Showing posts with label land trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label land trust. Show all posts

Monday, June 1, 2009

Why Investing Near Universities is Your Best Bet!

I've always been bullish on real estate for long term investment, portfolios, retirement. But the real estate I love the most was where I first started buying, next to a big, growing, sprawling university.

I still believe these areas are what I call "Real Estate to Die For." Universities, colleges and schools of higher learning are all pillars in our communities. They are here in perpetuity, during our lifetimes, our children's and their children's lifetimes. They contribute greatly to the local economies, and hopefully, will grow in size as more Americans and foreign students want to be educated.

Look in areas within a short distance to the school of your choice. The closer the proximity, the less time it takes for your tenants to get to school. They can stay at school longer, too, without having to be pressured to leave campus and have a long commute home.

There are tons of opportunities to rent to students and many colleges have off-campus housing offices to help students find landlords and vice versa. Make sure you get parents co-signed on the lease, even if you need a local attorney to draw up paperwork for you. It might cost a little at the beginning, but will more than pay off if there's a problem with collecting rents down the road.

What's the difference between a student to living in the college-owned dormitory or your off-campus housing? Lots of differences. First of all, students prefer the privacy of living in their own room/space and not having to share a room with another student or two! They are adults for the first time in their lives and the last thing they want is the loss of privacy that comes with sharing a dorm room. Next, they are much more independent out of the dormitory, sharing a condo or town home with another student or more.

Properties do not have to be hi-end or include crazy upgrades. It's enough that they are clean, spacious, comfortable and near school.

We can help you finance your property if you have a mortgage note or trust deed to sell.  email for more information.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Should You Sell Your Property as a For Sale By Owner?

Thousands of homeowners ponder the question of whether or not to sell privately. This is a question that gets a lot of attention on the internet, and also spawns an enormous amount of erroneous information. Many people want to sell their own properties, but are afraid of "hidden" problems that may rise up to cost them money, or cause them grief. Fear is the number one reason that people are willing to pay a Realtor to sell their home. Unfortunately, this fear is often unfounded, and all too often promoted by someone with a vested interest in taking your money to sell your property.

For some time now, many articles that pretend to promote selling privately, while in actual fact, they are designed to discourage you from taking on this task.

Obviously, such articles do not come right out and say "Hey don't do it!", but instead they tell you all of the seemingly bad stuff that "could" happen if you dare try it. They paint such a grim picture of selling privately while "encouraging" the reader, that nobody would try it if they chose to follow the advice of such articles.

This article will cover, albeit briefly, the reasons that many people should, or should not sell on their own. I will try to dispel the immense amount of misinformation on the subject of selling privately, and in the end, hopefully, you'll be in a better position to choose for yourself whether or not to sell privately.

In my opinion, selling privately is not for everyone, but most people can do it easily enough, and succeed.

First some basics. You've probably heard the term FSBO. This acronym to describe the term For Sale By Owner.

First question. Do you need a license to sell privately? To the best of my knowledge, no license is required in any American state or Canadian province in order to sell property privately. In fact, your right to sell privately is protected by law.  I will suggest that you check with your lawyer.

I am not a lawyer and therefore cannot give you legal advice.  So check with your lawyer before you do anything.

How much time will it take to sell my property? I am NOT going to try and tell you how long it will take for you to find a buyer who will transact a sale. I will talk about the time it takes to market a property on your own in order to give you a sense of what sort of time commitment you'll need to make to do it correctly. The answer, surprisingly, is very little time, about an hour or two a day at most. In fact, once you've taken the time to set up your sale, which is something I will talk about in another article, it will take little or no time at all, unless you're showing your property to a prospective buyer.

What is the general process of selling a property privately? In many ways it's exactly the same as selling with a real estate agent. Here is the process of selling a property, privately or not. First, the property is advertised to let the public know that it's available for sale. Prospective buyers inquire about the property, ask questions, and arrange a viewing appointment. The prospective buyers come and see the property, sometimes more than once. If they like the property, they make an offer in writing on a legal form. You (or your agent) and they (or their agent) negotiate the terms of the offer, the price, and closing date. Then once everyone has agreed, and all parties have signed the offer, everything goes to the lawyers so they can do their stuff to effectively convey title, and exchange monies etc..

