Sunday 13 December 2015

Hard Money - Tips for Investors

Many investors who ended up losing a ton of money during the real estate crash and are probably still losing money today. Hopefully you’re not one of them, but if you are, here’s how to make sure you don’t make the same mistake again.
We believe that it is important for real estate investors to embody and hone in one skill sets that top real estate investors practice.
There are many that have lost lots of money in real estate investments because they were not careful in planning stage. There is a very steep learning curve for those starting in real estate investing. Here are some things to keep in mind before you get started on your journey. So take your time to determine what are your financial goals and the time frame in which you want to achieve them. Remember to be realistic. With the current real estate market, chances are you will not become a millionaire in six flips.

Know about the type of property you want:

If you want a bank-owned property, focus on bank owned property. If you like 3 family homes located within a 6 miles radius from your local college, then be stick to that area, Remember lack of focus in your investing will make you feel like you are running around blindfolded. So get focused and get results.

Look for the right location:

If you buy a property with hopes of renting it out, location is key. Homes in high-rent or highly populated areas are ideal, stay away from rural areas where there are fewer people and a small pool of potential renters. Also, look for homes with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms in neighborhoods that have a low crime rate.

Realist Real Estate Investors:

Sure, we are in one of the best buyer’s markets of all times. Yes, there are a lot of distressed properties that need rehab and there are a lot of homeowners upside in their current situations. But that doesn't mean that every offer you make is going to get accepted. Remember, it is a numbers game in real estate. The amount of contracts you get signed is equally proportionate to amount of offers you make.
If you are in California area, and if there is something we can do to help you with your Hard Money loans, please let us know. We are real people here ready to develop long-term relationships with qualified real estate investors.

Monday 2 November 2015

Choosing The Appropriate Hard Money Loan

Getting a bank or an institutional loan for commercial or residential investment properties are quite a hard job these days. Banks have to look for many different factors when determining whether or not to lend money and loan brokers may even take forever to establish a loan. Between the reticence of banks to loan funds and the length of time it can take for a loan broker, a residential or commercial hard money loan can be your very best option to take.

There are several different types of hard money loans out there. As a borrower or a real estate investor, you should have a sound knowledge of their types. You may choose the one which best suites your needs. We would like to share these types for your convenience.

The first is the “hard money acquisition loan”, it is used to purchase a specific property, typically for improved property or platted land. These loans are best when banks can’t get you the funds in time to complete the deal. If the property is not up to an institutional lender’s standard or there is an issue with credit or liquidity.

The second type is “value added loans”, a type of hard money loan for properties that have higher than normal vacancy rates and can be used to renovate a property to increase cash flow. This is a great loan when a property has a lot more potential income that it's currently generating.

Third one is “hard money land acquisition loans”. It is a way to buy land to improve. Banks and other lenders, including other private lenders, aren't financing many land deals at all so finding a hard money loan for property is going to be your best bet. Fourth is Bridge loan. These are a great way to get from point A to point B in a financial situation. These are short term loans that can be used to purchase a property while waiting on bank financing to come together. These loans typically close in a few weeks instead of the months it can take for a bank loan which could lose you the property.

Another type is “Construction pay off loans”. They are designed to help contractors who have finished a property but it hasn't sold yet. This loan is used to pay off the existing construction loan so the developer avoids losses and doesn't have to short sell the property.

At last we would say, as you can see, this variety of options available can help borrowers and contractors alike to leverage a situation that can't be leveraged any other way. While traditional lenders may not be able to work with you on a standard loan, a hard money loan is much easier to get and a lot quicker to get as well. If you're in need of a loan for a real estate deal, take a look at a hard money loan and the hard money loan rates. It may make the entire deal come together

Monday 28 September 2015

Private Financing - What It is

Private financing is basically financing your business with the help of private individuals or parties, not by the traditional banks. This type of financing is generally used for personal, investment and commercial purposes. Several sources of private financing includes private and hard money lenders, investment groups and venture capitalists. Private financers are also known as “Angel investors” as they help you when no one supports you.

