Month: July 2019

Thanks to real estate shows on television like Flip this House and Flip or Flop, more people are interested in real estate investing. While there’s money to made flipping houses and renovating properties, going into the process expecting to make a huge profit off your first flip isn’t realistic. Successful real estate investors build their investments over time by achieving modest returns on their investment. Keep reading to more about common mistakes and how to avoid them achieve long-term success.

Mistake #1 – Not Running the Numbers

The reality is that not every home is a good investment even if the price seems right. Before you take out a real estate loan, you need to run the numbers and determine your profit margin. How much do you need to put into the house? How long can the house stay on the market for you to still make the profit you want? Many first-time investors have ended up losing money on their investment because they didn’t prepare ahead of time.

Mistake #2 – Not Having Enough Cash Reserves

Even when you run the numbers, there are still times when things pop up. In fact, since most investment homes are foreclosures or short sales, it’s not uncommon to find maintenance issues that need to be fixed. When you take out a real estate investment loan in Texas, set aside part of that money for those expenses that come up like replacing an HVAC unit or water heater.

Mistake #3 – Listening to the Wrong Opinions

Every one has an opinion about everything, but that doesn’t mean those opinions are right. People are well meaning but that doesn’t mean you need to listen to their thoughts about your investment. Instead, surround yourself with people in the industry who have experience. Investment loans aren’t the same as traditional mortgage loans. Taking advice from the wrong people could cost you money.

Mistake #4 – Not Researching Your Lending Options

Many first-time house flippers start by applying for a loan from their bank or a traditional mortgage company. Soon after applying, they learn that it’s not as easy as they thought to get a loan. That’s because conventional lenders aren’t as invested in investment real estate. They see these transactions as risky, and if they do loan you the money to purchase the property, there might be restrictions about how long you have to live in the house before selling or you might be required to put down a large down payment.

Real estate investor loans in Texas operate differently. They are designed specifically for flippers, renovators, etc. The terms of the loan are more relaxed, the funding is quicker, and approval rates higher.

Real estate investing offers the opportunity for sustainable growth and financial freedom, but you have to start small and with the right information. You need people backing your venture who understand the unique needs and challenges that house flippers face. If you’re ready to find a real estate loan in Texas for your first project (or your second, third, fourth, etc.),  visit Investor Loan Source at https://ils.cash and start the application process today!

Investors are making money flipping houses and securing their financial future. House flipping is the process of buying homes in poor to fair condition, renovating them, and quickly putting them back on the market to sell for a greater return. If you’re interested in flipping real estate but don’t have the cash to invest upfront, you need a lender or private investor.

The obstacles flippers run into is not being able to find financing. Traditional lenders aren’t eager to lend to house flippers, which is why many first-time and seasoned flippers turn to hard money lending.

Hard money loans make purchasing investment properties easier, but most newbie investors haven’t heard of these helpful products. Keep reading to learn more about how these loans work and why they could help you achieve your real estate investment goals.

What Are Hard Money Real Estate Loans?

At first glance, hard money lending isn’t much different than any other real estate loan. Flippers apply for financing and repay the loan over the course of a set period. However, hard money loans have different requirements, and most importantly, benefits.

Here are some of the differences:

• Traditional loans require the home to secure the loan.
• Hard money lenders let you use other real estate as collateral.
• You don’t have to collateral that equals the full value of the property.
• Lenders of hard money loans have access to the homes equity in case you don’t pay back the loan.

Reasons to Use Hard Money Lending for Entering the Real Estate Market

There are several reasons to choose hard money lenders for flipping homes, especially if you have any of the following obstacles.

• Credit problems: Not everyone has stellar credit, but why should your credit score hold you back from making money? It shouldn’t and hard money loan products consider other factors, not just your credit score. These lenders work with individuals, not credit scores.
• Proof of income: If you’re self-employed, make too little money, or have other issues that affect income eligibility requirements for traditional loans, you’ll have a better chance of securing financing working with hard money companies. These companies don’t require proof of income.
• Property condition: Banks want to finance homes that are in good condition because it’s less risky for them. However, this doesn’t help house flippers. In fact, it’s a huge obstacle. It’s the reason many investors, even those with great credit and proof of income, choose hard money lenders. These lenders know investment properties need work and don’t hold it against you when applying for a loan.
• Time restraints: Anyone who has ever flipped a home knows that timing is everything. To make the most money from your investment, you need to get in and out fast. That means you don’t have weeks or months to wait for loan approval from a regular bank. You need fast financing, which is exactly what you get with hard money products. The approval and funding process is done most of the time within 7-14 business days.

Are you ready to start flipping homes with hard money loan financing? Learn more about the process and find the best hard money lending in Houston. Contact the hard money pros at Investor Loan Source at https://ils.cash and apply online.