It seems pretty straight forward, and usually it is. First you'll have to market the property, show it to prospective buyers, and negotiate the terms of the sales agreement. Once the agreement has been signed by both the Seller and the Buyer, then your lawyer will do the rest for you. Also, don't forget to get contact information for the Buyer's lawyer. Your lawyer may need this information to begin the process with the other attorney.

More articles will follow.  One thing to consider when selling FSBO is to provide financing for the prospective buyer.  You can become the bank and take back the mortgage.  You can provide financing with a mortgage note or trust deed for a short period of time, then sell the note for cash.

Please read the articles on our blog for more information.  Click here to email us with your questions.

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Bankruptcy or Foreclosure, Which Is The Best Option

In the past, "Foreclosure" and "Bankruptcy" were considered two of society's dirty words. Today these terms are viewed by many as relief from Financial Black holes that can not otherwise be escaped. In the current economy, inundated with bad mortgages, many of which stem from predatory lending practices, coupled with credit card debt spinning out of control, bankruptcy and the loss of ones home have become common place. For many homeowners, a decision needs to be made as to which of these terms is the lesser of two evils.

For homeowners whose debt has spun out of control, and whose income does not cover expenses, foreclosure and or bankruptcy are options that may be inevitable. However, which of these terms truly is the lesser of two evils?

Should a homeowner file for bankruptcy, they may be able to eliminate all of their credit card debt, medical bills, court ordered judgments and even electric and gas bills. With the assistance of a bankruptcy discharge, they may then be able to stay current on their mortgage. However, many people are even more concerned about their credit score. They may ask, "Will we be able to obtain future financing?"

Should a homeowner rather, opt for foreclosure, they will certainly loose their home, but do they really want to keep it in this market where the house may be worth far less then what is owed. If a homeowner opts to walk away from their house, they may own other investment property, and be able to live in a multi-family house, or they may simply want to rent and not deal with all the hassles of homeownership. "If something breaks, let someone else fix it, repair it, deal with this problem".

Neither option is an easy choice. A bankruptcy will remain on your credit for 10 years, while a foreclosure will only remain for 8 years, but many credit counselors report it has twice the negative impact on your credit score compared with a bankruptcy. It will be extremely difficult to obtain a new mortgage for many years after you have lost a home to foreclosure. Many homeowners may see foreclosure as a better option then simply obtaining the financial relief that the Bankruptcy Laws provide. What many do not realize is that a foreclosure may be even a darker mark on their credit then a bankruptcy. As a result, it may be even more difficult with a foreclosure on their record to obtain subsequent housing. Many mortgage lenders look at a foreclosure more seriously than they will a bankruptcy. As a result, a former homeowner may not qualify to rent the apartment or house they want, even though they may be able to afford it now that the mortgage obligation is gone.

One of the key factors to keep in mind is that when you file and receive a discharge of your debt in a bankruptcy, even if your credit score is lower, you are still a better candidate to receive future financing and in very short order. The reason is simple. After your bankruptcy discharge, you do not owe anything to anybody. Additionally, creditors realize that you can not file for a new bankruptcy for another eight (8) years, and as such can not walk away from any new debt that you may incur as a result of credit extended to you by a new creditor, be it landlord, credit card, or other financing option.

Now it should be pointed out that in many cases, you may be so far behind that a foreclosure is going to happen no matte what. If this is the case, it may be in your interest to file for bankruptcy right before the order. The reason is that if the bank sells the property for less then what is owed, the difference (commonly referred to as the deficiency) will be discharged. As a result, the bank will often sit on a foreclosure order for some time before they act upon it, so as to not loose more money. In the meantime, a homeowner can possibly short sell their house and move on with their life.

Based upon the foregoing, if you are facing a financial crisis that may end in either foreclosure or bankruptcy, consult an attorney to explore what your best option may be. The right decision may save you years of restricted credit in the future.

If you have a mortgage note you can sell your mortgage note for cash now. Click here to email us for more information.

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Check Your Credit Score Before You Apply For A Mortgage

Bad credit or good credit, the process of obtaining a mortgage has changed. Even if you are simply trying to refinance your existing mortgage, you may be surprised at how different things are. Of course your credit score always played a significant role in determining what kind of loan you can apply for, but nobody could have predicted what you need in order to get a mortgage today.

in the past, banks were eager to lend money to people who were interested in buying a new home. They would barely look at your income and sell you loans that were more than you could afford - virtually regardless of your credit history. A credit score of around 680 points would have been considered good credit and allowed you to get preferred rates and the best plans.

