Inside Our Hard Money Loan Evaluation Process

Key Takeaways

  • Understanding the basics of hard money loans is crucial.
  • A fast evaluation process helps real estate investors and others achieve their goal of a speedy loan closing and funding.
  • Legal compliance and detailed documentation are non-negotiable.

Introduction

In the fast-paced realm of real estate investing, getting funding on time is critical for your success. That’s why so many real estate investors depend on hard money loans. Hard Money Loans from Private Money Utah are approved quickly with fast funding so that real estate investors can pounce on real estate deals that won’t last long.

But how do we review real estate deals for viability and evaluate risks as the basis for our lending decisions? 

Let’s talk about our loan evaluation criteria for our hard money loans so you can understand how this hard money lender approves and declines loans.

Understanding the Basics of Hard Money Loans

What Are Hard Money Loans?

Unlike conventional loans, hard money loans are primarily asset-based loans, which is one factor that helps expedite the approval process. Hard money loans get their name from using hard assets as collateral such as real estate.

What Type of Borrowers Use Hard Money Loans?

There’s a common myth out there that only desperate or bad credit borrowers are those willing to pay the higher interest rates typically associated with hard money loans. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, there are so many reasons that people use hard money loans, in fact, some may surprise you. Discover the many reasons why people get hard money loans in greater detail here, and see how many of these reasons turn out to surprise you! 

Our Evaluation Process- How we look at a real estate deal

Our evaluation process for a loan is:

  1. Borrower and/or other third parties provide information about the property being used as collateral for the loan and the borrower.
  2. We review all of the information provided by the borrower and other third parties. We verify that the information is accurate.
  3. After we’ve reviewed all of the information and documentation for the loan file, we do a risk analysis to determine if the level of risk is acceptable.
  4. Once we’ve determined if the level of risk is acceptable, then we price that risk and present the final loan terms to the borrower. 

The subsequent sections will go deeper into the evaluation criteria, legal compliance, and other facets of our due diligence process before approving a loan. For a sneak peek into some real estate deals evaluated and funded by us, check out our Recent Loans Closed section.

Real Estate Deal Evaluation Criteria: The 5 Cs

The 5 Cs are the criteria that make up our evaluation framework in order to fund a hard money loan. The 5 Cs are: Collateral, Character, Cash, Credit, and Cybersecurity.

Collateral: 

Property Use: A thorough review of the property that will be used as collateral for the loan is one of the aspects of asset based loans. The borrower must be ready to provide all of the available information about the property to the lender, including some information that may not be readily available.

Understanding the zoning laws and land use regulations is essential for any lender before lending on a property.

Is there an HOA that regulates property usage? Is the property located in a special district, etc.? Is there a factor about the location that will make the property less desirable? Is there access, or is some sort of easement required? These are just a handful of aspects about the property that a lender looks at when evaluating a loan opportunity.

Property Value: Do the numbers work?

      1. Loan to Value (LTV) Ratio: This crucial metric mirrors the loan amount against the value of the property, or the purchase price, whichever is lower typically. Most hard money lenders lend a certain percentage of the purchase price for a property on purchases, rather than on the appraised value. Because every hard money lender is different, find out what your lender’s max LTV is on purchases and on refinances.
      2. BPO of value versus a Professional Appraisal: Hard money lenders use a variety of methods for valuing a property. Depending on the complexity of the loan, or if a lender doesn’t understand the market well, a lender may choose to go with an appraisal to determine a value for the property.  However, if a lender understands the market well, or needs to close the loan in a hurry, a lender may opt for a Broker’s Price Opinion, often called a “BPO,” to determine a value for the property.  But it’s not as easy as just ordering an appraisal or a BPO. A lender really needs to analyze the report, talk to real estate professionals, and run the numbers, especially on income-producing properties.
      3. Purchase Price Evaluation: If the loan is being requested for a purchase, we must analyze the purchase price against the as-is value of the property. Is the asking price for the property based on its future, intended use? Or is it based on a future value or future rents? If the borrower is paying a lot more for a property as compared to its as-is value, the borrower may need to bring in a larger down payment.  This is because a lender may not be able to rely on a future value given that it requires the work of the borrower to achieve the future value. And if the borrower doesn’t take the action required, there may not be a future value that a lender can count on.Cap rates are something to factor in as well, particularly on a purchase of an income-producing property.
      4. After Repair Value (ARV) and As Completed Value: Typically for Fix and Flip Loans, and construction loans, the “ARV,” or the “As Completed Value,” provide a future property value after repairs are made, or after construction is completed.  Loans that rely on a value at a date in the future, are always higher risk, so a lender must consider all of the potential risks to achieving a future value and how those additional risks can be mitigated.

Ensuring a Clear Title: A thorough title search is imperative to ascertain that the property is free from any liens or litigation. 

Access to Water: Particularly in drier states, water is very important in real estate, so always make sure the property has a source of water, unless the property is on city water. And if a well is required, does the property have a well permit in place, and if not, are permits available in the area where the property is located?

Character: Borrower’s Experience with the Property Type & Track Record 

Evaluating the borrower’s character is not what it seems on the surface. We are not looking at personality traits or moral standards, we are looking at the borrower’s experience, track record, and history.

The questions that should be asked include: Does your borrower have real estate investing experience with this particular property type that is being used as collateral for the loan? Can your borrower carry out the type of project being proposed?

Does your borrower have the track record and experience that can be relied upon?

Cash: Borrower’s Financial Assessment

While the primary focus is on the property, understanding the borrower’s financial standing provides a larger picture of the risk involved. Higher risk doesn’t mean a loan will be declined, but the final interest rate or fees may reflect a higher risk.

Down Payment or Cash Equity: What size down payment is the borrower bringing in on a purchase? If it’s a refinance how much cash equity does the Borrower have in the property?

Cash Reserves: Does the borrower have adequate cash reserves to cover any unforeseen circumstances that may occur? For example if it’s a construction loan, or renovation project, does the borrower have reserves to cover budget overruns? ”

Number of Projects in Process: How many other projects does your borrower have going that require cash outlay? If a borrower has several other projects or businesses that may require more cash outlay, a lender may be hesitant to do a loan.

Having too many projects going at once that all require cash outlay by a borrower is a red flag because it indicates that a borrower may find him or herself in a cash crunch position.

Credit:

Most hard money and private money lenders lend to borrowers with poor credit, and many of them do not have a minimum credit score requirement. However, many lenders will require a credit report to mitigate fraud. In higher risk loan transactions, such as value add real estate deals, or construction loans, credit may become a more important factor in loan approval.

Cybersecurity & Fraud:

There are several areas to a loan transaction that can invite fraud. Since everything is done digitally and online these days, it has become harder to prove identities of borrowers. When evaluating a loan opportunity, a lender must be aware of identity theft, whereby someone impersonates a real person and attempts to obtain a loan in that person’s name. A lender must have cybersecurity measures and fraud prevention procedures in place to avoid becoming a victim of this type of fraud.

Additional Risk Factors Hard Money Lenders Consider: 

Legal Compliance:

Adhering to State and Federal laws with your lending practices is crucial to managing risk. Are you complying with usury laws in the jurisdiction where you are making loans? And then what are the disclosure requirements for the type of loan you are making? Do you have to comply with certain standards based on occupancy status, or property use? 

Market Conditions:

Evaluating both the current market conditions and the expected future conditions helps in understanding the potential growth or potential depreciation of the property’s value.

Where are you in a real estate or market cycle? Are interest rates expected to go up, and if so, what interest rate and for what term would be appropriate for a given loan? Are there a lot of properties for sale at the same target price point that your borrower is planning to resell a property you are loaning on?

Exit Strategy: How will you pay the hard money loan back?

Assessing the borrower’s exit strategy—whether it’s selling the property or refinancing—and testing the viability of that exit strategy is critical. What is the borrower’s plan for paying the loan back, and is that a viable plan? Always ask your borrower for a secondary or tertiary exit strategy. Sometimes other information will be required to determine if the borrower’s exit strategy is viable, particularly if the exit strategy is a refinance. If a borrower has poor credit or not enough cash equity, the chance of a refinance as an exit strategy lessens.

Changing State and Local Regulations:

Are there any pending state or local regulations that could affect the property, or the future property use? For example, if the property is a short-term rental, will pending regulations affect the property use in the future, and if so, how will this affect your exit strategy on the loan?

Environmental Considerations:

Does this area have any known environmental issues? Is there a property nearby that could pose future environmental problems such as proximity to a dry cleaners, automotive repair shop, a printing shop, etc.? If the property is located near to a property that has created environmental contamination, it may have also been contaminated.

Changing Flood Maps:

Lenders use flood maps to determine whether flood insurance is required. However these maps are not meant to be predictive and lenders considering whether flood insurance should be required should take into account the overall flood risk to the property. “Maps do not forecast flooding. Maps only reflect past flooding conditions and are a snapshot in time. They do not represent all hazards and do not predict future conditions,” said Michael Grimm, former deputy associate administrator of FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.

 

 

Grimm also identified the challenge when it comes to mapping flooding from intense and heavy rainfall, which seems to be a by-product of a warming climate.

Grimm said. “What the maps right now are mainly covering are that coastal flood hazard and the riverine flood hazard for larger riverine watersheds. We know that as climate changes, the impacts are getting worse. We’re seeing more and more flooding going on as a result.”

