Hard Money Loans

Real Estate Investing is better today than it has ever been. Imagine getting a property for less than half of what it was valued at 10 months ago. The problem is getting the cash to close the properties. That is why investors have and always will rely upon hard money loans to get real estate deals done.

A hard money loan is a loan based on the after repair value of the property. The loan is not based on the actual credit worthiness of the borrower. If the deal is good enough, you can potentially get a real estate deal done with no money out of pocket.

When you are working with a short sale or bank owned property, you must present a proof of funds letter. Proof of funds shows your ability to actually close on the property if the bank agrees to the price. Hard money lenders are able to provide you proof of funds letters to allow your deals to get negotiated.

Now the rates are not the lowest rates available for real estate purchases. A typical hard money loan will require you to pay 5 points upfront and pay back the money borrowed at a rate of 15%. The 5 points means you pay 5% of the total loan at the time you borrow the money. For example: a $100,000 loan would require you put down $5,000. This typically is the amount of money that the actual lender will make on the loan as the servicer of the loan.

The lack of credit available for real estate in today’s credit crunch makes hard money loans even more sensible. Yes, the rate is high as well as the points. If you are going to make money on the deal, then it is worth it to pay the money.

The lenders will also allow you to borrow the money for the repairs in many cases. The total amount of money that they will generally let you borrow is 65% of the ARV after repair value. So if the property is worth $100,000 and you get the property for $50,000, you have $15,000 worth of room to get the project done. That is not that much an you will probably need to get the seller to come down on the price, or use your own money to get the projects done.

I have used hard money to get deals done for the past 6 years. I also have worked for a hard money lender allowing me to see the business from both sides. I have used my contacts to put together the most comprehensive list of hard money lenders nationally. Go to Local Hard Money and get the best local lenders to fund your deals.

If for no other reason, you need to at least have the option of using hard money lenders to close your real estate deals. The more exit strategies you have available, the more money you will make in real estate investing.

Author: Doug Powell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You’ve found a great opportunity to make some money. You’ve heard about hard money bridge loans but you don’t know what to expect? Here are some of the basics:

The biggest advantage of a bridge loan is the lenders are always concerned about the value of the property, not so much you personally. In other words; the property is what secures you the loan not your current credit status. It’s all about the value of the property.

The life of a bridge loan is approximately one to six-months; although you can get an extension of up to 2 or more years. Again, these lenders are not your average banks. The flexibility of this type of loan is why you will either get approved (or not) in as little as 2 days.

You may be asked by the lender why are you looking for a hard money loan instead of a traditional loan? There are many reasons why someone may consider using hard money loans. Most likely your response will be because you need the money now and not three months from now when the window of opportunity has most likely closed, or you may respond that your credit has some blemishes, filed recent bankruptcy, low occupancy levels, etc.

Some of the things your hard money loan lenders want to know will be: the type of collateral, the location and approximate value of the property, the amount owed and most important, the exit strategy of the loan or how will you pay the lender back.

Most bridge loan firms want your business and will work with you to get you 60% – 75% financing. (In some cases you can get 100% financing if you have additional assets to put into the deal.) In 99.9% of most cases, the hard money lenders are private companies, and you won’t typically get 100% of the value of the property. The low loan to value is in place to protect the lender in case of default on the loan.

Be prepared though, the interest rate on hard money loans is much higher than on traditional loans. Expect 10 to 15%, depending upon the overall risk. There will also be points or origination percentages that range between 1 and 5% of the loan amount set forth by the lender and assessed at the close of the deal. However, the higher interest rates, flexibility, and the quick turn-around often offset all the paperwork and time involved with traditional banks.

Some hard money lenders charge a fee for pre-payments, some charge an exit fee for the loan and others charge nothing. Make sure you know exactly what the terms of the proposed loan are before engaging any lender. A detailed letter of Intent is an excellent way for you and the hard money lender to understand exactly what is expected by each party.
One more thing, if you are not familiar with bridge loans do some in-depth research first. Talk to others who have experience with hard money bridge loans or ask your lawyer for some help. Don’t forget, there is plenty of information on the web that you can use to your advantage.

Are you looking for the best deals and rates on bridge loans? Visit http://directmoneylenders.com/ today for more information!

