Today I got this email from Teresa, a real estate broker:

James,

I have a buyer with a good down payment. They make good money, but they are self-employed, have less than perfect credit, and are having problems getting financing.

They have been looking to buy a home around the $300-400k range.  I would like to get you connected up with my buyer to see if they can use your creative financing techniques to make a purchase.

Let me know when you are available.

Sincerely, Teresa, Real Estate Broker

***

Dear Teresa,

I can probably help this buyer. I look forward to talking with you. It sounds like you have found the kind of buyer who can benefit from creative financing.

What is the advantage to a buyer to do seller-financing? The buyer can avoid the cost and trouble of getting bank financing.

What is the advantage to a seller to do seller-financing? The seller will have more potential buyers and can probably get a better price than if the seller insisted on the buyer getting a new loan.

As an agent, what you are looking for is a buyer who can pay at least 8.0% to 10.0% percent down. You need that much to cover closing costs and commissions and other costs. Commissions usually get paid at closing. If part of the commission is to be paid when the buyer cashes out the seller, the commission owing should be secured by a mortgage from the seller.

You are looking for a seller who has a property with equity in it. It should be obvious that seller financing is not going to work in a short sale situation. The seller should have at least 10.0% equity in the property in order to cover closing costs and have some net from the sale.

If the seller has only 10.0% equity in the property, the seller’s equity will generally be cashed out. Then the buyer’s monthly payment will equal the seller’s mortgage payment.

If the seller has more than 10.0% equity in the property, either the buyer will make a larger down payment or the buyer will owe the seller his equity on a wrap around note and deed of trust.

These seller-financed deals are all unique. They are structured in different ways. I believe I can put them together so that buyer and seller are secure and so the lender will not object to the transaction. I would describe exactly how I handle these deals, but the information is “proprietary”.

When I put these deals together I usually represent buyer or seller – not both. If I represent one of the other, I make sure that I advise the party I am not representing to get legal counsel.

I can also serve as a neutral mediator and escrow closer, in which case I prepare proposed documents, which the buyer and seller have reviewed by their attorneys. I can often quote a flat fee payable at closing. I spend time talking with the brokers involved or the parties to determine if I can help them.

Bear in mind that seller-financing is not for everybody. Some sellers want or need to be cashed out. But some would like to have a secured note that pays 6.0% per year or higher. That beats a savings account.

I just closed a deal like this in Pierce County. The buyer is a contractor who is going to live in the house and run his business out of it. He has bought and sold a lot of properties. Property values were down, and and it was the time for those wanting a bargain price to be buying.

I believe that in many cases seller-financed transactions can be closed even when there is a due-on-sale clause in the seller’s mortgage. However, selling around a due-on-sale is not appropriate for a first time buyer unless they have consulted with their own real estate attorney.

Seller financing is great for builders because they can enjoy the seller’s low interest rate until they resell, and they will not have to pay huge points to hard money lenders.

If you are a buyer, seller, or broker, don’t be shy about calling. I do not charge for telephone inquiries.

Forward this to a friend. Subscribe by clicking on this link:

http://washingtonattorneybroker.com/subscribe/

James Robert Deal, Broker and Attorney
KW Everett
WSBA # 8103, DOL # 39666 NMLS # 64871
425-774-6611, 888-999-2022
James at James Deal dot com

 

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Who qualifies for mortgage modification? (link to More Information About Mortgage Modification)

Factors Which Affect the Mortgage Modification Outcome

What We Shoot For in Mortgage Modification

Some Examples of Modifiable Loans

Can You Handle Your Own Mortgage Modification?

Attorney-Based Mortgage Modification vs. Non-Attorney-Based Modification

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