Posted by: Nick Johnson in Single Families, Remodel, Rehab, Recession, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Agents, Private Lender, Preforeclosure, Offer, Motivated Sellers, Mortgage, Market Prediction, Investment, HUD, Hard Money Lender, Getting Started, FSBO, Foreclosure, Financing, Economy, Due Dilligence, Bank Owned on
Feb 18, 2009
Over the past 12 months my partners and I have been buying single family home foreclosures. Homes are selling for deep discounts and providing high cash-flow rates once rented. Our strategy is not to buy and flip, but to buy, rehab then rent to provide cash-flow and capital appreciation. On the surface this may seem as easy as drinking coffee because of the high number of foreclosures available. But don't be fooled with high quantity and low prices. Buying foreclosure properties is not as easy as it may seem. Buying houses for cash has been our strategy which is one way to up your chances of success. Refer to my previous article "Buying Real Estate With All-Cash" In todays article I'll outline another strategy that when paired with all-cash works for us.
Relieving Some of the Burden
Buying homes at deep discounts for cash relieves vacancy pressure as there is no unerlying mortgage. You may still have a lean on the property held by a private lender but hopefully you have worked out the terms so that you have 60-90 days until your first interest payment. Racing out to find a tenant before your first payment is no longer a pressing issue. You can be more choosy when screening tenants. You can hold closer to your asking rent price and not decrease it just to get the property occupied. You can save money by performing more of the rehab yourself. These are just a few of the benefits.
The Problem With Real Estate Agents
As easy as it might seem to buy real estate at low prices, a problem has arrisen that must be addressed if we are to successfully close deals with banks. I have found, as with many of my collegues that seller real estate agents have all the control when it comes to you submitting your offer, deciphering which offers to submit, how much information they tell you ahead of time, and lets face it some blatently do nothing. As a buyer in the past I have typically used a buying real estate agent to help me track down candidate properties, perform showings and leg work. As a result I did not close many deals dispite offering near or above asking price. The reason...
Posted by: Nick Johnson in Rehab Money, Rehab, Recession, Offer, Motivated Sellers, Mortgage, Market Prediction, Investment, Getting Started, Foreclosure, Financing, Economy, Due Dilligence, Bank Owned on
Feb 03, 2009
In an up and down market there are those investors that will dig up opportunities regardless of the state of the economy. In the current climate banks are holding on to their cash with a wait and see attitude. Savvy investors are finding that buying with "All-cash" works as a viable strategy for acquiring residential and commercial bank owned properties. Investors with a wait and see attitude for institutional lending and financing are missing a great opportunity to buy while everything is on sale. Rock bottom prices in the residential and commercial markets in part have been driven down by the scarce availability of credit.
A Hostile Lending Environment
Currently, savings and loan banks, an alternative to commercial lending institutions and private lenders, will typically finance up to 65-70% percent of property values. Buyers in some cases are required to bring 30-35% to the closing table to even be considered. The Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) market which has traditionally produced many lenders eager to compete for loans has been stalled since the 4'th quarter of 2007. For example: In the first 3 quarters of 2008 only $12 to $13 billion worth of commercial loans were securitized. Already, 2009 is on its way to having the lowest production of securitized commercial loans in 10 years as stated by Commercial Real Estate Direct. Some banks, in order to finace a new project, are requiring developers to pre-lease roughly 70 percent of office/retail units and housing. Shorter amortization periods and higher interest rates added to the mix creates the perfect storm for an even more hostile lending environment.
Posted by: Shirley_Brown in Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Agents, Pre Foreclosure, Offer, Investment, Foreclosure, Due Dilligence, Comps, Brokers Price Opinion, Bankruptcy, Bank Owned on
Jun 19, 2008
Everyone is always looking for a good deal. Real estate investors are no exception, which explains why the foreclosure market is booking for first-time buyers. These first-timers are seeing home prices at 10 to 40 percent below market value, which can make for an enticing offer, especially when the surrounding area is experiencing growth.
No matter what the talking heads on info-mercials and late-night cable TV say, not all foreclosures are what they're cracked up to be. While there may be some great foreclosure investments, you will need to know where to find it and how to make a fair offer in order to successfully acquire it. Lenders can practice more restrictively in markets where home prices continue to rise. When you couple that with the influence that home owners have over the selling price, it can create a situation that is less than friendly to buyers.
The purchase of a foreclosure property requires that the purchaser fully examine the property from every angle, financially and structurally. Patience really is a virtue, even in this robust market with many options that superficially appear to be bargains. In order to be considered a serious buyer, your offer to the seller should reflect this image. It is the well-researched offer that makes for a realistic starting point in the negotiation round.