Today, just a few months later, things have changed dramatically and it is nearly impossible to get a mortgage without excellent credit. The good news is that along with those changes, it has become increasingly easy to increase your credit score.

Before you try to get a new home loan, the very first step is to access your personal credit information to find out where you stand on the credit score scale. You can then use this information to remove the errors that are common to credit reports, quickly increase your score, and then get approved for the loan you need.

You can also think about owner financing with a mortgage note. Click here to contact us for more information.

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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Selling your Property in a Difficult Market

If you listen to the media hype, you're probably thinking that you need to hold onto your home until the economy bounces back; that you'll never offload your house in this market. While it's true that sellers in some regions are finding it tough to sell right now, there are still buyers out there looking for a home.

The first step you need to take to ensure a successful sale of your home is to hire a reputable listing agent. While many people try the For Sale by Owner route first, most discover that selling a home is time consuming, complicated, and requires more specialized knowledge than they have.

Many homeowners who try to sell their home on their own become overwhelmed with trying to market their property to buyers. After all, it takes more than a yard sign and a couple of balloons to attract large numbers of viable buyers.

A good real estate agent will organize and host open houses for you, taking care of the scheduling, showing buyers around, and answering their questions. For these events, they will likely create professional brochures or fliers that feature the listing details of your home, as well as highlight the property's best features. This gives buyers something to bring home with them, and will make a positive impression.

In addition to traditional marketing methods like open houses, today's agents will also develop a solid advertising campaign for the internet. With over 80% of buyers starting their home search on the web, listing your home on the Multiple Listing Service and on other reputable websites is an important step in getting your home noticed. Thousands of agents and potential buyers will be able to access details and photos of your home from the comfort of their living room.

Having a web savvy agent is absolutely vital in this market, but you also want an agent who has been in the industry for a few years-particularly one who has experienced the ups and downs of the housing market. He or she will be able to provide insight and practical advice about how best to go about getting your home sold in a difficult market.

With your listing price set and marketing campaigns in place, a realtor will also help you negotiate with buyers to get the best price possible. Agents are trained and skilled in the art of negotiation, and will make the entire transaction much smoother for everyone.

Successful sales are possible even in slow markets like this one, but it's important to have an ally with know-how to guide you along the way.

Do not forget about seller financing with a mortgage note. We can help you with selling a mortgage note or creating one to take back financing. 

email for more information or visit our blog

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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

How to make sure you get the highest price for your mortgage note.

How to make sure you get the highest price for your mortgage note.

  1. Buyer's credit.
    The better the credit rating of the buyers, the more valuable your note.
    1. If they are a husband and wife, find out the credit rating of both of them. many time the wife is earning more than the husband.
    2. If you don't have a credit report, you can order a free report from us.
  2. Sale price of real estate.
    If this is MORE than the actual value of the real estate expect to take a bigger discount when you sell the note. An experienced note buyer wants to have some equity in the property in case the buyer defaults.
  3. Third party buyer.
    If you sell to a family member or friend you WILL have difficulty collecting your payments.
  4. Actual, provable value of the real estate.
    If you are taking back a first mortgage note there is no legal reason to have an appraisal. But if you intend to SELL the note, any experienced note buyer will want to know what the property is worth. It may be harder to access the property and have an appraisal done after you close on the sale.
  5. Loan to Value ratio. LTV.
    For a note to be marketable the total LTV, that is including the first and second mortgage (if any) should be no more than 75% of the actual value of the property. However, if the buyer's credit is good, this 75% could refer to the Investment to Value or ITV. In other words, the amount the note buyer is investing in the note. Thus if the property is worth $100,000 and the buyer has put down a 10% payment and has a $90,000 mortgage, you could get $75,000 (75% of the value) for your note.
  6. Who are the buyers?
    If the buyers are husband and wife they BOTH need to sign the note. If the buyer is a corporation, trust or LLC then make sure the principals also PERSONALLY sign the note. If they refuse to do so this could be an indication they will let the note default if the deal doesn't work out for them. Of of, this need not apply if the buyer is a substantial corporation. (I wouldn't ask Bill Gates to personally sign on a note from Microsoft. :-) But how about a note from WorldCom or Enron?) If the borrower is NOT a substantial corporation then the note could be either unsaleable or only saleable at a much larger discount to reflect the lack of personal liability.
  7. Seasoning, aging.
    There is no doubt that a seasoned note, where the buyers have made payments for a year or more, is easier to sell and will get a higher price  than a new one. But of course you won't have this option if you want to do a simultaneous closing.
  8. Institutional lender allows secondary financing.
    There are many institutional lenders, banks etc. that will not allow secondary financing behind their note. Why not? After all, their lien is senior anyway. One answer is simply that they do not want to the borrower to be stretched to make their payments. Also they would sooner the buyer put down more cash or pay for mortgage insurance (a fancy way of saying a higher interest rate.)
  9. Loan properly secured.
    If your mortgage is a second mortgage, it should be a properly recorded mortgage or deed of trust to comply with your local laws. Any documentary and intangible taxes should be paid. Without this the mortgage may be unenforceable.
  10. Title insurance.
    You should have proper mortgagee's title insurance.
  11. Rights with respect to first mortgage, if you hold a second.
    If you are holding a second mortgage it should contain language to the effect that a default on the first mortgage is a default on the second. Also that you, as second mortgage holder have the right to check on the payment status of the first.
  12. Interest rate.
    Other things being equal, the higher the interest rate, the higher the price you will receive. But be aware of laws concerning Usury and Predatory lending. A below market interest rate will demand a hefty discount to be saleable.
  13. Length of note to short.
    Typically it is hard to sell a note with a short balloon, or a balloon due in just 6-12 months. The note buyer will be concerned that the borrower won't be able to refinance and pay them off.
    But a loan with for example, 3-5 years to run, and a 30-year amortization is going to be saleable, other things being equal.
  14. Length of note too long.
    The note buyer won't usually want to wait 30 years to get paid off, but these notes can often be sold to institutional note buyers.
Email us with your questions
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Mortgage Note Buyers Helping You Get The Most Money For Selling Your Mortgage Note