FEMA is required to review a community’s flood maps every 5 years and then decide whether to update them. Insurance rates may change once a flood map change becomes effective. This is a growing concern for lenders as flood maps across the U.S. are changing, or soon to be changing.

Properties that were once located in 500-year floodplains could be named 100-year floodplains. And properties that weren’t previously at risk of flooding are now at risk due to improper drainage infrastructure of the city where the property is located. 

Insurance Availability:

With a changing climate comes also changes to insurance requirements. Some locations that are insurable now may in the future come with higher priced premiums, or become uninsurable altogether.  If you’re doing a refinance, how likely is it that a property you’re lending on may be uninsurable sometime in the future? If you’re loaning on a flip, or new construction, how will the cost and availability of insurance affect the resale of the property?

Lenders will begin to redline certain locations based on the availability, or not, of insurance as the effects of climate warming are fully realized.

Conclusion:

A lender must take a disciplined and methodical approach when evaluating a hard money loan opportunity. Because there are so many factors to consider when making a loan, potential lenders should not be lured by the promise of superior returns. This naive approach to private money lending can present some fairly predictable pitfalls that most certainly will turn to losses. 

A property loan is extremely complex because a private money lender must have an understanding of many aspects of the property being used as collateral for the loan, as well as the borrower. A lender must fully understand the legal and regulatory framework, the current and future market conditions, just to name a few. Many private money lenders fail to look at the forest for the trees, as the familiar saying goes. New and inexperienced lenders become so focused on the trees, AKA the loan opportunities, that they fail to see the forest around them. 

For a deeper understanding of hard money loans, check out our Hard Money Video Resources and the Recent Loans Closed section of our website.

Deal Evaluation FAQs

What is a Hard Money Loan?
A hard money loan is primarily asset-based financing provided by a non bank lender.

How quickly can a Hard Money Loan be approved?
Loan approval can be expedited, often within a few days, provided all necessary information is submitted to the lender.

What is the Loan to Value (LTV) ratio in Hard Money Loans?
The LTV ratio is a metric that reflects the loan amount against the value of the property.

What is the significance of the After Repair Value (ARV)?
The ARV is the future value of a fix-and-flip property after renovation.

Are there different types of Hard Money Loans?
Yes, including Fix and Flip Loans, Bridge Loans, and Commercial Bridge Loans.

Utah Real Estate Unveiled: An Investor’s Guide

Introduction

Real estate investors who are considering real estate investment in Utah often ask, how do I get started? or, what are the best cities for real estate investment in Utah?

Investing in the Utah real estate market requires research and planning on your part if you want to be successful. And the same thing goes for investing in any new market. In this article I’ll give you some insider tips for successful real estate investment in Utah. As a real estate lender, not only do I review new Utah real estate investment opportunities weekly, but I have a comprehensive knowledge of the Utah real estate market as a whole.

Utah’s economic growth and stability, combined with a growing population, are the primary reasons that real estate investors are investing in the Utah real estate market. In this Utah real estate investing guide, I will provide a general overview of real estate investment in Utah to help you decide if it’s for you.

I will start with a few key factors that make investing in the Utah real estate market an attractive choice for real estate investors. I will also point out a few factors that deter real estate investors from entering the Utah real estate market. I will discuss the best cities for real estate investment in Utah. And then finally, this guide will help you identify a few legal considerations for real estate investment in Utah.


Overview of Real Estate Investment in Utah

Utah’s Economic Growth and Stability

Utah’s economy has seen explosive population growth since 2010 and it spiked right after the pandemic in 2020. With its rapid population trajectory, combined with the current lack of affordable housing, many out-of-state investors have been drawn to real estate investment in Utah.

Utah had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation in 2022, due in part to a regulatory environment that is favorable to small businesses. The low unemployment rate and favorable business climate have spurred all sorts of new real estate investment in Utah. 

Real estate investors are also able to diversify within the Utah real estate market by investing in different property types such as: storage units, residential land development, and short term rentals.

Benefits of Investing in Utah’s Real Estate Sector

Investing in the Utah real estate market offers numerous benefits for real estate investors. Utah is landlord-friendly as compared with California which is tenant-friendly. 

Demand for housing in Utah has been steady since 2010 with low vacancy rates. Property values have also seen steady appreciation since 2010. The real estate market in Utah shows promising forecasts for future growth too, which provides real estate investors the potential for above average returns.

Analyzing Utah’s Real Estate Market

Identifying Promising Areas for Investment in Utah

Utah has several geographic areas that have strong population growth projections, which point to an increasing demand for housing. Some of these geographic areas include, Tooele County, Summit County, Morgan County, Emery County,  Weber County, Cache County, Duchesne County, Washington County, and Grand County.

Property Types and Market Demand

Because each of these geographic areas has its own unique factors, and also because there are a diverse range of property types to choose from, you really need to decide “where” and “what,” before you make any real estate investment in Utah. 

For example, some of the areas I’ve listed are tourist destinations, so real estate investors who are focusing on short term rentals would start by looking in those areas. Some areas in Utah are still very rural and have low housing inventory, but projections show future growth. These areas will attract real estate investors who are targeting all property types including fix and flips, long term rentals, or residential spec construction. 

By carefully researching the different geographic areas in Utah and measuring current and future market demand, a real estate investor can determine if a particular property type would be a fit for that area. For example, in a city with a large number of apartment complexes, a self storage facility may be a desirable property type in that city.

Utah Rental Market Analysis

The rental market in Utah is driven by the factors already mentioned including: population growth, job opportunities, and a robust tourism industry. By obtaining a thorough rental market analysis from a local real estate broker or property manager,  you can identify areas with high rental demand, areas with rental rates that cash flow, and areas with potential for rental income growth. 

Unfortunately for investors in long term rental properties, ever since 2016 when Utah property values really started to increase rapidly, rental rates didn’t rise as fast as prices. And then prices spiked, from the end of 2020 through the spring of 2022, making it even harder for investors in long term rentals to find properties with cash flow.  

At the time this article was written, it was difficult to find a rental property in Utah that cash flowed. For this reason, many real estate investors in Utah have purchased rental properties in recent years with the goal of future value appreciation, rather than with an expectation of cash flow.

Factors to Consider Before Investing in Utah

The Legal Considerations for Real Estate Investment in Utah

Before diving into real estate in Utah you must first have an understanding of the legal considerations for real estate investment in Utah. For example, the regulatory bodies that govern businesses and real estate in the state. The Division of Real Estate governs all things real estate and mortgage in Utah. And the Utah Division of Corporations governs all things business. Familiarize yourself with Utah real estate laws, its property ownership laws, landlord-tenant laws, and property management regulations. 

What individual name or business entity name will you be doing business in Utah under? Are you setting up a Utah business entity, or are you operating under a foreign business entity that should be registered in Utah? Consult with a CPA that understands your tax goals and can suggest the right type of business entity structure that would be best for you. 

Utah is in the top 10 states with the lowest property taxes. The Utah State Tax Commission is the entity where you file and pay your income taxes. Find a CPA that has experience working with real estate investors and can provide advice on tax strategies based on your specific real estate investment goals.

 

Additionally, explore any tax incentives or exemptions available for certain types of investments, such as historic properties or renewable energy projects.

A knowledgeable realtor in Utah is the type of advisor that can help you navigate Utah real estate investment opportunities. But consult with a real estate attorney on more complex real estate matters such as complicated contracts or partnership agreements, title, land, and development, are just a few areas where legal advice is essential. 

Short Term Rentals (STRs) in Utah are regulated in Utah all the way down to the local level. They can be regulated by the County, but in some cases it’s left up to the municipality, i.e. town. And then any short term rental may also be subject to the jurisdiction of the individual Homeowners Association (HOA) where the property is located. Always do careful research to make sure STRs are allowed at the properties you are targeting for short term rental investment purposes.

Financing Options and Strategies

How will you fund your real estate deals in Utah? To have multiple financing options is crucial for success in real estate investment in Utah and in any real estate market.

There are a variety of financing avenues for purchasing real estate in Utah, including traditional mortgages and hard money loans. But you must first figure out what your investment strategy is, and what your long term goals are for a property. Then take your goals to a good mortgage broker, or other seasoned financing pro. 

Corey Dutton, a private money lender based in Utah, is one of those seasoned pros who’s both a mortgage broker and a private money lender. Professionals like Corey can help you decide how you will fund your purchases of investment properties in Utah based on your short term and long term goals. 

The real estate market in Utah is competitive. Motivated sellers may sell properties at a discount but only to buyers with cash, or fast funding hard money loans. Unless you’re planning to come in and purchase with all of your own cash, you should consider getting preapproved with a hard money lending company before you start your search for real estate investment properties to buy in Utah. 

The best Utah real estate investment opportunities, like anywhere, never last long. In order to compete in a competitive real estate market, you need to be ready to purchase with all cash. But most real estate investors don’t have large amounts of cash on hand. For this reason, most real estate investors use hard money loans to purchase real estate investment properties and then either sell or refinance to pay off the loans. 

Hard money lenders in Utah are your best source for fast loan approval and funding to give you a competitive advantage. Make friends with a good mortgage broker, and a good hard money lender, in Utah. They can both give you advice on how to best finance your properties and accomplish your real estate investing in the Utah real estate market. A lot of traditional mortgage brokers don’t understand how private money loans work so make sure you also get to know a good hard money lender in Utah.

