter James Porcelli II was sentenced to prison and hit with a $1.8 million judgment.

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Private loan money is most often referred to as hard money, and usually the loan comes from a source that specializes in structuring such loans. More often than not a hard money loan will consist of a first mortgage on a residence thus creating hard money residential loans. There are a number of identifying factors involved in private loan money that will be referred to as a hard money loan.

For instance, as mentioned it is usually a first mortgage. Because the borrower’s credit does not matter as much as the amount of equity in the property, a first will in effect prevent a possible loss of the entire property if, for instance, another loan is “ahead” of the hard money loan. The reason why the borrower’s credit does not matter much for private loan money is that the lender looks to the property for its security, and the lender is also being paid dearly for the chance that the lender is taking by basing all the money on the property value alone.

You see, another facet of a hard moneylender is the fact that they usually charge very high interest rates as well as high points. At times, if the property is secure enough, those high points will be rolled into the actual loan. Often the loan is not paid in the typical Principle + Interest (PI) but more than likely is interest only with a balloon at the end of the stated loan period. In this manner, in effect, the borrower is paying interest on interest, since points are interest, and since the mortgage may have been calculated including the points, then every payment the borrower makes, paying interest only, is actually interest on interest.

Generally, most hard moneylenders want a careful appraisal of the property. This is again used as part of the protection that the private loan money lender desires. The lender will look at the Loan to Value Ratio (LTV), which is the percentage amount that the loan will be against the current value of the property. For instance a 70/30 LTV on a property appraised at $100,000 means that the lender would lend $70,000 against that property.

Taking this example further, let’s assume that the hard money residential loan on the property is $70,000 and the deal will bring the lender 5 points at a 12% interest rate, payable interest only. The loan is due and payable in its entirety in 2 years.

5 points is equal to $3,500. ($70,000 X.05), and at 12% a year, the lender would receive payments of ($70,000 X.12 = $8,400 per year divided by 12 months= $700 per month) $700 each month for two years. Remember that points are collected at closing when the loan is actually made. Thus in interest only the lender will make $3,500 + $8,400 + $8,400 = $29,300 in just two years. Perhaps you can see why individuals liked to make hard money residential loans!

However, with property values falling so quickly many hard money lenders took quite a beating. With a loss of approximately 40% of the value originally appraised for, the lender now must also go through foreclosure, which is going to cost the lender at least $8,000, plus eviction proceedings costing about $1,000, and they still must bear the costs of repairs on the house which the evicted owner may have completely trashed, as well as any unpaid taxes.

Florida Home Loan Service can made your dreams of owning your own home become a reality. We offer the following options: Florida Rent to Own, Florida Lease Options, and Florida Owner Financing. You do not need good credit or a bank loan to become a home owner all you need is proof of income, and 3%-5% down payment.

At Florida Home Loan Service we find you that home that will just make your day all you have to do is call Suzie at 352-213-3424 and let us know what you kind of home are looking for and in which areas. Areas that we service in Florida, Alachua, Archer, Gainesville, Bronson, Chiefland, Cedar Key, Dunnellon, Ocala, Miami and Broward Counties.

Author: Suzie OConnor
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Excise Tax

Miami, United States (AHN) – Royal Caribbean has introduced the world’s largest cruise ships, Allure of the Seas, and its twin Oasis of the Seas, into Fort Lauderdale with great fanfare on Veteran’s Day. A flotilla of maritime escorts accompanied the $1.5 billion Allure with water-spurting fireboats and private watercraft as it made its U.S. debut while entering its new home, Port Everglades.

Hundreds of people waved American flags from shore as they greeted the 5,400-passenger vessel, which is 360-meter long, 65-meter high and can weigh 225,282 tons.

South Korea’s STX Finland Cruise shipyards built Allure in Finland. Its one-year old sister ship Oasis of the Seas was also built in Finland.

It took Allure nearly 13 days to finish its transatlantic voyage from Finland’s Turku to Florida.

Expressing her happiness on the ship’s successful arrival, Royal Caribbean Marketing Director Rebecca Barba said that her group was extremely proud of these two ships, which are the world’s largest cruise ships. “They are twins, sharing exactly the same size and design,” she added.