All mortgage note holders want to know more about selling their mortgage note. Don't you?

Well, the popular way to get a lump sum of cash for your future payments is by using a mortgage note buyer.
Most people don't realize they have different creative options when using a contract buyer that can keep them from getting the most money for their owner-financed mortgage note.

It may seem scary or challenging, but truly it is not, unless you do not know the answer to this question.

Can I receive cash now and still hold part of the note? In other words, do I have to sell all of my note at once?

At first glance, this may seem obvious that this is the best choice because it will get you the most money up front. For some people, it is. When it comes down to it, it is up to you and your needs. If you need or want a large all cash payment and want to be out of the deal, rid of headaches and worries of a default buyer, avoid destruction of property, taxes and insurance, and would like a larger sum of money now instead of collecting small monthly checks, then a full sale is best.

But let 's take a look at some more needs. If you are just looking to get a
larger down or some money to take care of some immediate needs or
pleasures, then a partial payment may be better. Maybe you just want to
lessen the amount of strain or burden of carrying the note and would like to sell just a portion of each monthly payment. Then a split payment option will be better for you. (This way you can go on vacation, consolidate debt buy a new car...)

What is a partial? A partial is the purchase of a portion of an income streams remaining payments, or a purchase of a portion of a specific payment, or any combination thereof.

There are many times when this may make sense. Let 's say that you have a new note and it has not been seasoned (length of time that a note has been in place and paid on), it has little or no down payment, and has poor credit by the payer. In this case, it would be better to sell only part of the future payments. It will get you more money in the long run because the mortgage note buyer would have less risk should the buyer default on the note. Then after the note has experienced seasoning you could sale the rest of the payments at a much higher percentage.

Let 's look at an example of this:
Sales price: $100,000
Down payment: $5,000
Original note balance: $95,000
Payers credit: poor
Seasoning: 1 month
Appraised property value: $100,000
Term: 360 months
Interest: 10%
Remaining payments: 359

This is a low quality note because the buyer is not putting much money down,
the pay back period is very long, and the buyer 's credit is bad. But you could still make out like a bandit by selling it as a partial. Let 's say you sold the first 120 payments (10 years) for $51,000. After the 120th payment, the contract would be returned back to you. The balance owed to you would be $86,391.12. You would then start to collect the payments from then on. Let 's see how this looks.

Sales price: $100,000
Down payment: $5,000
Original note balance: $95,000
Contract written for 30 years @ 10%
Monthly payment: $833.69
Note buyer purchases first 120 payments for: $51,000
Total cash to home seller $56,000
(down payment + cash from note buyer)
After 120 payments contract is returned to you with a balance of $86,391.12

Total money to you: $142,391.12 (including interest). Not shabby for a house that sold for $100,000.