Author: Scott Bowens
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There are tons of loans available for real-estate investors. One type of loan commonly used by investors is the Hard Money loan. These loans allow investors to buy and fix investment property. If used correctly it can definitely put money in your pocket right away. But, be aware because there are some pitfalls you will need to avoid in order to be successful. Below explains how a Hard Money works and what to look out for.

1. Scope of Work- for these specific types of loans lenders will require the investor to provide a scope of work worksheet. Every repair you plan to make needs to be written down on this sheet. The scope of work worksheet is what the Hard Money lender will use as a guide, in order to pay for the project. If repairs are done that are not on the worksheet, then you may have trouble getting reimbursed by the Hard Money lender. The lender will want to see everything written down to be sure everyone is on the same page. Lenders will normally allow investors to change the scope of work in the middle of the project if able and necessary.

2.Requirements- Most Hard Money lenders now want 20% down from the investor on all projects. The lender will also want to see reserve money sitting in a bank somewhere. The investor’s monthly income will play a big role with the lender in approving the loan. Credit score is a factor, but they do not require a stellar score to be approved for a loan. The last Hard Money lender I used did not even pull my FICA score, they just wanted to see a copy of my credit report-which I was able to order for free. There will be requirements for loan to value, but each lender will have their own set of guidelines.

3. Over estimating repairs- Repairs on an investment property is always just an estimate. When rehabbing property nothing ever goes as planned. Over-estimate the repair that needs to be done to cover yourself if any repairs are added later in the rehab. If you did a good job with the initial inspection, and no additional repairs were needed then you can return the money or keep it. If you decide to keep it do not spend the extra funds. Keep the extra money as additional reserve.

4. Process- The process of receiving money for repairs is called a draw. After your contractor finishes a percentage of the work you will call your Hard Money lender, and tell them that you are ready for an inspection. The lender will send an inspector out to verify the work has been done and completed within code guidelines. Once the inspector gives the lender an o.k., the lender will release the funds that equal to the amount stated for the cost of work. For example, if you listed carpet repair $1500, paint $1200, and new light fixtures $100; when the inspector checks all the items off: the lender will cut you a check for $2800. Now you can understand why it is important to have all repairs and cost listed on the worksheet. If the repairs are not listed then they will not pay you. Normally the lender will give you 3 to 7 inspection dates depending on how large the project is. Unless you can convince the contractor to start working without putting money down, you will have to put the money up to get things started. Expect to get reimbursed from the Hard Money lender through your draw checks.

5. Refinancing- This is the most important part in rehabbing property using a Hard Money lender. Hard Money loans are short term loans with high interest rates. These interest only loans will have an interest rate of somewhere around 15%. That may seem high, but these types of lenders understand how important it is to make their money and get out. We need these companies in order to rehab properties if we cannot fund our own projects. Hard Money lenders realize the risk they are taking, so lenders ask themselves “WIIFM” (What’s in it for me). They compensated with a high interest rate for the risk they take. Hard Money lenders expect you to either sale the property quick for a profit, or refinance into a long term loan and rent it out to a tenant. Whatever your exit strategy is, be sure to do it quick. Hard Money loans are normally due in full 6-12 months after origination.

Hard Money lenders have allowed many investors to make money in real-estate. These types of lenders are more flexible when compared to traditional ones. They allow investors to make things happen when no other lenders want to take the chance on them. Their guidelines are loser and allow an investor to spread his wings. These types of loans are expensive, but they can allow more deals to be done due to the amount of money they have access to.

Watch this video on hard money loans—–> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KcUGPxM0cA. Get a Free Report “How to Buy Wholesale Property Without Any Risk” at http://www.AssetPropertiesATL.com/cheapproperty

Author: Khalid Johnson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Some of the more sophisticated real estate investors try to avoid hard money loans due to the high interest rates. However, a hard money lender may prove to be beneficial for the right type of property. Many individuals will be surprised to learn that a large amount of successful real estate investors often turn to hard money lenders. A hard money commercial loan is an asset based loan in which the borrower receives funds secured by the value of the real estate. Hard money loans are typically issued at much higher interest rates than conventional commercial property loans and are almost never issued by a commercial bank or any other institutional lender. A hard money commercial loan is simply an advance for a commercial venture for which conventional funding is not available. It is money that is difficult to get elsewhere. The purposes for which these loans can be obtained include property acquisitions, construction, investments, business and industry refinancing.