Private financing is one of the best source of funding in US. The California hard money lenders are well known lenders in the town. California is known as the headquarters of private lenders, many lending companies deal borrowers with professionalism. Private lenders are different from bank loans, banks usually give you loan after a long verification process. Whereas private lenders doesn’t require such verifications, you have immunity over income verification.

Private financing obtained during exchange for stock are an excellent way to get the initial operating capital needed for a startup business, but can be it will expensive in the end. While you are not likely to be paying interest in the early stages of your business, you will pay dearly should you become a success.

All the real estate investors requires capital to complete business transactions. In situations when you don’t have money for finishing business deals and you need it in short time, if you contact a bank for loan, will take considerably long time to approve. Now this is where hard money comes in handy. Since these companies are owned by private individuals so they give more attention to their customers. This lending process doesn’t require income verification form you and it doesn’t require large documentation process needed for applying a loan. Another advantage is that hard money lending is a fast process so it saves time of customers and investor.

It doesn’t matter what method you have chosen in obtaining private financing, you will find that companies are more flexible in lending criteria as compared to banks. Check out private financing companies and brokers online to see which will suit your business needs most effectively.

To conclude, if you don’t have anything in your pocket and need 100% financing to start your business or you want a loan to restart your previous business then hard money loan is a best option for you to complete your goals and dreams.

Tuesday 7 July 2015

Hard Money Loans vs Bank Loans


Hard money loans are much different from traditional lenders and banks. One of the best ways to understand hard money lenders and the private investor loans they offer is compare them. The following table below shows parties, processes and terms common to one or both types of lending and compares them in relation to each other.

Party/Process/Term
Bank Loans
Hard Money Lenders
Agent
Typically sells real estate but might originate loans as well if licensed by their state and registered federally as a Mortgage Loan Originator.
Used rarely unless the sale of real estate is involved as part of the loan transaction.
Broker
Licensed as a real estate broker.  Agents freeze their license with a broker. Typically the highest licensing designation.  
Same as bank loans
Loan Officer
Normally an employee of a bank, mortgage broker, mortgage banker, or large commercial lender who originates loans.  Licensing requirements may vary depending on the type of institution and their state and federal licensing.
Not a term used by hard money lenders.
Loan Broker
Same definition as Mortgage Broker.
A licensed broker specializing in brokering hard money loans.
Mortgage Broker
Works with 3rd party institutions to search conventional loans in order to meet your needs. 
The term is used rarely because they are typically offering their own loan products so there is nothing to “broker.” 
Mortgage Banker
Normally works along 3rd party institutions to fund loans but will primarily fund with their own money or through a pre-arranged credit line.  
Loans funded with their own funds, a pool of funds they manage, or line of credit.
Hard Money Lenders
N/A
Broker who runs a specialized business dedicated to originating private money loans.  These people are often referred to as private money lenders.
Programs/Guidelines
Set as per government agencies like: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA, State Housing Agency, and some in-house “portfolio” lending programs.
Hard money loans are customized to borrower’s needs based on loan and collateral criteria such as LTV and DTI. Typically it is more flexible and faster than Conventional lenders.
Borrowers

Good credit history with easily documented income sources.
Non-traditional income and self-employed sources are accepted.  Income is analyzed differently and possible exceptions are made for past credit flaws.
Eligible Property Types
Single family homes, 2 - 4 unit and some other types of commercial property.
Other properties that fall outside of the conventional parameters like rehab loans, construction loans, bridge loans, occupied rentals used to secure startup capital for new ventures.
Vesting
Always in the individual borrower’s name. 
Is more flexibility and generally permits vesting in trusts, limited partnerships,  Corporation, and LLCs.
Due Diligence
Minor to none.  Review of initial disclosures and final documents at signing with terms expected.
Extensive research of collateral and borrower’s entity is done.  Personal guarantee and Opinion Letter is generally required. 
Loan Costs/Closing Costs
Normally 1 - 2% of the total loan amount. 
Can be as high as 3-10%, depending on the loan amount.
Servicing
Handled by the institution who have originated the loan.  Often, one institution will sell the servicing rights to a larger firm which specializes in servicing.
Typically the private money lender who originated the loan, or a smaller servicing company. 
Non- Monetary Loan Covenants
Covenants are required to be met during the loan process.  Covenants vary by lender, but typically include financial reporting, and the maintenance of various ratios like; loan to value and debt service coverage ratios.