So, what is a Split?

A split is a purchase of a specified monthly amount. If you're getting to the point where you would like to enjoy some of the finer things in life, while still receiving a good monthly income, then a split payment is a great choice for you.

For example, if the monthly payment on a seller-financed note is $1,000, we could purchase $200, $500, $750, etc. of the monthly payment. This will allow you to get cash now and then still collect a monthly income from the note.

All in all, each situation is different and may need to be tailored differently to meet your needs. I can't say exactly what you will get for your individual situation, but I can say that you should walk away happy. Selling your mortgage note should be much easier and more profitable now that you are armed with some creative options.

Get a free quote email us at quote@smilingdogenterprises.com
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Most Often Asked Questions About Selling A Mortgage Note

Mortgage note buyers exist to help you create, sell and understand your mortgage notes, contracts for deeds, trust deeds, and promissory note

both residential and commercial.

Below you will find 5 frequently asked question about selling your mortgage note.

5 frequently asked questions, that most note sellers have about selling their owner-financed mortgage note are:

1. How much cash can I get? There are many factors in determining the offer price for selling a mortgage note The main four are equity, seasoning, interest rate, and credit of payer.

The more of these you have in your favor the larger lump sum you will get. This is why many mortgage note buyers offer a free no obligation quote.

If you look through some of the questions there, you'll see that they are simple and only take a few minutes to fill out.

These type of questionnaires are designed to keep you from having to dream about how much money you will get. The coolest part about it is, if nothing else, you know how much money you could receive if you wanted it.

2. How do I sell my note? Selling your note is easy. The first step is finding and contacting a mortgage note buyer or contract buyer and simply telling them that you want to sell your note.

This initial contact could be by phone, email, or through filling out a free mortgage note quote form. More than likely, if you are reading this, then you are at a site that can help you get a cash offer for your note.

If not, then there is a link to a good website and company above, that can give you a "No hassle, No obligation" quote.

Once you give the contract buyer some required information, they will be able to get back to you, usually within 24-48 hours, with an offer.

3. How long does the process take once I decide to move forward? After you have given the mortgage note buyer the required information, either by calling, email, or filling out an online form, they will get back to you in 24-48 hours.

Usually, it only takes 2-3 weeks to complete the deal and have a huge certified check deposited, or wired to your bank account.

4. When I convert my note to cash, how will it affect the person(s) paying me? Not at all. The terms, payment, and amount owed stay the same.

This is a really neat thing about selling your mortgage note. You can get a large sum of cash and it doesn't affect the person(s) paying you. Sounds like a "win-win-win" situation to me.

5. Where would the closing take place? Usually, at the closest title company near you. Sometimes it takes place in the town or city in which the property is located...which brings up another question.

Do you have to be there for the close? Nope, not generally. The person handling the title and closing the deal can send you the closing package. This is all done to make it as convenient and as easy for you as possible.

As you can see, getting a large sum of cash now for your future mortgage payment is an easy process that can put a lot of money into your pocket for a vacation, to consolidate bills, and buy or enjoy any other necessities or pleasures.

Click here to visit our blog for more articles.

click here to email us your questions.

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Mortgage Note Questions - How To Sell Your Mortgage Note

When it comes to selling real estate, one of the biggest obstacles  sellers face is a so-called “depressed” market. Even when a property  is highly desirable, it can be hard to get the price you want in  this real estate environment. You could end up losing a lot of time,  money, and opportunities, waiting for a “perfect buyer” who may  NEVER materialize!
The traditional solution is to drop your asking price. But this  common strategy doesn’t always work in your favor. In fact, it can  work against you, making your home seem undesirable and your  position seem weak.

But there IS a way to turn this challenge into a profitable  opportunity!  I am not selling anything. I am in the business of paying cash for  mortgage notes and trust deeds.

Keep in mind that it has to make financial sense. Although having regular income is a nice idea, there comes a time when you might need a lump sum of cash for an investment, a large purchase or just to pay.

A cash flow notes statement documents the amount of incoming and outgoing cash and its equivalents. Only cash sales are recorded in a cash flow statement – all future sales including those made on credit are not declared.

 Most banks refuse to accept a short sale or modify the terms of a mortgage unless the owners are numerous months behind in payments. The homeowners come to the bank to ask for help to avoid foreclosure. Individuals sell structured settlements to get liquid cash. They can be sold to special financial institutions. The main advantage of selling structured settlements.

