Posts Tagged ‘real estate investors’

Private Money for Rehab Projects

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

For many years, real estate investors have used private money to finance their rehab projects. The investors feel that it is better to use private money for rehab projects than it is to use conventional loans that are offered by credit unions, banks and any other traditional moneylenders. Investors in the real estate market have a horde of reasons for using private money financing.

One of the primary reasons that investors in the real estate market have for choosing private funding over lending institutions is the fact that they are able to close the deal without putting any of their own money down as payment. If you apply for credit through a traditional lender, you will get enough funding to purchase the property. When it comes to investors who purchase rehab properties, this amount is not quite enough. If you purchase a rehab property at a low discount price, you will also need the money it takes to fix the property and market it for sale.

The Benefits of Private Money

Investors who invest in rehab projects also need extra money to pay for closing costs and any other unexpected expenses that may arise. Even though traditional loans have lower interest rates, it may just not be enough money to cover everything that is needed.

This is the reason why many investors choose private financing to purchase and fix rehab properties, in spite of the higher interest rates. If you borrow the money that you need from a private moneylender, most likely you will have enough to pay for the property, rehabilitation expenses and marketing expenses.

Private moneylenders provide funding on the basis of collateral. In the case of rehab properties, the property is the collateral. Moneylenders estimate the price of the rehab property in good condition and give you a percentage of the value, which is referred to as the “after repair value”. The percentage that is paid depends on the lender and the location of the property, but average is around sixty to seventy percent of the after repair value.

Property Options Australia
Property Options Blog © 2006 - 2010

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Criteria for Buying Investment Property

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

The focus for investors in the real estate market needs to be on cash flow, as opposed to building net worth. The best way to move ahead in the real estate market is to design a strategy that will ensure that each property in which you invest generates positive cash flow once the mortgage is paid and the insurance is paid on all of your structures.

In recent years, investors in the real estate market are more focused on the number of deals that are being made and not on what the properties that they purchase can do for them in the long run. For anyone jest getting started in the real estate market, working with a strategy that puts money from rent in your pockets each and every month will realistically replace your monthly income in quite a short amount of time. When you use such criteria for buying investment properties, you will find that it becomes easier to handle real estate agents once they gain the understanding that you will purchase any properties that fit your criteria.

The Importance of Strategy

The best personal investment strategy is to ensure that you always get a specific amount of money back from every deal, either immediately or by remortgaging the property. This will provide you with unlimited growth because each deal adds to your money income as well as to your capital. Any investor coming into the real estate market should use similar criteria and maintain it strictly. Many investors who attempt dealings outside of such a strategy often end up with feelings of regret because it would be so simple for them to be making considerably more money.

Real estate investors who purchased twenty or thirty properties within the past couple of years work to establish a positive cash flow, as opposed to hoping that the next real estate deal will bring forth a large lump sum to fill their pockets without worrying about the shortfalls of rental properties. Many, many deals are available, so there is no excuse not to purchase within your investment criteria.

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Mistakes to Avoid When Apartment Investing

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

The number one rule of real estate investing is to make sure that your investment property is going to make you money. The best way to do this is by avoiding mistakes that could possible cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. One of the most important skills necessary for successfully investing in the real estate market is being able to analyze the property correctly. Take the time to attend a few seminars covering this topic to ensure you are prepared for your journey as an investor in the real estate market.

Once you have learned all that you need to about the ways of the real estate market and are ready to try your hand at investing in apartments, you need to be aware of a few common mistakes that people often make with this type of investment.

Never Take the Numbers at Face Value

Taking the numbers at face value is a mistake that several real estate investors make all too often. Keep in mind that it is in the best interest of both the owner and the broker for the numbers to look good on paper. Take the time to perform your own investigation. Find out the actual cost of property taxes and insurance on your own. In addition, be sure to ask if the rental income specified is potential or actual.

Current Rental Status

Be sure to ask the present owner about the current vacancies on the property. The majority of property owners will typically list around 0% to 5% of the units as vacant. Ask to see the current rent roll and to inspect the units yourself. Many property owners are optimistic that a new owner will bring about a lower vacancy rate. Therefore, it is important to verify vacancy for the property as well as for the surrounding area.

Do not be afraid to ask questions before investing in apartment buildings. It is your right to know exactly what you are purchasing. If you take the time to investigate the properties thoroughly and conduct your own research before you sign, you will be able to make the wisest decisions in apartment investing.

Property Options Australia
Property Options Blog © 2006 - 2009

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Compensating Lease Option Referrals

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

When you are working on lease option deals for your rent-to-own program, it may be difficult to find motivated buyers and sellers who have the funding for the down payment. For that reason, it is crucial to learn how to work with other individuals in the real estate market and compensate them appropriately in order to keep them referring buyers and sellers progressively to your program.

Essentially, two different kinds of people to whom you can turn for referrals include investors and real estate agents. These are two separate groups of people and must be compensated as such.

Never Shortchange for Referrals

The relationship between real estate agents and investors is typically a tense one, primarily due to the fact that real estate investors think that the real estate agents are not creative enough in closing deals and agents believe investors are just cheap. Consequently, as a real estate investor it is up to you to be able to explain the creative way to buy a property and not be too frugal when it comes to compensating a real estate agent.

When you pay a real estate agent, never take out any of the commission. It is important not to shortchange him or her on the commission. If the real estate agent refers a motivated seller to you, then there is absolutely no reason why you should shortchange their commission because the seller always pays commissions for the realtor.

If you handle the deal properly, not only will the commission be paid without you being out of pocket, but also you will have an experienced real estate agent who will be happy to represent you in the transaction, gaining dual compensation once the tenant decides to buy the property.

You need to be prepared to respond when the real estate agent asks what will happen if the home does not sell. Some real estate agents are only paid if the property sells, and there is no guarantee that will happen. At this point, it is time for you as an investor to refrain from frugality.

Property Options Australia
Property Options Blog © 2006 - 2009

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Finance Options for Investment Properties

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

For anyone who is interested in earning a substantial income, investing in the real estate market is definitely one option that you should consider. An investment property is one that is purchased with the sole intention of earning a profit, either through capital gain or renting out to tenants. Typically, the investor does not reside on the property, however, in some situations investors just starting out may choose to live on the property while renovating before selling.

Anyone looking to begin investing in the real estate market should be aware there are several different things to consider before you go out and start buying up properties. The first thing that you need to consider if you want to become an investor in the real estate market is how you plan to finance your investments. In fact, several methods of financing are available to real estate investors.

Available Options

One method of financing your real estate investment is to acquire a loan through a bank. This type of financing will provide a number of advantages, including low fees and competitive interest rates. However, banks are not as quick to approve loans, as are some other lenders. Typically, a bank will loan you around seventy percent of the money that you need and expect you to come up with the rest of the money on your own.

Another option that is available to real estate investors is to go through a mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers are trained and skilled in knowing how to finance investment properties and keep the whole experience pleasant. The job of a mortgage broker is to present the loan that you seek to a number of different financial institutions, determine which the best for your situation is and advise you accordingly. The benefit to using such a service is that instead of presenting your loan to one bank at a time, the broker does all of the work and finds an institution that is willing to work with you.

Property Options Australia
Property Options Blog © 2006 - 2009

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