Allure has 16 decks, which is divided into seven neighborhoods. It has reproduced New York’s Central Park, a Coney Island-style Boardwalk, swimming pools with surf simulators, ice skating rinks, several amenities offering rock walls and a large green area full of fully grown trees. Among one of its 26 dining attractions is world’s first Starbucks coffeehouse at sea.

“It’s like being on seven different ships at once, and it’s so big you at times forget you’re at sea,” said Barba.

Barba said that the Royal Caribbean was optimistic of getting customers for the twin giant cruise ships despite the global financial crisis because they were offering luxury cruises at relatively affordable prices.

She added that the cheapest Allure package offers a week-long voyage for a person in just $899 and it offers 25 percent less per individual if it is a family of four. The Royal Loft Suite and other expensive packages cost around $15,609 per person for a week.

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Florida attorney David J. Stern laid off around 560 employees as his major clients abandoned him. Stern’s office is under investigation for allegedly fabricating documents in foreclosure cases. The move followed the termination of Stern’s law firm by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

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The Florida Office of Financial Regulation Friday seized Wakulla Bank. Later that day, Shoreline Bank was was shut down by the Washington Department of Financial Institutions. It was the second week in a row that the only two bank failures were handled by the two state regulators.

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It would be an understatement to say that the decline in the real estate market changed the lending environment. Lenders who used to allow stated income loans no longer offer them, or they may claim to offer them but decline 99% of the stated loan submissions offered. This is extremely bad for investors who have made their incomes solely from real estate investing, or other self employed endeavors.

Primarily because when they do their taxes they have a lot of items to deduct from their income, and so their tax returns do not effect the true gross income that they earn. W2 employees do not have this problem, as they are qualified based on their full gross income and even if they do write off their incomes, the tax returns are hardly ever requested when W2′s are provided.

A good Residential Hard Money Lender, understands this is the case for full time real estate investors, and they will not have much taxable income on purpose at the end of the tax year. Even if tax returns are requested, its just to verify that the investor really does what he said on the application provided, and not to calculate debt to income ratios.

Another benefit to obtaining a Residential Hard Money Loan is that the loan is based on the After Repair Value, and not the Purchase Price. With a conventional lender, it doesn’t matter if you are buying at 10% of value; they would still require a certain percentage down payment on that purchase price. In other words, conventional lending methods ignore the fact that you are getting the property at a deep discount.

When you obtain a mortgage with a Residential Hard Money Lender you can rest assured that the After Repair Value (ARV) is being considered in the transaction. In a lot of cases the deep discount an investor is getting will allow room for the lender to roll in closing costs, rehab costs, etc… This decreases the amount of capital that an investor has to put into their projects, and therefore leaves more capital available so that he can do more deals.

If you have a real estate investment in mind, and are concerned with minimizing risk, and maximizing return on investment, you should consider utilizing a Residential Hard Money Lender. Its easier to qualify, and they are more flexible on the structure of a transaction.

Are you an investor looking to minimize risk, and maximize ROI by partnering with an aggressive Residential Hard Money Lender? Does including closing costs, rehab costs, and basing your loan on After Repair Value sound appealing?

If so, you owe it to yourself to see if you too can qualify for an Investor Rehab Loan by visiting this website: http://www.residential-hard-money-lender.com/

Top 10 Luxury Home Markets To Watch for Price Increases or Reductions

The Unique Homes Magazine has listed 25 luxury home markets to watch in 2007 in its January issue. According to the Unique Homes report the 25 luxury markets will indicate where the luxury real estate market is heading to. These markets along with features that make them stand out from the rest are worth watching out for.

The following is a brief report on the top 10 luxury home markets to watch for price increases or reductions in 2007.

1. Annapolis, Maryland. The waterfront city located on Chesapeake Bay offers excellent boating and affordable prices compared to Washington’s luxury enclaves. With Washington and Baltimore within reasonable commute, this city is highly desirable.

2. Asheville, North Carolina. An eclectic ambiance and low-key lifestyle attracts people to Asheville which continues to remain one of the hottest places for luxury home buyers.