In situations where you are holding the sell mortgage notes and receiving payments from the sale of commercial and residential real estate, and you are want to cash in on those payments, there are service agents who provide help. This technique has been the key in making up an estimated 20% of all private note sales.

Right now, thousands of people across North America are stuck with investments that they don’t want. They would rather have the cash now! Whether it’s a real estate note created when selling a property, a business note created when selling a business or even a structured settlement, there are thousands of notes out there that could be turned into cash!

Get cash now and forget those monthly payments FOREVER! We work with buyers who are ready to pay top dollar for your notes. If you have a trust deed, a mortgage note or any private loan, it's time to find out exactly how much CASH you could be entitled to.

    * It's Quick: Learn how to cash out in minutes
    * It's Easy: You could have cash in just days
    * It's Secure: Get real quotes directly from certified buyers

There has never been an easier or faster way to cash out of your investment. Whether you need money to pay bills... to buy a home... to fund an education... or even if you just need some spending cash... We'll show you the money for your mortgage note or trust deed!

http://www.smilingdogenterprises.com
getcashnow@smilingdogenterprises.com

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Thursday, November 6, 2008

Financial Planning How To Sell Your Mortgage Note For Cash Now

Many people that sell their home or property choose to sell it themselves as opposed to going through a real estate agency, bank or lending institution. There are different reasons why they may choose to do this. They may be selling it to a friend or relative and want to avoid or eliminate the middle man or the buyer may not be able to obtain conventional bank funding. Another reason may be to avoid having to pay commission to a real estate agent for selling your property. If you’re selling your property for a large sum of money, the commission the real estate agency will earn can be quite substantial. When you are the seller that holds the trust deed on the property sold, things can go smoothly or problems may arise.

If you are not in instant need of the proceeds from the sale, being the “lender” may work out great for you. Many people, however, discover after a certain amount of time that they want to invest in property and need the money. If this is the case, the first question you may ask yourself is, “How do I sell my trust deed?” This is actually something you should consider at the time you sell your property. You may think that acting as a lender will be simple and quick for you and the buyer, but you may want to learn all you can about this procedure before you make a commitment.

If the buyer is having difficulties making the payments, you may tire quickly of being the “bad guy” demanding payments or collecting late fines. If I was considering selling and holding the trust deed for my property, I would research how to sell my trust deed before I signed any legal binding contract. Even though I may not ever need to sell my trust deed, I’d still want to get all the information I needed ahead of time. We can help you learn the best way to sell my trust deed at NO cost to you. An attorney can also give me information if I want to sell my trust deed and what steps need to be taken.

We will not only buy your trust deed, but often we will buy just part of it. You may want to go on a vacation, make an investment or just have extra cash available and not want to sell the entire trust deed. 

Click here to email us  Our complete BLOG List a Note on our site

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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Get Cash Now For Your Structured Settlement or Mortgage Note

Structured settlements are financial packages or financial agreements permitting a settlement to be paid through an annuity via regularly scheduled installments either for a fixed period or for the lifetime of the claimant. Because it is tailor-made for individual cases, the structured settlement may also include some immediate payment to cover special requirements.

The payments are typically funded by annuities, reinsurance, or occasionally U.S. government obligations. The structured settlements are mostly setup for lawsuit settlements, insurance settlements, lottery awards, casino and jackpot winnings and contest payments.

Structured settlements have not always been available. In 1982, Congress passed The Periodic Payment Settlement Act of 1982 (Public Law 97-473), as a way to make large settlements more agreeable to parties and provide certain protection to victims. It also encouraged people to use them by granting them tax-free status.

As a result, many people now choose a structured settlement agreement over a lump sum payment, and courts often award them in civil actions where there will be long-term costs of living and the necessity for obtaining cash payments at some point in the future.

Structured settlements are not appropriate in all kind of cases. Since structures allow settlement funds to grow income tax-free and to be preserved to meet future financial needs, any liability case can be suitable for a structured settlement.

However, the following are cases in which structures should always be considered.