Similar, but may be more strict, depending on lender. 
Interest Rates
Rates are typically competitive between lenders, and are generally lower than private lending.  Most customers turn to private money loans not for the rate, but because the loan is otherwise unavailable.
Rates start at 8% and go up based on unique criteria of each





Sunday 17 May 2015

How to Find the Best Hard Money Lender in California

Finding the best lender in California could be a bit difficult job, but if you follow the following tips below this task will be a lot easier. The following tips will help you to find a good and the appropriate lender in your area for business.

Find The Best Hard Money Lender
Finding Hard Money Lender

Locate the best Lender

It is important to that you do not allow your desperation to lead you into bad decision and inappropriate deals with lenders. While you are in desire situation, it is recommended to do online search to find the best lenders that meet your needs. If you are rushed out for time, you will discover that you are paying for a loan that is nowhere near value for money and there are a lot of bad deals in the market. But not to worry; there are still some honest hard money lenders in California offering affordable rates, you still need to search for them.

A non-recourse loan


While you are doing online research, you will discover that there are two types of lenders available: the recourse loan and the non recourse loan. If you opt for the recourse loan you will be putting yourself in danger as the hard money lenders will be able to repossess your house if you are unable to repay them. Furthermore, they will also be able to take legal action against you and surely you will.

However in non-recourse loan does not allow to take legal action if you are not able to pay, but the lender is still able to reprocess your house. Non-recourse loan is favorable and you should check which loan you are opting for the before signing the contract. Do not be conned into losing more money than you owe.

While searching for hard money lenders, you will also come across the term 'points on a loan'. A point is worth 1% of the overall mortgage amount, which means one point on a $ one million is equivalent to $10,000. Usually hard money lenders will offer loans between four and eight points. So it is unlikely you will ever find a loan that is offering one point. You should always search for loans with lower points, the less you will have to pay in the long-term. It is advised to that you stay below five points otherwise you will be swamped with the costly and unforeseen fees!

Know your terms


It is crucial that you know what you are signing up for and be sure that you are aware of all the terms in contract. There will be lenders who create loan structures designed intentionally to fail, particularly those with interest-only or the adjustable rates, you have to know how to identify these. You must also be sure of the exact amount that you will be paying immediately and over the duration of the loan. If a contract is open to change, it is unlikely to be beneficial and should be avoided at all costs. If the amount is constant, there is a possibility that the price may expand quickly and ultimately become huge to repay.

For more information on hard money lenders visit http://bit.ly/CA-HML

Thursday 14 May 2015

Is Hard Money Loan Right For You



Don't let the moniker mislead you. Securing a hard money loan is easier than you think. In fact, it is easier to acquire a hard money loan than it is to find investors and companies that offer them. But not anymore!

There is a fairly reasonable chance that you have never even heard of a California hard money loan, much less found one. It is a pretty low-key lending alternative, and for good reason. With the potential millions that can be made through hard money lending, and the massive real estate empires to be had, it is no wonder savvy investors want to keep it secret.

Today, we are going to let the proverbial cat out of the bag... Get ready to discover the fastest, simplest way to translate lucrative real estate opportunities into an actual real estate empire!

The Core of Hard Money Lending...