3. Aspen, Colorado. From a ski enclave this luxury market has grown into a platinum location. With its four-season appeal and restrictive zoning policies, Aspen is still a highly-sought after destination.

4. Atlanta, Georgia. The city offers several new upscale communities, numerous lifestyle amenities, retreats and much sought after waterfront luxury homes.

5. Austin, Texas. A strong real estate market that saw record gains in 2006, the reputable University of Texas, the scenic lakes and the great music attracts buyers to this hill country.

6. Bellevue/Medina, Washington. With prices going up at 28 percent, the market has still not peaked and several upscale neighborhoods are available at a lower price range when compared to other markets.

7. Beverly Hills, California. One of the top ranked luxury markets that is perpetually in demand, Beverly Hills continues to be untarnished and idolized as the Mecca for luxury. Hollywood Hills is currently a hot market for buyers.

8. Idaho. The growing resort markets in the state garner attention for the state that is making its presence felt in the luxury home market.

9. Jupiter, Florida. The boom has arrived here after Tiger Woods’ purchase of a 10-acre estate for $38 m. The market continues to surge on this exclusive island.

10. Manhattan Uptown, downtown, midtown. The luxury market is upbeat with record sales of more than $5 m in 2006 accelerated by Wall Streeters. Co-ops and town houses are favorites among buyers here.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home, condo or any other type of real estate in any of these markets, be sure to seek out the services of a real estate agent to advise you about current local market conditions.

The foreclosure market is an attractive option for buyers wanting to invest in real estate. A foreclosed property is a mortgaged property that has been taken over by the lender due to non-payment of the mortgage. The lender then sells the property in order to recover the money, often at below market prices. Foreclosed homes, condos and other properties can for make excellent investments and is a popular choice for those entering the real estate market.

The October 2006 issue of Business 2.0 Magazine ranks the top 10 foreclosure markets in the United States. Greeley in Colorado tops the list followed by Detroit in Michigan, Miami in Florida, Indianapolis in Indiana, Ft. Lauderdale in Florida, Denver in Colorado, Dayton in Ohio, Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, and Atlanta in Georgia.

Greeley, CO, has the largest number of foreclosure households in the country, with 0.59% of homes falling in the category, an increase by 14.7% since January 2006. The report holds aggressive residential development, risky underwriting practices and stagnant wages as the main causes.

Detroit, MI, stands next with 0.51% of the households in foreclosure. The badly performing auto industry and the resulting impact to autoworkers’ incomes has contributed to number of homes in foreclosure in this city.

Third on the list is Miami, FL, where 0.37% of the households are in foreclosure, a staggering 91% increase since January 2006. The report states a weakening economy, higher property insurance premiums, and rising energy and interest rates, as the reasons for this rapid increase.

The fourth among the top ten foreclosure markets is Indianapolis, IN. Although the foreclosure rates are slightly lower from last year, still the portion of households in foreclosure stands at 0.35%. Setbacks and layoffs in the city’s auto industry together with falling home prices have contributed to foreclosure rates in this city.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, stands fifth with 0.34% of households entering foreclosure, which is up by a whopping 118.5% since January 2006.

Denver (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dayton (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dallas (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures), Fort Worth (with 0.31% of households in foreclosure) and Atlanta (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures) round out the top 10 foreclosure markets.

If you are looking to invest in the foreclosure market, consult a real estate agent who can help you clinch the best deal on the foreclosure property of your choice.

In its 4th quarter report of 2006, the real estate information site estimates the home value trends for the U.S. and 75 metropolitan areas. According to the data from http://Zillow.com, home values are now declining slightly on a year-over-year basis for the first time in a decade after years of appreciation.

Zillow’s home value data goes back to 1997 and reveals the depreciation of home value rates at 0.48 % year-over-year at the national level. The depreciation in home value every quarter is at 4.77 %. Zillow’s appreciation rate is based on the value of all homes in an area, including those that were sold.