Are you searching for investment opportunities that offer high returns in this volatile market? Real estate private investors know that real estate offers the finest rewards. These kind of investments are often handled by a third-party investment manager or sponsor. If this is something you’re interested in learning more about, keep reading for a quick overview of the benefits of private real estate investors.

Benefit #1 – Experience

Investment management is a full-time job done by a person who has real estate investing experience. They have an established operation that handles all the daily tasks and a team of professionals working with them all for your benefit.

Benefit #2 – Cost

Are you worried about how much your investment is going to cost you? Some financial products don’t spell out the fees or interest upfront. With real estate investing, you know the investment cost up front. You’ll find the costs listed in the contract you sign. The costs outlined in the contract include things, such as manager fees and carried interest.

Benefit #3 – Variety

What type of investor are you? Are you a small investor? Or, are you interested in a variety of asset sizes? Examples of private real estate products include:

• Senior loans
• Preferred equity
• LP equity
• Mezzanine debt

Benefit #4 – Fewer Distractions

Investing requires your complete attention. Managing day-to-day tasks gets in the way of this, which is why many turn to private real estate investors. When you have many properties you’re managing, you need someone who has the skills and experience to take over the operational management tasks.

Other Considerations about the Best Private Real Estate Investors

Once you decide to seek out a sponsor, take these points into consideration:

• Consider the vitality of the actual investment. Is it a good investment? Is it worth hiring a third party to manage? What is the return on the cost?
• Dissect the sponsor’s strategy for maximizing your return. There is much to be considered when investing in real estate. How much do you intend to sell the properties for? Do you plan to finance at a lower rate? Compare your strategy with those of the sponsor to make sure you are on the same page.
• For a single project, the legal wording in a fund agreement might be looser. While you might be able to get by with this for one or two small projects, as you add more projects to your portfolio, you need a tight fund agreement to avoid potential problems.

Private real estate funds are a great way for people to diversify their financial holdings and portfolios. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your research when considering this type of investment. Choosing the right fund and private investors in real estate means the difference between a financial win and a staggering financial loss.

To begin the process, start with securing the property with a lending product that gives you the wiggle room you need to be successful with your project. At Investor Loan Source, first investors and seasoned pros have access to lending programs that make real estate investing easy and more accessible for all people. To learn more about private real estate investors in Texas, visit the Investor Loan Source website at https://ils.cash.

Hard money loans are preferred among real estate investors because of their quick turnaround time. However, not all hard money investment lenders in Texas are the same. To avoid getting talked into a bad deal, check out these tips for choosing the best hard money lender.

Choose a Firm that Specializes in Hard Money Lending

This might seem like a no-brainer, but many people confuse private investment lenders with hard money lenders. Hard money loans require the expertise of a hard money specialist to make sure all servicing, origination, and other requirements are completed correctly. While on the surface these loans look simple, they’re actually rather complex and must be structured well to make sure the lending process is facilitated well.

Select a Local Investment Property Lender

Hard money lenders are concerned about how much equity is in the property because the equity is their protective measure against default. Therefore, most hard money lenders are going to want to inspect the property before issuing a loan. Choosing a local lender makes the inspection process easier.

Insist on Transparency

Don’t sign paperwork blind and never sign a contract you haven’t read fully. Some hard money lending companies don’t abide by standard business practices. They may coerce you into a bad deal by promoting teaser rates. Insisting on transparency every step of the process ensures you have a better handle on the situation and know the exact terms of the deal.

Know Your Hard Money Needs

There are many types of real estate investors. What type are you? Are you a house flipper searching for a property to buy cheap, fix up, and sell for a profit? Are you interested in buying several homes and flipping them at the same time? Perhaps you’re interested in buying homes cheap and renting them. You might not be interested in residential properties at all, but are more interested in commercial properties. Knowing the type of investor you are helps you find the best investment lenders and the cheapest rates. Some hard money lenders only provide loans for residential real estate, whereas other lenders have numerous programs for all kinds of investment opportunities.  

Lender vs. Broker

Not all investment lenders are the same, especially when it comes to hard money lending. Ideally, you want to work with a local lender. Doing so ensures you get personalized customer service and you always knows who has your loan. Some hard money lenders aren’t lenders at all, but they’re actually brokers and take your information then work to find an actual lender to help you get the money you need. While there’s nothing wrong with this system, not every investor wants to work with brokers. Decide what type of investor you are in this regard and choose accordingly.

How Fast Do You Need Funding?

When choosing a lender, this is an important question to ask yourself. Hard money lending goes faster than traditional bank loans, but each lender works within different timeframes. Most hard money lenders process loans within 7-14 business days. However, there are some who have the ability to process loans in as little as 5 days. Knowing how fast you need your money will help you make the best choice.

Are you looking for a hard money lender in Texas? Call or visit Investor Loan Source today to learn more about hard money loans for real estate investors in the Houston market.