In the simplest of terms, hard money loans are a "creative" lending alternative that offers borrowers a wider variety of many options, with less financial scrutiny. In exchange for these concessions and the increased "permissiveness" in the credit history and financial areas, California hard money lenders are rewarded with higher interest rates and returns than conventional lenders typically earn.
This means that even those of you who had NEVER qualify for a traditional loan now can have a realistic, ethical opportunity to build a multi-million dollar real estate empire one deal at a time. However, aside from the higher interest rates and the lower levels of financial scrutiny, hard money loans are remarkably similar to traditional secured loans.
There are a few other differences that must be taken into account as well:

1.       When borrowing against real estate, hard money loans typically have lower loan-to values than conventional loans
2.       Hard money loans are not backed by the FDIC, and
3.       The terms of hard money loans are generally paid off much sooner than conventional loans are.

If you are looking for big money fast and you do not have time (or the ability) to jump through the hoops or cut through the red tape of bank financing, there's no other solution that has as much to offer.

Now that you know the basics of WHAT hard money lending is, now you need to figure out if you can put one to work for you.

Will A Hard Money Loan Work For Me?

Once you discover the option of hard money lending, it is a natural way to wonder if it could make a difference in your own situation.

  •  Are you a victim of a marred (or non-existent) credit history?
  • Have a few mistakes in your past wrecked your ability to qualify for conventional financing?
  • Has a recent divorce or bankruptcy made you a leper in the lending community?
  • Have you stumbled across once-in-a-lifetime real estate investment opportunity, but you have to act fast and have no idea where you can get the money?
  • Have you come to the conclusion that you will NEVER find the financing your hopes and dreams demand?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then you have already qualified yourself as an ideal candidate for a hard money loan.

However, you may have a few legitimate concerns. Fortunately, we are here to lay your concerns at rest. The most prevalent concern raised in the discussion about hard money loans is actually based on a misconception. Because hard money lenders put their money at a much higher risk than banks EVER will, and they charge higher rates to compensate, the uninformed often jump to the conclusion that there's something shady going on. Conventional lenders and people who are missing pretty essential facts don't work too hard to correct those misguided notions either.

Fortunately, "The truth is out there..."

Hard money loans follow the same basic protocols that traditional options do. Because financing is complicated under even the best circumstances, your hard money lender will encourage (perhaps even require) that you retain the services of a lawyer from the onset. Its advice you should take advantage of ANYTIME you sign a deal for a high ticket item.

There are several other parallels you can plan on as well:
·         Appraisals
·         Inspections
·         Paperwork and
·         A "closing"
...just to name a few.

One of the essential tenets of successful real estate investing is learning to apply the principles of leverage. Leveraging is about more than just putting other people's money to work for you – it is about putting other people to work for you as well. When you are up against a "big deal", if someone else out there can do it better and faster than you can on your own, you'd be silly NOT to hire them!

Their expertise is almost always worth the fees entailed. With them, you can avoid time-wasting mistakes and potentially devastating errors you might have otherwise missed.
Finding a hard money lender you can trust is the first step in the journey.

Thursday 7 May 2015

How to Deal with Hard Money Lenders

Dealing with lenders
Despite their name, working with hard money lenders is much easier than with their conventional counterparts e.g. banks. The majority of these lenders are focused on bringing flexibility and transparency to business deals as well as restricting the amount of red tape that borrowers have to deal with. Nonetheless, here are a few secrets to getting the best deal when you’re negotiating your hard money loan:


Know how hard money works:

Hard money loans require a tangible asset to secure the loan (i.e., act as collateral). The term hard money is typically used to refer to real estate secured loans.  The lender determines the viability and amount of the loan based on the value of the property rather than the credit history of the borrower.

Know where the funds come from. 