Although there is a fall in the over-all home price growth, areas such as Seattle and Portland are experiencing a surge in home values at good appreciation rates. Besides national home values, the report also presents comprehensive data on local market price growth and decline in 75 metropolitan areas. The Zillow report gives detailed data on home value changes for counties, cities, neighborhoods and ZIP codes in U.S.A.

The top 5 metro areas with the highest price growth, year-over-year, are:

1. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida, with an appreciation rate of 25.88 %
2. Yuma, Arizona, with an appreciation rate of 25.66 %
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with an appreciation rate of 21.24 %
4. Flagstaff, Arizona, with an appreciation rate of 19.02 %
5. Ocala, Florida with an appreciation rate of 17.56 %

The 5 metropolitan areas that have the most declining home values, year-over-year, are:

1. Panama City, Florida, with a depreciation rate of 11.84 %
2. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, California, with a depreciation rate of 11.35 %
3. Punta Gorda, Florida, with a depreciation rate of 9.23 %
4. Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, with a depreciation rate of 8.99 %
5. Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina, with a depreciation rate of 8.73 %

The Zillow national report also includes the top five most expensive and least expensive metro areas measured by the Zindex home value indicator.

The top 5 metro areas that are most expensive are:

1. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California at $684,459
2. Salinas, California at $654,503
3. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, California at $627,323
4. Honolulu, Hawaii at $626,452
5. Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, California at $545,409

The top 5 metro areas that are the least expensive are:

1. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL at $86,201
2. Peoria-Pekin, Illinois at $91,984
3. Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina at $96,508
4. Tulsa, Oklahoma at $97,186
5. Dayton-Springfield, Ohio at $103,729

Even within these markets, there are hot and cold housing segments of the community. Be sure to seek out the services of a local real estate agent, who can advise you about local market conditions that impact the price of homes, condos and other types of real estate.

Eager to know the top cites in America where one can safely invest? Here are the best real estate markets in the entire country according to a recent report from Business 2.0 Magazine. The November 2006 edition of the magazine lists the top ten cities that are ideal to buy a home. These are – Panama City and Vero Beach in Florida, Bridgeport in Connecticut, Lakeland in Florida, McAllen in Texas, San Luis Obispo in California, Wilmington in North Carolina, Manchester in New Hampshire, Fort Collins in Colorado and Atlanta in Georgia. The report cites the appreciation rates of home prices projected over a period of five years.

Florida enjoys the status of having three of the top four cities to invest in. Panama City, which tops the list of best places to buy real estate is expected to have a real estate appreciation of 72% over the next five years. Major real estate development projects such as the building of a new airport and low property prices are expected to boost the economy and the housing market.

Vero Beach, projected to have an appreciation of 64%, comes second for its excellent weather, low property taxes and a lower cost of living. Lakeland, with a 59% projected gain in home prices is a tempting option with homes selling for a fifth less than the national median price.

Buying a home in Bridgeport, CT is a bargain now with median home prices at a very low $280,000 compared to the rest of the Fairfield County. Home prices in McAllen, TX which holds the fifth place, are expected to soar by 57%.

It is estimated that homes in the McAllen, TX area may appreciate 57 percent with an increase in the median home price from $70,000 to $109,000.

Homeowners making an investment in San Luis Obispo, California, today, are expected to get a good appreciation (40%) on their homes over the next five years.

The median home price in Wilmington, NC is expected to increase to $297,000 by 2011, up from the current price of $217,000, an increase by 37%.

Manchester, NH, which has twice been rated as the ‘best place to live’ in America by Money Magazine, sits at eighth place with an expected appreciation of 35%.

Fort Collins and Atlanta follow in the ninth and tenth places of top cities for real estate investment in the USA. Fort Collins, one of the most popular cities in America, has been ranked as the ‘No.1 small city’ this year by Money Magazine. Recent price reductions in the housing market makes ‘now’ the best time to buy a home or condo in this city with an estimated property appreciation of 28%. Atlanta is poised for a significant appreciation too with an expected rise of up to 24% in home prices over the next five years.

So, if you are a prospective homebuyer set to take a plunge into any of the top ten real estate markets, it is the right time to enlist the services of a good real estate agent who can guide you through the complicated home buying process.