There is a greater need for suitable collateral to obtain a hard money commercial loan. Appraisals from a third party on the collateral may not be necessary because a hard money financier may be experienced enough to assess the value of the property. However, in most cases an appraisal is warranted. Commercial hard money is similar to traditional hard money, but may sometimes be more expensive as the risk is higher on investment property or non owner occupied properties. Commercial Hard Money Loans may not be subject to the same consumer loan safeguards as a residential mortgage may be in the state the mortgage is issued. Commercial hard money loans are often short term and therefore interchangeably referred to as bridge loans or bridge financing.

Hard money interest rate is not dependent on the Bank Rate. It is instead more dependent on the real estate market and availability of hard money credit. As of 2007 and for the past decade, hard money has ranged from the mid 15% – 25% range. When a borrower defaults they may be charged a higher “Default Rate”. That can be as high as allowed by law which may go up to or around 25% – 29%.

Hard money lenders can be approached directly online or through brokers. In either case, shopping around and comparing the rates and terms would be important. The main consideration in taking a hard money commercial loan is whether it would generate enough money to comfortably service the debt. A sophisticated investor knows how to look for undervalued properties and negotiate a great price especially if the seller just want to relieve him/herself of the property. If you find a great deal on a property, weigh your options and do your calculations to determine if it would benefit your in obtaining a hard money loan.

Author: Varondria Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You may have heard of a concept called hard money lending, and you may be wondering how it differs from conventional bank financing. Either type of financing is available for both commercial and residential real estate loans. The key differences are in three parameters: 1. Cost 2. Timing 3. Availability The cost of hard money is generally higher than conventional financing. Hard money lenders offer loans at a higher interest rate and with more points due at closing. A hard money lender is generally taking a bigger risk and feels justified in making more money off the loan. In addition, the money loaned is typically personal money rather than institutional money, which means that the profit margin must be higher to make it worth the lender’s while. The amount of time required to get a hard money loan is vastly shorter than the time it takes to get a conventional loan. This can be a huge advantage when a loan is being sought to avoid foreclosure or to close on a hot real estate deal that is only available for a short time. Some hard money lenders can close in as little as 24 aE” 48 hours. Conversely, most conventional bank closings can take up to 45 days for residential properties and even longer for commercial loans. Another key advantage to hard money lending is that loans are available to people who may have less than perfect credit or have financial problems. Conventional loans are based on the creditworthiness of the borrower, as reflected in his credit bureau report and FICO credit score. Hard money loans are based solely on the equity standing in the property to be furnished. Hard money lenders are basing their loan terms off of the real estate collateral. For example, a Hard money lender is going to be more willing to make a $100,000 loan on a property worth $200,000 than he is to make a $180,000 loan on a property worth $200,000. Hard Money lenders base their loans off of the collateral in the property. They are more concerned about underwriting the loan based off the property being their asset than the borrower. As long as the property is full of equity, it is usually a safe loan for a lender. Hard Money lenders will usually base their loans off of the value of the property and not necessarily the purchase price.

If you are purchasing a property way under market value, you may want to consider a hard money loan in order to reduce or eliminate your down payment. Some hard money lenders will even allow you to roll all of your acquisition costs, closing costs, construction costs and even mortgage interest payments into the loan in order to purchase a property with a true, no money down loan. So, if you are buying a property that is selling far below its value or refinancing a property that is full of equity and need a loan in a hurry, it may be worth it to consider a hard money loan. You need to be aware that the cost of credit will be higher, both in points and in interest rate, but the cost may not be your primary concern. If you will be rehabbing the property and selling it, you will only have to pay the higher interest rate until the property is sold. Your profit margin should more than pay for the higher cost of the money you were able to borrow quickly without a high credit score. Jason Balin DC MD VA Hard Money Lender

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Jason Balin www.hardmoneybankers.com DC MD VA Hard Money Lender

Using Hard Money to Fund a Construction Project You are ready to start construction, but the loan process is slowing you down. You should consider obtaining a hard money loan to get going on your project today. Hard money loans can be obtained quickly and with little upfront cost to you. What are hard money loans and how can I obtain one? Hard money loans are a type of real estate loan that is provided by private investors, through brokers. The collateral for this type of loan is the value of the property. In the case of a construction loan it is the improved value of the property. In order to provide security to the lender, the hard money loan will have higher interest rates than a conventional loan, and will be limited to around 65% of the improved value of the property. The lender will also only lend from the first position, so that in the event of a foreclosure, they are the first party to recover their investment. Hard money loans are short term loans, so you need to have an exit strategy before obtaining one of these loans, such as a plan to sell the property when completed or to refinance the property through traditional institutions.