 

Top Tips for Successful Real Estate Investment in Utah

Build a Strong Network of Professionals and Team of Advisors

Seek the expertise of real estate agents, attorneys, and tax advisors who specialize real estate when investing in the Utah real estate market. They can guide you through the intricacies of local regulations, assist with property transactions, and ensure compliance with applicable laws. 

Collaborating with local real estate professionals can provide you with valuable insights when investing in any new market. Connect with local property managers, contractors, and title companies, lenders who have experience in the Utah market. They can provide not only guidance, but also potential investment opportunities. 

Building relationships with professionals ensures you have a team to support your investment journey in Utah that can help you navigate any challenges that may arise. How do you network with, and learn from, local real estate professionals? Consider joining a local chapter of any Utah Real Estate Investor Club, or local Real Estate Investor Association, there are several scattered across the major geographic areas in Utah. 

Understand Legal and Tax Considerations of Real Estate Investing in Utah

Having a solid team of professional advisors is key to your success. Real estate attorneys, experienced real estate brokers, and seasoned tax professionals are a few of the types of advisors that you need on your “team” to help you accomplish your goals in real estate investing in Utah. Without them, you are just finding information on the internet somewhere and trying to do it all yourself. Never cut corners or cheap out when it comes to the right professional advice.

Conduct Thorough Market Research

Thorough market research is the foundation of any successful real estate investment. Make sure you carefully analyze historical trends, that you evaluate current market conditions, and then make future projections of profits, income, etc. Your numbers work, or they don’t work. And if the numbers don’t work for what you want to do with the property, then move onto the next deal quickly. The sooner you make a decision to proceed with the investment property purchase or not, the closer you’ll be to the right one. 

In Utah, you need to look for areas with potential for job growth, city center initiatives favoring growth, and expansion of infrastructure. Identify neighborhoods or cities that show potential for appreciation from high rental demand. Whatever your exit strategy is for the real estate investment property, all of these factors play an important role in your success in a particular neighborhood or location.  


Implement Effective Property Management Strategies

Efficient property management is crucial for optimizing returns and maintaining the value of your investments. Whether you choose to self-manage, or hire a professional property management company, establish effective systems for tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, and lease agreements. Good property management ensures a profitable operation by minimizing vacancies, and saving money where possible, while also staying on top of maintenance. 

Best Cities for Real Estate Investment in Utah

Salt Lake City: Growth Drivers, Investment Opportunities

Salt Lake County is where the capital, Salt Lake City, is located. Salt Lake City is one of the fastest growing cities in Utah for multifamily (apartment construction) in recent years. With several colleges and universities, and 3 ski resorts, Salt Lake City has seen a steady demand for housing over the past 10 years. 

If you can find a rental property in Salt Lake County at the right price where the rental numbers work, take it down. There are a lot of older, dated homes in Salt Lake City, which presents future opportunities for fix and flips or other value add plays. That is, if you can purchase the properties at low enough prices. 

Because of the high demand for housing in Salt Lake City, a recently renovated, well designed home can often demand multiple offers. Margins have been getting tighter in recent years with so much competition among real estate investors in Utah for both fix and flip, and rental investment properties in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Salt Lake County has a robust job market with a growing population. There has been a revitalization of areas of downtown Salt Lake City in recent years with the development of new residential and commercial. But many multifamily real estate investors wonder if the multifamily market is saturated with new inventory in Salt Lake City. 

If Salt Lake City is saturated with new construction and multifamily properties, maybe a better play is converting commercial properties to affordable housing, or workforce housing. Land prices are always a factor that real estate investors need to monitor in new development projects, especially when developing affordable housing or workforce housing. And with land prices at historically high levels in Salt Lake County at the time this article was written, these types of projects don’t prove as profitable as high density, multifamily projects. 

Park City: Tourism and Rental Potential

Summit County is renowned for its world-class ski resorts and vibrant tourism industry. It attracts visitors from around the world, offering excellent opportunities for vacation rental investments and second home ownership. Park City, the cash cow city for Summit County, hosts major events like the Sundance Film Festival and large scale summer events and festivals that draw visitors. For this reason, Park City made my list of the best cities for real estate investment in Utah. Additionally, Park City’s charm and natural beauty make it an appealing location for luxury residential properties for use as short term rentals, as fix and flip investments, or spec construction.

Provo & Orem, UT: Student Housing & Household Formation 

Utah County has been one of the fastest growing counties in Utah in recent years, and among the fastest in the nation. According to U.S. Census data, Utah County made the top 10 list of U.S. counties that saw the most growth during the pandemic.

Provo and Orem are two sister cities in Utah County that made the list of the best cities for real estate investment in Utah. These were two of fastest growing cities in the entire U.S. during the pandemic. 

Provo is home to Brigham Young University where student housing has been historically, very highly regulated. Changes to the BYU Student Housing Policy that went into effect in the fall of 2022, have opened up more opportunities for real estate investors near the BYU campus.

And then post graduation, college students in Provo and Orem want to stay locally and raise their families. For this reason, new family formation also drives the housing demand in Utah County. 

Lehi: Technology Industry Influence

The presence of a highly educated workforce and a culture of innovation both contribute to Utah’s economic growth. Lehi has a thriving technology sector, often referred to as, “Silicon Slopes.” Because of the rapid growth in Lehi, Utah in recent years, real estate investors can explore both residential and commercial acquisition and development.

Saint George, UT: The Migration Capital of Utah

There was a lot of migration during the 1st year after the COVID-19 pandemic started. And in 2022 U.S. Census data showed that one the metros in the U.S. that saw the most growth between July 1, 2020 through July 1, 2021 was Saint George, Utah. 

Saint George is not just a migration destination, but it’s also a destination for retirees because of its warm climate, and it’s also a vacation destination for tourists because it’s near 3 national parks. Because of its broad appeal, Saint George, Utah definitely made my list of the best cities for real estate investment in Utah.


Conclusion

Utah has landlord-friendly laws, low vacancy rates, and strong demand for housing that has been steadily growing since 2010. The real estate market in Utah shows promising forecasts for future growth too, which gives real estate investors an opportunity for future appreciation.

But to take advantage of Utah’s real estate investment potential you need a comprehensive understanding of your target counties and cities, and you need to decide what property types you plan to focus on. Whether your chosen property types are residential fix and flip, spec construction, long term rentals, land development, or commercial industrial, you need to know if there’s a demand for that property type in your areas of focus.

There are also legal considerations, tax considerations, and the need to find financing. And then finally, build a network in the real estate investing community in Utah and use a qualified team of professional advisors to guide your journey. 

Still thinking you want to do real estate investment in Utah? Reach out to us to discuss your real estate investment goals and we can help you figure out the best way to fund them.

Private Money Loans: The Secret Weapon for Real Estate Investors

Navigating Your Real Estate Investment Funding Options

When you decide to invest in real estate, the burning question is, how will you get the money to purchase real estate investments?

When purchasing real estate investments, what options are out there for you to get funding? Sources of funding to purchase investment properties include: cash on hand, money from a partner, funding from a Retirement Account, a 1031 exchange, etc. These are just a few funding options for the purchase of real estate investment properties.

Most real estate investors purchase real estate investment properties using loans. The most common type of loan that real estate investors use to purchase investment properties are called private money loans, or hard money loans. A private money loan, or hard money loan, is a loan from a non-bank source. The words, private money and hard money, are words that are used interchangeably in this article to mean the same thing. There’s a debate whether hard money and private money actually have different meanings which I explain in an older article.

Most people, unless they are real estate investors, have never heard of private money loans for real estate investing. Even though these loans aren’t widely known, private money loans tend to be the top choice for real estate investors to purchase real estate investment properties.

Uncovering Your Primary Needs in Real Estate Financing

Every borrower is looking for the lowest cost funding option to purchase real estate. If you ask people what their biggest need is when it comes to funding for real estate, most will tell you it’s the lowest interest rate they can get. But most of the time, the lowest cost loan option is a bank or credit union.

The challenge with bank loans is they take a long time to close, usually between 3 weeks to 6 weeks. In a competitive real estate market where good real estate deals sell quickly, the biggest need of a real estate investor is actually the speed of funding, and not the lowest interest rate. What good is a super low interest rate from a bank if it can’t close in time for you to buy a property?

The Advantage of Private Money Loans to Meet Investor Needs

Because a real estate investor’s biggest need is usually speed of funding, most will choose private money loans to fund their real estate investment purchases. A cash offer has a higher chance of being accepted by a seller because it promises a faster closing than an offer with bank financing attached. Buyers who rely on bank financing tend to close a lot slower on a purchase, which is why sellers prefer cash offers. Only private money loans can close as fast as cash. This is the primary reason that real estate investors use private money loans to fund purchases of investment properties.

Expanding Your Real Estate Empire Swiftly with Private Money Loans

Another reason real estate investors use private money, hard money loans is because they are able to scale their real estate portfolios faster. What is a portfolio? It’s a bunch of real estate you own, like houses, apartments, warehouses, etc., that you are holding and renting out long term for rental income. If a real estate investor only uses available cash on hand and bank loans, it could take a long time to build a real estate portfolio. Here’s more detail on why hard money loans can help a real estate investor scale a real estate portfolio faster.

Some vacant properties won’t even qualify for bank financing, even if a real estate investor has excellent credit and income. Private money and hard money lenders will lend on vacant properties. This allows real estate investors to buy them, rent them out, and then resell them or hold onto them long term. This is how private money loans can help real estate investors to buy using the BRRRR method of real estate investing. 