Private lenders fund loans with their own capital. This allows them to make decisions directly without consulting with a third party (such as a loan committee).  Borrowers need to understand the difference between a direct hard money lender and a loan broker.  A direct lender actually controls the money to fund the loan and can indeed make decisions without consulting with a third party.  However, many loan brokers represent themselves to borrowers as direct lenders when they are in fact just a middle man between the actual lender and the borrower.  This means that the broker has to collect the information and send it on to the actual lender who in turn makes the decision to fund or not.  This creates delays in getting a go/no go decision.  It also adds another layer of fees that the borrower will have to pay.  The broker will take a fee and the lender will take a fee.  Borrower should make every effort to find out if the lender they are thinking f working with is a true direct lender or is a loan broker misrepresenting themselves as a direct lender.  A direct hard money lender needs to impose stricter terms and higher interest rates than conventional lenders in order to protect their investment. Banks do extensive research into the borrower’s past tax returns, bank balances and reviews all their sources of income and expenditures.  Hard money lenders just look at the property.  Borrowers should also be aware that hard money lenders are not governed by banking laws, which allows them the freedom to underwrite loans that conventional lenders would reject.

Research your lender:

You can often find testimonials and starting terms on the lender’s website. You can also call and ask for references; reputable hard money lenders will be happy to provide you with this information. It can also be a good idea to call with your loan request or to email a loan summary prior to setting up a meeting.

Prove your project’s value. 

Before meeting with a lender, you should be prepared to prove the value and viability of your business plan. You will be dealing directly with the decision-maker; therefore, it’s important to show that you know what you’re talking about and can back up any claims about the value of the property (especially the resale value) with actual numbers. While private lenders require less documentation than conventional lenders, they will still want to see financial statements, especially for income-producing properties. Also, while not usually necessary to close the deal, good credit history can sometimes help influence the interest rate they offer you.

Have an exit strategy. 

The high interest rates of hard money loans mean that it is in your best interest to pay it off in full and on time. Most lenders will want to know how you plan to repay the loan before even agreeing to lend you the money. It’s also a good idea to be diligent in meeting any and all deadlines set by your lender as it will make them more willing to agree to an extension in the event that you need more time.

Wednesday 8 April 2015

Top Reasons to Secure Hard Money

We are living in a dynamic economics times, under conditions that make less sense to the investors. Hard money loans recently offered in the California by Private Funds Direct, are giving the opportunity to the real estate investors to free themselves of the traditional financing and focuses on what will allow them to grow. Here are the few reasons why people are flocking to the opportunity of hard money loans.



You have been hit by the recession

It is been a rough decade for the USA economy. A lot of people have emerged from the catastrophic economic recession with damaged credit. That is why Hard Money loans allows their customers what is often the means to turn their economic situation around and contribute to the rebounding of country's economy.

You are tired of red tape

Along with the previously mentioned recession that came a slew of reactionary regulations and restrictions affecting those people who are attempting to secure financing. Traditional banks are shutting out those who they have worked with in the past who may appear to be an unsafe investment. Hard money loans come from a private lender, so those regulations stay out of the trouble.

You have enough equity but are short on cash

California Hard Money lenders incentivize a different form of leverage for the borrowers. Does not matter if you are short on cash and dealing with bad credit, your financial equity makes you a safe investment in the eyes of a hard money lender. Your assets are viewed in a different, more favorable way.

It is mutually beneficial transaction

It is true that they have a high interest rate, but still hard money loans offer a degree of flexibility that is just not possible through traditional lending sources.

 For an asset-based loan in California, contact Private Funds Direct and get your finances in order.
Check out recently funded properties

Friday 3 April 2015

Borrowing from Hard Money Lenders for Real Estate



Looking for quick loans appears to be an excellent opportunity for the real estate investment deal means that you cannot get money quick enough from the local lender. You have a limited time to close a good deal but also need a way to come up with the cash to complete transaction. You need to find hard money lender to get funds quickly.
If you are in urban area and you know that there are real estate clubs around. There doesn’t seem to be any other choice so you have to see them, keeping in mind that they may be willing to help you if it is a good one. Private investors could deliver the money within as early as five days.