Although the loan is limited to 65% of the improved value of the property, construction loans will generally cover all of the costs of construction, assuming that costs for construction are less than the value of the property upon completion. If you have a business that is growing at a rapid pace and you are ready to expand by constructing a new building or updating your current building. Obtaining enough capital to obtain traditional financing for this construction can take a while. In this case, it would be worthwhile to pay a higher interest rate for a hard money loan, and be able to start construction within days. Hard money lenders are available all over the country; a web search will turn up many lenders available in your area. Several websites will give you access to multiple lenders. Before approaching a lender, have your plan in place. Have complete details on all of the costs associated with the construction project, an appraisal of the completed property, as well as details on your exit strategy. Provide this information to the lender(s), and you should receive approval within a day or two, and be able to close on the deal within a week.

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by: Hard Money Bankers, LLC www.hardmoneybankers.com

Using Hard Money to Fund a Construction Project You are ready to start construction, but the loan process is slowing you down. You should consider obtaining a hard money loan to get going on your project today. Hard money loans can be obtained quickly and with little upfront cost to you. What are hard money loans and how can I obtain one? Hard money loans are a type of real estate loan that is provided by private investors, through brokers. The collateral for this type of loan is the value of the property. In the case of a construction loan it is the improved value of the property. In order to provide security to the lender, the hard money loan will have higher interest rates than a conventional loan, and will be limited to around 65% of the improved value of the property. The lender will also only lend from the first position, so that in the event of a foreclosure, they are the first party to recover their investment. Hard money loans are short term loans, so you need to have an exit strategy before obtaining one of these loans, such as a plan to sell the property when completed or to refinance the property through traditional institutions. Although the loan is limited to 65% of the improved value of the property, construction loans will generally cover all of the costs of construction, assuming that costs for construction are less than the value of the property upon completion. If you have a business that is growing at a rapid pace and you are ready to expand by constructing a new building or updating your current building.

Obtaining enough capital to obtain traditional financing for this construction can take a while. In this case, it would be worthwhile to pay a higher interest rate for a hard money loan, and be able to start construction within days. Hard money lenders are available all over the country; a web search will turn up many lenders available in your area. Several websites will give you access to multiple lenders. Before approaching a lender, have your plan in place. Have complete details on all of the costs associated with the construction project, an appraisal of the completed property, as well as details on your exit strategy. Provide this information to the lender(s), and you should receive approval within a day or two, and be able to close on the deal within a week.

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by: Hard Money Bankers, LLC www.hardmoneybankers.com

Hard Money Lending is Improving Your Community Recent troubles in the real estate market have left many homes vacant and often unattended. These vacant or blighted properties cause many problems for local communities. As the level of decay increases the houses become safety and fire hazards, attract criminal activity and vandalism, and lower the property values in the neighborhood. These blighted properties thereby increase the demands for local government services, such as police and fire, as well as code enforcement. Local officials spend a lot of time trying to track down the owners of these properties to enforce building codes, but often to no avail. Local communities would greatly benefit from a renewed interest in these vacant properties. But with banks cracking down on their lending policies, many real estate investors have become unable to obtain traditional loans through banks, and other financial institutions to purchase and rehab these properties. Many savvy real estate investors however are now turning to hard money lenders to finance their purchase and rehab of these vacant properties.