Private Money Loans vs. Conventional Loans: Understanding the Difference

What are the primary differences between a private money loan and a conventional, bank loan?

  • A private money loan has a faster closing timeline that mimics a cash close. Private Money Loans can fund in a week or less, whereas conventional loans can take 3-6 weeks to fund.
  • Private money loans have less requirements and less paperwork needed to qualify. Often there’s no minimum credit score. Bank loans require a ton of documentation and have a minimum credit score to qualify a borrower.
  • Private lenders accept various property types to be used as collateral for a loan, whereas banks tend to be rigid on what property types they will lend on.
  • At the time this article is written, interest rates for private money loans tend to be priced in the range of 10% to 12%, whereas interest rates for bank loans tend to be below 8% for borrowers with good credit scores.
  • The loan terms of private money loans are shorter than bank loans. Usually hard money loans come with loan terms of 12-24 months. Bank loan terms, with the exception of car loans, tend to start at a minimum of 5 years to as long as 30 years

The Ease of Qualifying for a Private Money Loan for Real Estate Investment

Qualifying for a private money, hard money loan is a lot easier than qualifying for a bank loan. Why is getting a private money loan easier than getting a bank loan? Here are a few reasons:

  • There are no minimum credit score requirement with most hard money lenders, so you don’t need good credit to qualify in most cases.
  • There is no income requirement whereby you need to make a certain amount of monthly income to qualify.
  • You don’t need to have experience in real estate investing to qualify for a hard money loan on a real estate investment purchase.
  • The property you want a loan against doesn’t need to be in good shape or already rented to qualify, in fact many hard money lenders lend on properties that need repairs.

The Hunt for Private Money and Hard Money Lenders

In order to get started in real estate investing, you need to find some good hard money lenders. Find your lenders before you start looking for properties to buy. Get to know the general requirements of each lender and learn how to compare among lenders to know what lender is right for you. How fast will you need funding? Can the lender fund in that timeframe you need? It’s so important to get pre approved with at least one hard money lender before you start looking for a real estate investment property to buy.

Taking the Leap: Securing Pre approval and Starting Your Property Search

In a real estate market with a lot of competition among real estate investors, a bank loan or other conventional financing just won’t be fast enough. Private money loans tend to be the fastest loans out there when it comes to purchasing real estate investments. These types of loans have also helped real estate investors build their multimillion-dollar real estate portfolios faster than they would have done without them. If you’re serious about making real estate investments in the future, get to know your private lenders out there like us.

Private Money Loans FAQs:

What is a private money loan?

A private money loan, also known as a hard money loan, is a type of loan provided by non-bank entities. These loans are popular among real estate investors for their flexibility and quick closing times. The term, “Private Money Loan,” is often used interchangeably with the term, “Hard Money Loan,” to mean the same thing.

Why should I consider a private money loan for my real estate investment purchases?

Private money loans offer speed and reliability where traditional bank loans fall short. Private money, non-bank loans can close quickly, making them ideal for competitive real estate markets where good deals sell fast.

What are the differences between private money loans and conventional loans?

Private money loans typically have faster closing times and fewer requirements than conventional loans. However, they also tend to have higher interest rates and shorter pay back periods as compared with conventional loans.

How can private money loans help me grow my real estate portfolio?

Private money loans allow you to purchase properties that may not qualify for bank financing. This flexibility can help you add properties to your portfolio quickly and with less hassle.

What do I need to qualify for a private money loan?

Qualifying for a private money loan is often easier than qualifying for a bank loan. There are typically no minimum credit score or income requirements, and the property you want a loan against doesn’t need to be in good shape or rented to qualify.

How can I find private money lenders?

You can find private money lenders through internet searches, local real estate agents, and real estate investor groups. It’s important to establish a relationship with a lender and understand their requirements before you start looking for properties to buy.

How can I get pre-approved for a private money loan?

To get pre-approved, reach out to us at the phone number on our contact page, or submit a contact form on that page. Then one of us will reach out to you via phone, or via email, to get you pre-approved. 

Who Needs Private Money Loans? Different Borrowers, Different Reasons

Introduction: Debunking Private Money Loan Myths

There are a lot of people that mistakenly believe that private money, non bank loans are for people who can’t qualify for bank loans. They wonder why people would pay the higher interest rates that typically come with hard money loans unless they have bad credit, a past bankruptcy, a past foreclosure, or another credit problem. But there are countless reasons that people need hard money loans, and trust me, it’s not because they don’t qualify for a bank loan.

In fact, some hard money borrowers are A+ borrowers, which means they have no problem qualifying for a traditional bank loan at the lowest interest rate available. Then why do people get hard money loans?

Understanding Private Money Loans: Key Definitions

In this article, the term, ‘hard money loans,’ will be used interchangeably with the term ‘private money loans.’ But check out this article defining hard and private money loans for more explanation about these terms. Here are some of the most common uses for hard money loans; I’ll bet that some of these will surprise you.

Why Choose Hard Money Loans: the Advantages for Real Estate Investors

One of the most common uses for hard money loans is to purchase real estate similar to an “all cash” purchase. Hard money loans, often utilized for making an all-cash offer with hard money, tend to take the appearance of an all-cash offer. This is because these loans close very fast and don’t have many of the same requirements as bank loans for approval. Bank loans can take weeks or months to close, while private money loans have the advantage of closing in under a week.

And if you can purchase a property quickly, with cash or cash equivalents, you may get a better deal on the property. This is why hard money loans are crucial to the success of real estate investors. Real estate investors are able to make money in real estate and scale faster their portfolios faster because of hard money loans. View our article to  learn more about how real estate growth through hard money.

The Use of Hard Money Loans in Purchasing Distressed Properties
Business person and distressed property representing diverse private loan borrowers

Vacant properties, or even partially vacant properties, seldom qualify for traditional bank loans, even if the borrower does qualify. Properties that need tenant improvements, repairs, and those that are not generating income often do not meet the lending standards of banks. Even if a property is fixed up and rented, some banks still won’t lend on it until the property has been showing consistent rental income for a specific period of time.

This leads us to another common use of hard money loans which is to fund the purchase of distressed assets. If a property becomes distressed, it can either be sold at a discount, or the loan (note) can be sold at a discount. People who buy distressed property assets often use non bank, private money loans to purchase them.

Partner Buyout Loans: An Often Overlooked Use of Hard Money Loans

And then what about “partner buyout” loans using real estate as collateral? A partner buyout loan is where you buy out a partner’s interest in a property using a loan. Partner buyouts are another common reason people get hard money loans. Banks and other traditional lenders aren’t the type of lenders that will typically make partner buyout loans for a variety of reasons. This is a way for real estate investors to replace equity (a partner) in a property, with debt (a lender), on a property.

Divorce Settlements and Hard Money Loans: a Unique Solution

Icons representing scenarios for private loan needs

In divorce settlements, often the partner that wins the property in the divorce is required to get the other partner’s name off the title to the property. If there is an existing loan on that property, the partner that wins the property in the divorce is required to refinance the loan in order to get the partner’s name off the title to the property. And it’s not just as easy as calling the lender and getting the ex partner’s name removed from the loan. Usually it means the loan will need to be paid back in full to remove the ex partner’s name from the title.

Removing a partner from a property in a divorce using a traditional type of loan is not fast or easy. If the process takes too long, some divorce attorneys will try and force a quick sale of the property. In this situation, a type of hard money loan often called a “bridge loan,” can be used to pay off the existing loan on the property and remove the other partner from the title without being forced to sell it.

Paying Off Reverse Mortgages with Hard Money Loans

A hard money loan is a good solution to pay off a reverse mortgage when parents pass away or move out of a home. Often children will inherit a property in the event of a parents death. If the children want to keep the property rather than sell it, they will have to pay off the reverse mortgage fairly quickly in order to take title to the property. This is another common situation where a private money loan is used; to pay off a reverse mortgage on a property.

Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: an Unexpected Beneficiary of Hard Money Loans

Business owners or entrepreneurs who are seeking funds to operate, or start a new business, will often seek out private money loans against real estate assets they own. Funds can be difficult to source for business owners who need them on short notice, for example, to fulfill obligations of new contracts. Hard money loans can be taken out against the real estate assets of a business owner for short term business needs of under 12 months. In other words, a business owner can use real estate as collateral for a business purpose, hard money loan.

Gap Loans and Mezzanine Financing: Meeting Real Estate Investor Needs

And then there are real estate investors who need what’s called a “gap loan“, or “mezzanine financing.” This is a loan in a second lien, or even a third lien position on the property. This means that a real estate investor has a first mortgage loan on the property in a first position (first lien). And then on the same property, the real estate investor also gets a second mortgage loan, or second position (second lien). Gaps loans and mezzanine financing are almost always from private money sources because they are perceived as being too risky for most traditional bank lenders who only lend in a first position on a property.

Bridge Loans: Solving the New Home Purchase Dilemma

There are home buyers who want to buy a new home but they have to sell their current home first. This is because many homeowners need the down payment funds from the sale of the current home to put towards the purchase of the new home. But how do you time it just perfectly to be able to purchase a new home at exactly the same time you sell the current one? Nothing short of magic!

Home buyers in this position risk being temporarily homeless if the current home sells before they find a new home to buy. Home buyers also fear the idea of having to deeply discount their current home to sell it quickly in order to be able to purchase the new home they already identified.