 It is important when dealing with private investors is to show them that it is a good deal, doesn’t matter if you are not able to pay them back. For any reason if this happens, there has to be a considerable equity in the property, which will enable them to earn profit even if they have to take the property back from you for lack of payment. Even after that, you will be able to borrow only 65% of the property’s value after it has been fixed.

A big part of their consideration of hard money loan is the value of property, not your credit score. Usually they look at your credit score, the biggest factor is the collateral. As they are in for money, they are pretty sure that they will make a profit even if you don’t. But if you handle it in a right way, your investment in a good deal should also yield you a lot of profit back to you too. The amount of profit you will get depends on your expertise in real estate transactions, the market analysis, and of course the amount of interest you pay to the hard money lender.

It is also very important to know the difference between hard money broker and hard money lender. A hard money broker is a middle man between borrower and the lender. They usually charge a fee upfront to put you in contact with some private investors and it may not be refundable. However a private lender has their own money and they will use to help you finance the deal.

First the California hard money lender will evaluate the property before agreeing to give you a loan on that property. It is your responsibility to ensure that the amount you have asked for this is in line with the typical private investor’s expectations. Learning how to do this will come with time, and from talking with other people who frequently deal with hard money investors. Remember that they are in it for a profit too.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

HML Common FAQ


The process for Getting Hard Money Loans?

Hard Money Loans provide Investors easy access to capital to purchase properties. They can fund more quickly, typically within 72 hours of receiving the final docs from the entitled Company. Hard Money is available for adequately collateralize loans on single-family residential houses and other Real Property including commercial projects. 

HML FAQ

How do You deal with lenders?
After doing your homework, you should speak directly with a loan officer or principal of the company to learn more.Take your time on the phone, and ask questions about how they do business, what they cost, and what they need from you and from the borrower. Make sure to ask if the person or company is a lender or a broker. Do they fund with their own money? Do they have funds available now? And can the lender provide some examples of recently closed loans? Don’t forget to take notes.

If the conversation goes well, a lender may ask you what kinds of deals you have on your desk that it might be interested in. Be ready to talk about any deal you have that is seeking hard money.

What Will It Cost?

All loans will require the Title Policy, Insurance, and Appraisal. These services come with fees that can range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. Most require origination points ranging from 2 to 10 points.

How does Hard Money are Compare to a Traditional non-owner occupied investor loan?

Typically these type of loans are for quick turn around or after
situations like repair. Conventional financing technique is used for your traditional rentals and long term hold scenarios. As the foreclosure market increases you will will find investors to use HML as a way to secure the property in a short period of time then refinance into Conventional finance.
Is It Safe to Use?

It is relatively easy to find HML that are merely businesses seeking a higher return on investment funds than they can get in the stock market. These lenders typically follow the regulations and laws as carefully as institutional lenders in underwriting, documentation and servicing of their loans.

Loan modifications may be easier and more creative with a hard-money lender because borrowers often can speak directly to the top decision maker. In addition, because every loan is a larger percentage of a hard-money lender’s portfolio than it is for an institutional lender, the hard-money lender has more incentive to help guide each loan to a successful conclusion.

What About the Interest Rates?

The interest rate depends upon the Lender. The rate will range from 10% interest only to 18% interest only annual interest rate payable monthly in most cases. Some Lenders will defer interest payments to payoff, benefiting investors that do not want payments during rehab.

Getting Hard Money in California

Lending Hard money in California is just as popular as it is in most other areas, particularly with property buyers. You might wonder why credit seekers would likely decide on private hard money lenders over traditional loan associations. You may often hear or read that private funders demand extra or that they are known to be a last option for funding.

The truth is that they offer many services that the banks cannot or will not. They approve more loans, in a timelier manner. They understand the needs of the investor, since most of them have invested in real estate. Many of them still do. Some of them are even considered specialists, a good choice for the rehabber or reseller. The fees that they charge are reasonable, for the most part, but to get the best deal, you should shop around.