Hard money lenders assess the value of the property and make a lending decision based on the property’s equity. An individual’s credit score is much less of a factor in these lending decisions; so many more real estate investors are able to obtain these loans. As more of these properties are purchased and improved, the property value of the entire neighborhood increases. These hard money loans are short term loans, often with higher interest rates. But for the purpose of purchasing a vacant property, improving the property, then reselling, this type of loan is a perfect fit. The loan can be obtained quickly (much more so than a conventional bank loan), and used to purchase and improve the property, then a quick resale recovers the investment and returns a profit. With more real estate investors turning to hard money loans, more vacant properties are getting a new life. These properties are being refurbished and sold, bringing new families to these previously blighted areas. With the removal of these “eye sores” in the neighborhood, property values increase, and the drain on local government services are relieved. Overall community vitality is greatly improved by the removal of these blighted properties, and hard money lenders are facilitating this community renewal.

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Jason Balin www.hardmoneybankers.com

Hard Money Lending is Helping the Economy For real estate investors access to conventional funding through banks for real estate projects has become difficult to obtain. Banks have tightened up their requirements for lending, and any blemish on your record can disqualify you for a loan. Additionally the amount of paperwork required to obtain a conventional loan has become paramount, taking weeks to months to complete the process. Many time critical investment deals are missed due to the length of the funding process. Many of these real estate investors have turned to hard money lenders to fund their real estate projects. Since hard money loans are secured based on the value of the property, credit scores are not as critical. Although credit scores are part of the assessment, the entire credit portfolio of an investor is considered when making a decision. A blemish or two will not hurt your chances, if you are still deemed credit worthy. The major decision factor for lending is in the assessment of the property. Good levels of equity in the property will result in a positive financing decision. As banks crack down on their lending practices, hard money lenders are filling the void for real estate investors, and local economies are benefiting from their involvement.

The continued flow of money for flips as well as new construction projects has kept the local economies moving. Real estate investors are still investing in properties and obtaining construction loans. This in turn has kept construction workers, building supply shops, plumbers, painters, etc. employed in this tough economy. This also trickles down to retail, grocery stores, and restaurants, keeping these establishments in business as well. All of this continued business activity results in a healthier local economy and adds to the local tax revenue. The buying and selling of houses keeps the real estate market active, and provides a new supply of renovated houses for homeowners. More homeowners in the community means more dollars spent locally as well as additional tax revenue. These are all good things for the local economy. Hard money lenders are changing the real estate investment landscape from credit based financing to equity based financing. Many projects that were not financed previously due to credit decisions are seeing new light. Also, equity based financing helps parse out the good deals from the bad resulting in better financing decisions overall. With new money being invested in profitable projects, everyone from the real estate investor to the local restaurant owner are benefiting from a stronger local economy.

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Jason Balin www.hardmoneybankers.com

A Great New Niche for Mortgage Brokers aE” Hard Money Lending With the subprime crisis of a few years ago, and the recession of the past couple of years, the demand for the services of mortgage brokers has diminished. These facts along with tighter lending standards, has led to tough times for mortgage brokers, with many having difficulty finding enough clients to maintain their business. Although lending standards have tightened, real estate investors are still finding ways to fund their real estate projects. Many are turning to hard money lenders to obtain the financing they need to flip a property, invest in a foreclosure, fund a new construction, and other real estate projects. These hard money loans are asset based loans, using the intrinsic value of the property as collateral for the loan, rather than relying on the investor’s credit worthiness. Mortgage brokers, who find themselves short on clients, can look to hard money lending to expand their clientele. Lending to real estate investors will allow them to take advantage of this growing segment of the market. Those who have jumped into the hard money lending arena find that they have little competition with other brokers, and have many clients looking for a broker to help them with their financing needs. An added advantage is that real estate investors, unlike individual homeowners are repeat customers. Most will make multiple investments in a year, seeking new financing for each, thereby increasing your business two, three, and even four fold per new client. Helping real estate investors find proper financing is an underserved market, and a broker who teams up with the right hard money lenders can quickly capitalize on this need.

A broker wanting to expand into hard money lending should research the market as well as the availability and reputations of the hard money lenders in their area. Start by doing an internet search on the hard money lenders in your area, and assess their offerings, experience, and dedication to hard money lending. Then set up interviews with the firms that stand out. You want a hard money lender who is very knowledgeable about the local real estate market, who strictly deals with hard money lending, and is well capitalized, with many financial backers. They should be very professional, organized, and of course ethical. Hard money lending can be a very profitable niche for mortgage brokers who team with the right hard money lenders.

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Jason Balin www.hardmoneybankers.com