The type of private money, non bank loan that is most frequently used by homeowners in this situation is referred to as a temporary bridge loan. This is a loan that acts like a bridge to connect the home buyer to a new home, while the current home is listed for sale. Using a bridge loan, home buyers are able to purchase and move into a new home, without having to discount the price on the former home for a quick sale.

Transactional Loans: a Quick Solution for Real Estate Investors

Can you imagine getting a loan and paying it back, all on the same day? Transactional loans, also called transactional financing, allow real estate investors to purchase real estate that they’ve already pre sold to someone else. In other words, they have a buyer for a property before they even purchase it. This is called a “transactional” real estate purchase, also referred to as a “double close.”

Transactional real estate deals must be able to close with all cash, or as quickly as all cash. These types of loans are almost always non bank, hard money loans because they must close so quickly, and often with very short notice. Transactional loans most commonly fund, and get paid back, all in the same 24 hour period.

Conclusion: the Versatility of Private Money Loans

There are so many other reasons why people take out hard money loans, these are just a few examples. If you’re wondering if a private money loan is the right fit for your situation, leave a question below, or reach out to us using our contact information on this site. And if you want to learn more about private money loans, please subscribe, or follow us on our online channels.

How to Use Hard Money for Seller Financing Deals

wraparound mortgageAs a hard money lender, I often get asked how to use hard money in a seller finance transaction. In this article I will explain two possible scenarios you may come across when using hard money in a seller financing deal. With the right knowledge and funding sources, using hard money in seller financing transactions can be done successfully.

Seller financing can be an attractive option for buyers and sellers of real estate alike, especially when a seller has motivation, a low interest rate mortgage, or a lot of equity. Seller financing can allow real estate investors to purchase or control real estate investments without the need to take out a traditional mortgage loan from a bank. Meanwhile, sellers benefit by getting a higher asking price and earning additional income.

But here’s the thing. Most sellers want you to bring in a down payment on a seller finance transaction. This is the part where many real estate investors don’t know how to proceed because they don’t have cash for a down payment.

Hard money loans are used by real estate investors to fund real estate purchases, so why can’t you use hard money in seller financing deals? Understanding how hard money loans work in seller finance transactions is an essential lesson for newbie real estate investors. Keep reading because I am about to give you a crash course for how to use hard money in seller financing deals.

Using Hard Money Loans in Wrap-Around Mortgage Transactions

A real estate investor offering to purchase a property from a seller may ask if the seller is willing to finance the purchase. When a seller has an existing loan on a property, the seller may offer financing through the existing loan already in place. This type of seller financing is often called a “wrap-around mortgage” because it allows a buyer to control a property while using the seller as the lender. In this scenario, the seller is able to finance the purchase for the real estate investor at a higher interest rate than the interest rate on the underlying loan on the property. This means the real estate investor is able to purchase the property without having to get a bank loan.

However, most sellers want to see a down payment from the buyer of anywhere between 5% to 20% of the purchase price. You can get a hard money loan for the down payment to the seller, however, it needs to be funded by a hard money lender that is willing to take a “junior lien” position behind the seller’s first mortgage. If you go to a hard money lender to request down payment funds on a seller financing deal with a wrap around mortgage, you will be asking for a 3rd position mortgage loan. If this is confusing for you, it will make more sense once you learn how to structure a seller financing deal with a wrap-around mortgage.

Wrap-around Mortgage Example

Let’s consider an example. You find a property listed for $300,000 that isn’t selling and it has been sitting on the market for a long time. So you approach the seller with a full price offer of $300,000, but only if the seller is able to offer seller financing. The seller has a first mortgage loan on the property and wants 10% down payment from you, or $30,000.

You don’t have the down payment of $30,000 so you will need to find a hard money lender that is willing to enter into a junior mortgage position behind the seller’s first mortgage in order to provide that 10%. This means there are three loans. The seller’s existing mortgage is in a first position and the seller’s financed loan is in a 2nd position, wrapped around the existing first mortgage. Then you have the down payment funds from your hard money lender for $30,000 in a 3rd position. This means the hard money lender is in a junior lien position, or a subordinate position to the other financing.

Many hard money lenders won’t go in a junior lien position. This makes it more of a challenge to get the down payment funds from a hard money lender on a seller financed deal with a wrap around mortgage. But there are always hard money lenders out there that will lend in a junior lien position, even though some of them won’t!

What if a Seller Does Not Have a Mortgage?

In this scenario, you approach a seller to purchase a property with seller financing and you discover that there is not a loan on the property. The seller will ask for a down payment, but you don’t have the down payment funds. You may get a hard money lender to loan you the down payment funds to give to the seller. However, the hard money lender will usually want a first mortgage position where the seller’s financing takes a junior position.

Most sellers won’t take a 2nd mortgage position behind your hard money lender, but some sellers will, if it’s a small amount. In this case you can offer your hard money lender a 1st mortgage position with the seller carrying the remainder of the financing in a 2nd mortgage position.

However, if your seller will not take a 2nd mortgage position behind your hard money lender, then you will need to find a hard money lender that is willing to go in a second position behind the seller financing loan.

Let’s consider the same example that we used before. You find a property listed for $300,000 that isn’t selling and has been sitting on the market for a long time. So you approach the seller with a full price offer of $300,000, but only if the seller is able to offer seller financing. The seller does not have a first mortgage loan on the property but the seller wants a 10% down payment from you, or $30,000, in order to seller finance the purchase.

You don’t have the down payment of $30,000, so you will need to find a hard money lender to loan you the down payment funds. You will need a seller that is willing to enter into a second mortgage position behind the hard money lender’s first mortgage. Or, you will need to find a hard money lender that is willing to go into a second mortgage position behind the seller financing. Most hard money lenders will insist on a first mortgage position so it would be easier to find a seller that is willing to go in a second position behind the hard money lender. However, if your seller is unwilling to go into a second position behind the hard money lender then you need to find a hard money lender that is willing to go into a second position behind the seller financing.

Qualifying for a Hard Money Loan

Hard money loans are considered to be much easier to qualify for than traditional bank financing. However, even hard money lenders need certain information from borrowers in order to make an informed decision. Submitting a loan to a hard money lender is easier than you may think. Check out this article where we explain how to make loan submissions to hard money lenders to get a yes or no answer quickly.

Negotiating Terms on Hard Money Loans

When applying for a hard money loan, it’s important to be aware that there may be room to negotiate the terms of the loan. While traditional banks often have inflexible terms, hard money lenders tend to be more flexible on the terms of the loan. This includes flexibility on interest rates, fees, and extension options.

Potential Pitfalls of Seller Finance Transactions

Seller finance transactions can provide buyers a way to purchase properties without having to obtain loans to do so. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential pitfalls involved with such transactions. These risks include: the seller may be behind on loan payments, the seller may have liens on the property, or there may be a divorce in process that is not disclosed by the seller.

Legal Aspects of Seller Finance Transactions

When engaging in a seller finance transaction, both the buyer and seller should be aware of the legal implications. This includes understanding the rights and responsibilities associated with each party, as well as any potential liabilities that might arise during the course of the loan. Each state has its own set of laws and regulations regarding seller finance transactions, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules in your jurisdiction before entering into any agreement. This includes information on things like maximum loan amounts, required disclosures, and licensing requirements.

An experienced real estate attorney can provide guidance and help ensure that everyone involved is protected by creating a solid, legal contract. Whatever money you spend on a good real estate attorney is worth every penny to make sure you are getting into a good deal, with a binding contract, that won’t come back to bite you!

Structuring Financing to Meet Your Needs

When financing a seller financed purchase with a hard money loan, it’s important to carefully consider the terms of the loan in order to structure the financing in a way that meets your needs. This includes understanding what types of loans are available, as well as the repayment terms and interest rates associated with each option. It’s also important to consider any potential tax implications of taking out a loan.

Conclusion

Seller financing can allow real estate investors to purchase investment properties without the need to take out traditional bank loans. Getting access to a down payment in a seller financing transaction should not deter a real estate investor from engaging in these deals. If you understand how to use hard money loans correctly to source a down payment, you can make a seller financing deal work for all parties involved.

 

 

Property won’t sell? What to do if you have a hard money loan

If you are a fix and flip investor, you may be holding a property that just won’t sell. Whether it’s because prices are going down, or whether interest rates are too high. Whatever the reason, you’re stuck holding a flip. So, what do you do? 

a renovated house for sale

If you have a hard money loan on the property, you really have a dilemma because it usually means interest is racking up fast on the loan, which is eating into your profit on the deal. And the clock is ticking on the loan due date as well because typically these are short term loans. And once the loan term is up, the lender wants the loaned funds returned. 

 

The good news is that there are solutions at your fingertips that may help you navigate this difficult situation. Here we go:

 

Communicate With your Hard Money Lender

 Never make the fatal mistake of keeping your problem to yourself. I can’t emphasize this point enough. Communicate with your hard money lender at the earliest stage possible when you know you’re in trouble. And don’t be afraid to over communicate, every week at the minimum. Don’t wait, because it may be too late for your lender to help if you wait too long. Many hard money lenders are well versed in real estate, and many are also very well connected, so they may be able to provide advice or resources. And even if your lender can’t help your situation, at least the lender won’t be surprised if you miss a payment, or need an extension.