Hard money loans in Texas are a little bit different from regular bank loans. Those who have never tried to obtain one of these loans before may be a little unclear about what they need to qualify. Compared to traditional loans, there are fewer requirements. These loans are asset-based meaning the lender will mostly look at the value of the property and the borrowers’ equity in the property. The larger the equity, the safer the loan will be for the lender and the more likely they will be to approve the borrower. Lenders also look at the financial strength of the borrower. They want to be sure that you will have the money needed to make monthly loan payments and cover all the other responsibilities of caring for the property. Keep reading to learn more about what lenders look for in a loan application and how you can improve your odds of getting approved.

Down Payment and Equity

The main thing you’ll need to qualify for a hard money loan is the necessary down payment or equity in the property. This will serve as collateral for the loan. For residential properties, the minimum amount ranges between 25 and 30 percent. The minimum increases to 30 to 40 percent for commercial properties. You will have a better chance of qualifying for hard money loans in Houston if you have a larger down payment. The more money the borrower has invested in the property, the less risk for the lender. In some cases, you may be able to use multiple properties to secure a loan. This process is known as cross-collateralizing.

Overall Financial Strength and Cash Reserves

The next thing you will need to have to secure a hard money loan is enough cash reserves to make monthly loan payments and holding costs. The holding costs usually include taxes, insurance, HOA payments, and other costs for property maintenance. The more cash you have to show the lender, the better your chances of approval will be. If you do not have any cash reserves, you will have a hard time obtaining a hard money loan. In certain cases, the lender may be able to increase the amount of the loan and hold back the funds of the borrower to cover the holding costs. This way, the borrower can still get the loan, and the lender will have more assurance that essential payments are being made. 

Real Estate Experience and an Exit Strategy

Additionally, your lender will want to know that you have experience in real estate. Someone who has been investing in real estate for years and years will have an easier time qualifying for a hard money loan than someone who is trying to fund their very first house flipping project. They will also want to know about the details of the property and the project, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience in real estate. You will need to prepare an exit strategy for the property and how you plan to repay the loan as well.

For more information about hard money loans or to apply for one today, contact us at Investor Loan Source.

Hard money loans have become a common tool used by real estate investors who need lump sums of money quickly to seize profitable opportunities before they slip away. Unlike traditional lending sources which require a much longer timeframe before releasing funds, hard money loans can get money in the hands of investors quickly with little risk since the loan uses the property as collateral.

While most providers of hard money loans in Houston, TX, are legitimate private parties willing to invest in property-backed lending opportunities, there are some loan providers who run fraudulent schemes on borrowers. Hard money lenders aren’t held to the same regulatory standards as traditional lenders, and therefore the industry features loopholes which can be exploited by unscrupulous lenders. Fortunately, it’s not hard to spot scammers in many cases if you know what to look for. Keep reading to learn how to get hard money loans in Texas without falling into a scam.

Shady Rate Structure

A sure sign of a scammer is a lack of transparency when it comes to loan rates for hard money. Rates should be honest and fair. Though you will usually pay higher interest rates on hard money loans when compared to traditional funding sources, rates shouldn’t be exorbitant. Rates above 18 percent should be a red flag that something may be awry. Likewise, if the lender gives you a rate that seems exceedingly low, such as below 10 percent, something foul may be afoot as well. Lenders who give you a low rate upfront may later come back with exorbitant fees that can drive prices higher. You’ll also want to avoid any lenders who won’t present you with a clear-cut APR. If they won’t provide you with that basic information in a forthright manner, move on to another option. 

Abbreviated Application Process 

One of the benefits of hard money loans is that the application process is streamlined so that lenders can provide funds to real estate investors quickly and efficiently. That doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t still be an application process that requires you to submit key details and sign a contract. If a lender fails to require you to apply before providing you with funding, there’s a chance that there are nefarious ends in store for you. The process should include filling out forms and allowing the lender to inspect the property. It usually takes several days. If the lender you’re considering doesn’t want to see the property and requires no up-front paperwork, there could be a fraud in the making. Also, if a lender claims to provide funds for anything, it could indicate bad intentions.

Phantom Lenders

A reputable lender is easy to find by using internet search engines. Most good hard money lenders have been around long enough to build a successful business under a recognizable name. If you search for a lender online and can find nothing about the company, it may be a sign of a scammer. Many lending scammers operate a short time under one name, then shutter the operation and open another under a new name to prevent former bilked customers and authorities from catching up to them. A lender with good business practices and ethical lending standards will want its name to be known. A company that remains in the shadows is there for a reason.

If you’re considering hard money lending in Texas, be sure to use this advice to avoid potential scams that can submarine your real estate transactions and create frustration. To learn more about the characteristics that separate scammers from legitimate hard money lenders, visit Investor Loan Source at https://ils.cash/.