 

Pivot

Doing a pivot means changing your plan or course of action. In this case it means renting the property and holding it, rather than flipping it. If you have a hard money loan on the property, renting it will help you generate immediate income to offset the loan payment. But you have to communicate this pivot with your hard money lender so the lender knows your plan. You can try and negotiate with your lender and suggest a loan modification by either extending the loan for a longer term, and/or negotiating a lower interest rate. This can provide some breathing room, and allow you more time to sell the property. If you can’t negotiate a loan modification with the current lender, you will need to pay the lender back by refinancing the current loan. This point leads us to our next solution, under number 3 below.

Refinance the Property with a Long Term Rental Property Loan

If you’ve made significant improvements to the property and have it rented, you may be able to refinance the property with a long term, rental property loan to pay off the hard money loan. A long term, rental property loan, sometimes called a “DSCR” loan, has a lower interest rate as compared to a hard money loan. These loans also have longer terms such as a 5 year term, 7 year, or a 30 year. Refinancing the hard money loan with a lower rate can help to lower your monthly payments. If you refinance with a lower interest rate, it will take off some of the financial strain that comes with holding the property. But remember, you won’t be able to qualify for a loan like this until you take the property off the market.

Refinance the Property with another Hard Money Loan

If you can’t qualify for a long term rental property loan, you could try to refinance out your hard money loan using another hard money lender. This would give you more time, say another 6 to 12 months, to either sell the property or rent it. This type of hard money loan is often called a bridge loan because it helps to “bridge you” from one phase to the next. And then ask yourself if you know an associate, family member, or friend that would be willing to become your new hard money lender and pay off your current loan? If you can negotiate a lower interest rate with this individual, this arrangement could be a win-win for both you and the new lender.  

Find an Equity Partner

You could try to find an equity partner that wants to have co-ownership with you in the property. This person could bring in cash equity to pay off the hard money loan and thus become a partner in the property with you. This means you’ll need to create a joint venture agreement with the equity partner, or form a business entity to hold title to the property whereby you are partners in that business. If you decide to pursue this solution, I recommend finding a real estate attorney and a CPA  to help you structure the partnership in the property.

Sell the Property at a Loss

If you’re unable to make any of the other above solutions work for you, then you may need to consider selling the property at a loss. You can use this loss to offset your tax liability. Talk to an accountant or CPA about how this would work for your personal situation. While selling the property at a loss may not be the ideal solution, it can help to minimize the financial impact that holding the property could have on your life over the long term.

Trying to sell a fix and flip property in a declining real estate market, or in a market with rising interest rates, is a tight spot to be in. By taking no action at all, and just waiting for the property to sell, you are just sitting on a ticking time bomb. However, with careful consideration of the solutions that are outlined in this article, it is possible to minimize the financial impact on you. 

 

If you have a hard money loan on the property, communicate with your hard money lender early and often. Always seek advice from professionals when considering these solutions, for example, involve your real estate attorney or your accountant/CPA in your decision making and planning. If you are considering refinancing your hard money loan on a property, we have both bridge loan options, and long term, rental property loan options available, so reach out to us! You may be glad you did.

 

Don’t Risk It! Make Sure You Have the Right Insurance for Your Investment Property

Did you know that real estate investors tend to be the most underinsured group of property owners? This truth is hard to believe considering most real estate investors are putting their life savings into their investment properties. In fact, insurance is one of the things that real estate investors tend to cheap out on the most! Stick around for a bit because I’m going to outline some of the biggest insurance risks to help you understand what type of investment property insurance you probably need.

Insuring your investment properties is one of the best ways to mitigate risk in real estate investing. But that starts with making sure sure you have the right insurance for your investment properties. You need property insurance to not only protect yourself, but if you have a loan on your property, it also protects your lender. It doesn’t matter if you have a hard money loan or traditional mortgage, as you will responsible for loss

There are different types of insurance to consider when you own an investment property, and for many people, it’s overwhelming. In order to protect an investment property from loss, you’ll need to have coverage for things like fire, theft, and vandalism.

You’ll also want to be sure that you’re protected in the event of an accident on your property or from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tornados, and wildfires. And then what about the loss of use of the property while it is being rebuilt or repaired?

We are not a licensed insurance agency, so please consult with a licensed insurance agent when purchasing insurance policies. But as a private money lender, we often find that the property insurance is the least known area by real estate investors who are usually the borrowers of our loans.

Because a lender is essentially a borrower’s debt partner on a property, it is important that the borrower have the right type of coverage because a potential loss will impact the lender as well. Here we explain some of the most commons types of insurance coverage that our borrowers need to protect their investment properties.

Make Sure You Have Enough Dwelling Replacement Coverage!

One of the most important aspect of any insurance policy is the amount of coverage needed to rebuild the property in the event of a total loss. For most residential policies, the dwelling replacement coverage is the dollar amount that will be available to rebuild the property.

Because the cost of construction is never fixed but is always fluctuating, property owners must revisit this dollar amount frequently to make sure they have adequate coverage or coverage limits are not exceeded. Particularly if building supplies and labor costs are increasing year after year, your coverage may need to be increased slightly every year. Some insurance policies have guaranteed replacement coverage which takes into account inflation of construction costs.

Liability coverage Insurance

Why would you need liability coverage? What if someone gets hurt on your property and sues you? The liability coverage amount listed on your insurance policy is the dollar amount the insurance company will pay if someone is injured on your property. Always make sure your insurance policies have a high dollar amount of liability coverage for renters and other people that enter the property premises. An accident could happen on your property that could cause injury or death to another person and this is why every real estate investor should take liability insurance very seriously! Liability costs will vary depending on the amount of coverage you need. Personal liability policies are also available that cover all of your properties.

Builder’s Risk Insurance

Builder’s risk is a type of insurance coverage that you can obtain on an investment property that is under renovation or construction. If you are building an investment property from the ground-up, or if you are renovating an investment property, builder’s risk insurance may be a type of insurance that you should look into. Builder’s Risk Insurance can be purchased by a property owner, or can be held in the name of the general contractor who is doing the construction work on the property.

Theft Insurance & Vandalism Insurance

Thieves often target vacant properties under construction, so it’s important to have theft insurance coverage if you have a vacant property under construction. Theft insurance is a type coverage that falls under a builder’s risk policy. But if you don’t have a builder’s risk policy, make sure your insurance coverage will protect you from loss if your building materials, tools, equipment, or appliances are stolen.

Vandalism insurance covers the premises and personal property from intentional damage caused by a third party. Builder’s risk policies usually cover vandalism but if you don’t have a builder’s risk policy, just make sure the policy you have covers vandalism. A broken window, tagging/graffiti, exterior property damage from eggs being thrown at the exterior of the property, are just a few examples of vandalism damage.

Vacant or Unoccupied or Property Insurance

If your property is vacant for longer than 30 days you should look into a vacant or an unoccupied insurance policy. What’s the difference between the two types of policies? If your home has personal belongings in it but it is not occupied for longer than 30 days it is considered “unoccupied.” When there are no personal belongings in it and it is empty for longer than 30 days it is considered “vacant.”

When a property is vacant or unoccupied for extended periods, it is considered higher risk, so the premiums for this type of insurance are a higher cost. Particularly in areas with high crime, it’s important to have vacant and unoccupied insurance for any properties that will be vacant for extended periods to protect it against vandalism or theft. Because vacant property insurance is more expensive than rental property insurance, property owners sometimes declare a vacant property as being tenant occupied to save money on insurance costs. Don’t do it!

Never say a property is occupied by a tenant when it is actually vacant in order to save money an insurance policy premium. This is because an insurer may not pay an insurance claim if the true occupancy status of the property is not declared. The good news is that you can have different types of insurance for the different stages of your property’s life. For example, you may need vacant dwelling coverage for your investment property while the property is under renovation for the first six months. Once the property is rented, you can change the insurance to a landlord/tenant policy (rental property insurance).

Landlord and Rental Property Insurance on an investment property

Rental property insurance or landlord insurance on an investment property is important for 3 important reasons.

First, it protects your investment in the event of damages caused by tenants, such as a fire or water damage.

Second, it protects your income if a tenant skips out on rent payments.

And, finally, rental insurance can help protect you from liability and cover medical costs in the event that someone is injured while on your property.

For these 3 reasons, it’s important to have rental insurance on any property you own that is rented to tenants. And your insurance won’t cover your tenants’ personal affects such as furniture, bikes, etc., so make sure your tenants are aware of this and if they are concerned they should purchase their own rental insurance or landlord policy coverage.

Loss of Use Coverage

Loss of Use Coverage is critical for tenant occupied rental properties. This type of insurance coverage will pay if your tenants are unable to occupy the property due to a loss. Sometimes loss of use coverage will put your rental property tenant in temporary housing or a hotel if the property is uninhabitable. This could possibly cover rental income as well. Loss of use coverage usually comes standard with most insurance policies, but be sure that it is a stated coverage on your specific policy.

Fortunately, there are ways that real estate investors can protect themselves from suffering too much financial hardship due to loss of use. One option is obtaining loss of use insurance, which helps to cover expenses related to lost income during such periods. This type of coverage is typically included with landlord insurance policies and can help minimize potential losses due to having a vacant rental property.

Fire Insurance

Fire insurance is a standard coverage found on most insurance policies. Fire insurance covers the cost to rebuild or restore a property that has been damaged or destroyed by a fire. It also covers the replacement of personal property that has been damaged or lost due to a fire. And fire insurance coverage will also cover costs associated with the loss of the use of a property while it’s being repaired or rebuilt.

For example, if your tenants are displaced from a property after a fire, your insurance coverage ought to reimburse you for loss of rents and cover the cost of relocating your tenants temporarily. Because investment properties with tenants are treated differently than owner occupied properties, make sure your fire insurance coverage will cover all of the potential losses associated with a fire.

Wildfire Insurance

In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in wildfires and, as a result, the demand for wildfire insurance has also gone up. If your investment property is located in an area where it has exposure to wildfires, wildfire insurance is specifically designed to insure property owners from damage to their properties caused by wildfires.

If you already own one, or you are considering purchasing an investment property in the western United States, be sure to ask your insurance agent about wildfire insurance. It could be the difference between losing your investment and keeping it safe and protected.

Earthquake Insurance for your Investment Property

If you’re an investor with a property located on or near an active earthquake fault line, it’s important to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. One thing that most people don’t know is that earthquake insurance is not covered under most hazard or homeowners insurance policies. This is because it is a speciality insurance coverage that will cover the cost of rebuilding your property if it is destroyed by an earthquake or suffers structural damage. It will also cover other structures on your property, such as driveways, garages, warehouses, and small storage buildings.

For example, the Wasatch Fault in Utah represents one of the biggest earthquake risks in the interior of the western U.S. In 2020, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake in a suburb of Salt Lake City, caused over $60 million dollars in property damage. For property owners without specific earthquake coverage, this meant the potential for a total loss! Because many people have their life savings tied up into their investment real estate, a total loss from an earthquake would be utterly devastating. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have adequate coverage in place before an earthquake strikes. As a private money lender, it is important to us that our borrowers have earthquake insurance coverage on any property we lend on that is located on, or near, an active fault.

If you own a property in an area that is prone to earthquakes, earthquake insurance will cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding that property if it is damaged by an earthquake. It will also cover the cost of temporary living expenses if you need to relocate while your property is being repaired. Make sure your policy has a low replacement deductible and enough dwelling replacement coverage to rebuild the property in the event of a total loss from an earthquake.

Flood Insurance for your investment property

Because flood plain maps are always changing, a property currently located in low flood risk area may be at increased risk of flooding in the future. This means the risk profile for a certain location may change over time with regard to flooding and flood zone classification. Flood insurance will cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding your property if it is damaged by a flood.

If you’ve owned a property for a long time that is located in an area with potential for increased risk of flooding, it is important to assess this risk every few years. This type of risk is something that a property owner needs to assess frequently with the help of a licensed insurance agent.

And, even if you do have flood insurance, it’s important to make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild your property should it be damaged by a flood.

Windstorm Insurance, Tornado, and Hurricane Insurance for your investment home

Windstorm insurance is insurance that protects investors from damage to their investment properties caused by gales, winds, hail, and other gusty hazards. When big winds harm roofs and windows, rain and debris can also damage the personal belongings inside a property. Ensure that your windstorm insurance policy covers physical damage to the property and possessions inside the home. Also, make sure you have the right amount of coverage in place to protect yourself from potential losses!

In some states, insurance for tornados, cyclones, and hurricanes require you to purchase a special policy which is typically more expensive. This type of coverage is something you really need to discuss with a licensed insurance agent that specializes in issuing coverage for properties in areas that are prone to destructive storms.

Conclusion

Real estate investors tend to be underinsured as compared to typical homeowners. Many real estate investors either skimp out on insurance, or just don’t get the right type of coverage. If you are a real estate investor, get the maximum amount of insurance coverage that you can qualify for your investment properties. You local insurance agent will  know what insurance products you will need and explain any policy limits.   Depending on the location of your properties, you may require different types of insurance for each location.

As a private money lender, we see real estate investors making the same mistakes when it comes to insuring their investment properties. Don’t let that be you! Find a qualified insurance agent that understands how to insure your properties right. Finding the right insurance agent to issue the right type of insurance coverage could mean the difference between making a good investment or having a total loss of your life savings.

How to Buy a BRRRR With a Hard Money Loan

What does BRRRR mean?
Use Hard Money to buy a BRRRR

“Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat,” is a new initialism to describe a classic, real estate investment strategy. Savvy real estate investors have been employing this investment strategy for a very long time, so the concept of BRRRR is nothing new or innovative. But its importance to building a real estate portfolio cannot be understated.

When done correctly, a BRRRR can be an excellent way to build wealth over time from your real estate portfolio. In this article, we’ll explore why funding for a BRRRR is the fastest and easiest when funded with a hard money loan. We will also consider some pitfalls that should be avoided when funding a BRRRR purchase with hard money loans.

To cover the basics super quick here, the initialism, BRRRR, is a method that is described as follows:

Buy: Identify the property you want to purchase and buy it using a hard money loan.

Rehab: Renovate the property as needed .

Rent: Get the property rented.

Refinance: Refinance the hard money loan used for the purchase with a long-term, 30-year mortgage. By refinancing the current loan with a lower interest rate loan, called a “cash-out refinance,” you can take out a slightly larger loan against the property than what is currently owed to the hard money lender. These “cash-out” proceeds from the cash-out refinance loan serve as the down payment used to buy another rental property using a hard money loan.

Repeat: Do it all over again so you can buy more rental properties to add to your real estate portfolio.

Why Buy a BRRRR with Hard Money?

It can be difficult to find a bank loan if you don’t have experience with a BRRRR, in fact, most traditional mortgage companies are unfamiliar with BRRRRs. Using a hard money loan to buy a BRRRR can be a great way to get started in the world of real estate investing if you don’t have the credit, or if you don’t have experience. Many hard money lenders will lend to borrowers with bad credit, some do not require income documentation, and still others will lend to real estate investors with no experience. With a hard money loan, you still may need to bring in a solid downpayment in most cases.

Another challenge that people face is getting a bank loan quick enough to be able to purchase the property. Particularly in a competitive market with lots of investor buyers, a bank loan can be too slow to compete with cash offers. In a sellers market for example, realtors are usually very selective about who they work with and won’t consider offers that are not cash offers.

A hard money lender can get you pre-approved to buy investment properties in advance of making any offers. Because hard money funding is so fast, it is similar to an all cash offer.

How to buy a BRRRR with Hard Money

When it comes to buying a BRRRR investment property with hard money, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. It’s important to note that, even though a hard money lender may not care about poor credit, not everyone will be approved for a loan. Make sure you know what the lender’s requirements are, and make sure you meet those requirements, before you apply. For example, some lenders will require prior real estate investing experience, while other lenders will lend to beginners. Understanding the various requirements of different hard money lenders will help you decide which ones you should pursue for a loan.

Shopping Around for a Lender

There are many, different hard money lenders out there that you can go to for financing, but it’s important to do your research first. Make sure you know which lenders are real and reputable first, by searching for every piece of information you can find about the lenders online and reading each of their online reviews. There are a lot of loan scams in which fake lenders pose as real lenders, just to scam you out of money.

If you can, get recommendations from other people in your target market who have successfully purchased BRRRRs using hard money loans. Make sure you search the lender’s name on search engines, check on sites like Ripoffreport.com and the BBB website, and look for “real” online reviews (it’s pretty easy to spot the fake ones). And then make sure you are comparing “apples to apples” when comparing among hard money lenders. For example, how fast can a lender fund and a lender’s appraisal requirements are two considerations when comparing among hard money lenders.

Providing Documentation
Hard money lenders differ greatly on what type of documentation each will require in order to fund your deal. Some lenders have almost no documentation, while others require a lot of documentation to get a loan. Do your research and make sure you know what the lender is looking for before you apply. This will make it easier, and much faster, to get the funding you need to purchase a BRRRR property.

What the Lender is Looking for
Lenders want to know that the property you are buying is in a desirable area where potential tenants want to live. All lenders prefer experienced borrowers, but that doesn’t mean that lenders won’t make loans to beginners.

And then there’s the property value. Because the property is the lender’s collateral for the loan, value is a very important consideration for a lender. Is the property worth what you’re paying? Or will you have to increase rents in order to achieve the property valuation you will need to do your refinance?

Many banks require a seasoning period, which is a period of time you must own a property before you can refinance your hard money loan with a long term mortgage. After the seasoning period ends banks require an appraisal to be performed and will only lend you a certain percentage of the appraised value. This is another reason why the property value is such an important consideration for both you and your hard money lender.

And, what if you don’t have a lot of cash to purchase a property? Despite the popular myth that you don’t need your own money to get started in real estate investing, yes, most lenders will require you to bring some money to the table. Even rehab lenders will still want you to show that you have enough liquidity to cover some of the repairs, or at a minimum, show you have enough cash to cover carrying costs.

How much cash does a lender require from a borrower? Some rehab lenders will require minimum borrower cash of 10-20% down of the total project cost if the property needs rehab. While many other lenders will only loan you a percentage of the purchase price for the property, usually between 70% to 90% of the purchase price.

Loan Denial for a BRRRR Purchase

In some instances, your loan might be denied by a hard money lender for one or more of the following reasons:

  1. They don’t like the deal for whatever reason.
  2. The home might be in a bad location, it may be priced too high, it may require too much work, or maybe the numbers just don’t add up.
  3. You don’t have enough experience, a solid plan, or enough money.

The Advantages of Buying a BRRRR with a Hard Money Loan

The Ease of the Application Process
Many hard money lenders make applying for a loan very easy. For example, our application process for BRRRR properties consists of a one-page form to fill out. Once we have the one-page form and a few photos of the property we can give you a yes or no answer on your loan request. And because hard money loans are primarily asset-based loans, these loans require far less documentation than a bank loan.

The Fast Turnaround Time on Funding
In competitive markets where good rental properties are in short supply, you need a lender who can fund quickly. This is probably one of the biggest advantages of buying a BRRRR with a hard money loan, which is fast funding. Look for smaller, lending companies because they can typically fund a loan much quicker than larger companies with high loan volume.

Many hard money lenders will use a local broker’s price opinion to determine property value rather than using an appraisal. Because appraisals can often increase the time it takes to close on a property, this is another advantage of using a hard money lender to fund your BRRRR purchase.

Low Cost to Borrow Short-Term
Interest rates can vary from 8- 12% and the rate depends on the lender. As compared with bank loans, these rates seem really high. But if you’re planning to keep the hard money loan in place for a short time until you refinance, this can be your lowest cost financing.

For example, say you purchase a BRRRR using a hard money loan with a 12% annual interest rate. You keep the hard money loan for 5 months and then you refinance into a 30-year loan with a much lower rate. In this example, the hard money loan only costs you 5%, not 12%. This is a small price to pay as compared with the cost of taking on a partner, or the drama that can come from borrowing money from family or friends.

The Disadvantages of Buying a BRRRR with Hard Money

There are far more advantages to using hard money than there are disadvantages. However, there are two important disadvantages that you should be aware of when buying a BRRRR with hard money.

Excessive Junk Fees
All lenders have junk fees associated with funding the loan, and these fees are different from loan fees, or points. Some hard money lenders have excessive junk fees, so make sure you are aware of all of the fees associated with the loan. Especially when selecting one lender over another, use the total fees as a tool for comparison among various lenders. One lender may have a lower interest rate than another, but his junk fees may be higher as compared with a lender with a higher rate and no junk fees.

Not Everyone Will be Quickly Approved for a Refinance Loan
One thing to be aware of when using a hard money loan to purchase a BRRRR is that not everyone will easily qualify for the refinance. This means you may hold the hard money loan longer than you anticipated. Because hard money loans are far easier to qualify for than bank loans, some real estate investors are confronted with a challenge when refinancing. Someone may not be able to refinance because of a low credit score, while others may not qualify from a DSCR perspective.

For example, if the price paid for the property is very high but the rental income is not high enough to cover the mortgage payment on the refinance. A real estate investor may be betting on future appreciation of property value and is willing to take a loss on annual rents. But banks like to see the rental income is enough to cover the mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance. If the rental income doesn’t cover all of these expenses, a bank will look at your personal income to cover the loss. If your personal debt to income ratio is high you may have trouble qualifying for the bank refinance.

If you are unable to refinance quickly, this could leave you stuck paying a higher interest rate on a hard money loan for much longer than you expected. In the worst case, you may need to sell the property if you are unable to refinance out of the hard money loan you used to purchase it.

Prepayment Penalties
Some lenders require that you keep the loan for a minimum period of time before you pay it off. Always ask your lender if there is a prepayment penalty on the loan, sometimes this is called a guaranteed interest period. If there is a prepayment penalty, it is usually the sum of the interest from the day you pay off the loan through the lock out date. Some hard money lenders want a minimum of a three month loan term, while some want a minimum of six months.

You’re Approved for a BRRRR from a lender. What’s next?

Once you’ve found a hard money lender that has approved your purchase of a BRRRR property, then what’s next?

-Plan Your Exit Strategy: Make sure you qualify for the refinance to take out your hard money lender. What is the seasoning requirement of your take-out lender? Will the property value be high enough to pay off the loan and cash out for your next purchase? Does your rental income cover your loan payment, taxes, and insurance?

-Start Looking for Properties: Once you’re approved by your hard money lender and you’re 100% certain you can qualify for the refinance, it’s time to start looking for properties. Make sure the properties you are looking at will meet your hard money lender’s requirements. Really understand the property value, look at market comps, look at market rents, make sure you’re not overpaying for the property. And don’t make assumptions about rents, make sure your projections are accurate. And then finally, make sure your projected rents will cover the loan payment on your hard money loan.

Build Wealth Faster with BRRRR Properties
When done correctly, a BRRRR can be an excellent way to build wealth over time from your real estate portfolio. Using a hard money loan to buy a BRRRR can be a great way to get started in real estate investing if you don’t have the credit, or if you don’t have any experience. And by using hard money loans to acquire BRRRR properties, you can scale your real estate portfolio faster, and as a result, you will build your wealth faster.

If you’re looking for a BRRRR loan, reach out to us to discuss your financing options.

 

Insurance for Investment Properties: Get it Right!

This is THE MOST forgotten about thing for real estate investors.

You would think that insuring a property would be the most important thing real estate investors do but it’s usually the last thing they think about.

Don’t wait until the last minute before you’re closing on a property to consider the insurance.

Here are some tips for making sure your property is insured properly

  1. Get the right type of insurance for your specific investment property., e.g. vacant dwelling versus landlord/tenant
  2. Dwelling Replacement Coverage: Don’t cheap out, make sure your coverage is adequate. If the cost to build the home new in your market is $250 per square foot, make sure you insure your property at $250 per square foot. If there’s a loss you won’t be able to rebuild the property because the dwelling replacement coverage is not enough to rebuild the property.
  3. Rehab? Make sure your policy has builder’s risk and liability to protect your improvements and protect you from liability if someone is hurt on the job site.
  4. Addtl Coverage: Is your area prone to flooding or earthquakes and does your insurance policy cover those?

This is your life savings in most cases that you’re putting into these properties. If anything your properties should be OVERinsured and not underinsured.

Don’t fall short on your insurance!

Hard Money Loan Prepayment Penalties: What You Don’t Know!

Anytime you’re getting a hard money loan, whether you’re purchasing a property, or refinancing to a lower rate, early payment penalties could cost you. For example, let’s say you have recently refinanced a property but there’s a chance you may sell that property within 12 months of getting the loan. Things happen in life that are not always planned, such as a sudden job transfer to another city, an unexpected divorce, etc.

The bottom line: if you sell a property unexpectedly and pay a loan off early, you may have to pay a steep penalty for doing so. This early payment penalty is called a Prepayment Penalty, sometimes referred to as “PPP,” or a “Prepay.”

What is a Prepayment Penalty

A prepayment penalty? is simply a penalty for paying off a loan early. Many hard money loans, including 30 year mortgages, have prepayment penalties so this is something that all loan borrowers should pay attention to and fully understand.

How Do You Calculate the Prepayment Penalty on a hard money loan?

And what if your hard money loan does have a prepayment penalty, how do you calculate it? A prepayment penalty is equal to the accrued interest from the loan pay off date through the end of the prepayment period.

For example, let’s say your loan has a prepayment period of 3 years. This means if you pay the loan off after 3 years there’s no penalty, but if you pay the loan off prior to 3 years you pay a penalty. In order to calculate the penalty, you will need to know the loan payoff date. If you pay the loan off after 2 years, you will owe 1 year of interest as a penalty. (3 years – 2 years = 1 year). As I said before, the penalty is equal to the interest that accrues from date of payoff to the end of the prepayment period. In this example, you will owe one year of interest as a penalty.

Still confused? Let’s try another example. In the second example, let’s say your prepayment period is 365 days and you pay the loan off in 180 days. This means you will owe the interest from day 180 to day 365 as the penalty, or 185 days of interest (365 – 180 = 185).

Why do Prepayment Penalties for Hard Money Loans Exist?

Prepayment penalties exist because many private and hard money lenders need to make a minimum amount of interest when making a loan. This is because of the high opportunity cost involved for a lender in the commitment to make a loan.

Are Prepayment Penalties Always a Bad Thing?

Sometimes hard money lenders will offer a lower interest rate, or lower fees, on a loan with a prepayment penalty. For example, if you are fairly certain you won’t pay a loan off early, you may be able to lock in a lower interest rate on a loan with a prepayment penalty. If a loan comes with no prepayment penalty, you should ask the lender if there is an option for a loan with a prepayment penalty. Why? Because a loan with a prepayment penalty may come with a lower interest rate, or lower fees.

How Do Hard Money Loan Prepayment Penalties Work?

Because hard money loans tend to be short-term loans primarily used by real estate investors, the prepayment period is usually much shorter than with traditional, long term loans. For example, a hard money loan might have a prepayment period of 90 to 120 days, while a traditional loan might have a prepayment period of 1 to 3 years.

Most real estate investors are using hard money loans to acquire new properties, or for short term, cash out refinances. Because most real estate investors need hard money loans for between 6 to 9 months, they are not so concerned with 90 to 120 day prepayment penalties. Some exceptions are real estate investors who are using hard money loans for short term “fix and flips,” or for fast acquisitions that will be refinanced in 30 to 60 days. If a real estate investor really only needs a hard money loan for 30 to 60 days, it’s important to ask the hard money lender if the loan has a prepayment penalty.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a prepayment penalty is simply a penalty for paying your hard money loan off early.

Anytime you are getting a loan, whether it’s for the purchase of a property, or if you’re refinancing a property that you already own, make sure you always ask if the loan comes with a a prepayment penalty. If you have a sudden life change and pay a loan off earlier than expected, you may have to pay a high penalty for doing so.

Let us know if you have any questions about hard money loans!