Structured settlements are designed for many types of cases though including:
- All catastrophic cases including paralysis, brain damage, severe burns, loss of limb or severe injury cases.
- Wrongful death cases where a surviving family will need a regular income to replace that of the lost spouse/parent.
- Permanent or temporary disabilities that will take extensive recovery time.
- Most of Workers compensation cases- Most of cases with a reserve or value of $50,000 or more, for example lottery or casino awards.
- Guardianship cases where there are minor children or another person who is judged to be incompetent such as a person with psychological, emotional, or mental handicaps

Structured settlements can be formed in many different ways, and their structure is basically determined by the financial needs of the claimant. The simplest structured settlements are created with an even distribution of cash on a given interim for the term of the agreement. Such a settlement could include a payment every month for 15- 20 years as an example.

A properly developed structural settlement agreement also includes the time value of money because by design, they do not pay interest. The interest is calculated in as a part of the payment. In essence, the structured settlement incorporates a fixed interest rate that is also completely tax-free as it is part of the settlement.

Benefits of a Structured Settlement:

Benefits to Claimants:

1. Choice: Allows the claimant a choice at settlement. Benefits can be received based on needs rather than a lump sum which has to be invested at risk, incurring fees.

2. Tax-free: Structured settlements provide a steady stream of cash to claimant that is completely free of tax liability, both at federal and the state level.

3. Regular payment stream: A structured settlement annuity provides regular payment stream to claimant.

4. More Secure: Maximum security since periodic payments are funded by annuities or reinsurance issued by the largest, most secure life insurance companies.

5. Structured Settlements are cheaper: Another benefit to structured settlements is that they are often arrived at without the risk and time loss of going to court.

Benefits to the defense:

1. Bridge Gaps: Helps bridge gaps between plaintiff and defendant.

2. Reduces litigation costs: For many reasons, defendants who believe they could have liability will make an offer of a structured settlement to minimize their costs.

3. Reduce settlement cost: Substandard age rating can significantly reduce settlement cost.

4. Structured Settlements are cheaper: Because they are often arrived at without the risk and time loss of going to court.

You can sell Your Structured Settlements!

Now you can sell your future monthly payments and be free of the restrictive schedule of disbursement imposed by your structured insurance settlement. There are some finance companies those will pay you a large lump sum of cash now, rather than you receiving smaller monthly payments for the remainder of the payout.

You may like to sell your structured settlement because some of the following reasons:

1. Your life situation changed since your structured settlement was created.

2. You have an emergency situation or a special opportunity occurred in your life which requires cash you do not currently have.

3. You want to start a new business but do not have the cash needed.

4. You need money for a special event in your life like the wedding of your child.

5. You have outgrown your current home but don't know where you'll find the money to buy a larger home or add on to your existing home.

You also have the options to sell your settlement to suit your requirements as followings:

- Cash payouts in full: Full Payment refers to a plan where the individual sells all the remaining future payments at a discounted present value for a lump sum payment.

- Partial buyouts: Partial Payment refers to a plan where the individual sells a specific number of future payments at a discounted present value for a lump sum payment.

-Shared payment plans: Shared Payment refers to a plan where the individual sells a portion of their future payment(s) at a discounted present value and keeps a portion.

I personally believe that most important reason to sell your structured settlement today is that you take advantage of the financial principle of the Time Value of Money, which means that a dollar is more valuable to you today than it will be in the future; you get your money before inflation kills its value.

Deal with a company that will structure the transaction based on your specific financial requirements and only acquire the portion of your payment stream that is necessary for you to fulfill your needs.

We can help with your structured settlement, mortgage note or trust deed.

Click here to email us your questions.

Click here for additional information. from Smiling Dog Enterprises

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Friday, September 5, 2008

How to Get More Than The Asking Price For Your Property

Part 3 of 4

How Does Down Payment Affect Note Value?

For many Note Buyers the amount of the initial down payment at the time of sale can make or break a note deal. The down payment is applied directly toward principal, creating instant equity in the property. Accordingly, most Note Buyers want to confirm the amount of the down payment up front.
With no down payment, it would take many years to build a meaningful amount of equity in the property. Take a look at the following example that illustrates this point.
House #1: valued at $100,000, with a down payment of $20,000 made at the time of sale.
House #2: also valued at $100,000, but with zero down payment made at the time of sale.
The note on House #1 has $20,000 in equity. No down payment made on House #2 means that there is no equity in the property before the first monthly payment is made.

Consider how much “upfront” money there is
Assuming that House #2 was sold for $100,000 with a 30-year note amortized at 8 percent interest, it could take years to build $20,000 in equity.
Because the Note Holder’s purchase is protected by the equity in the property, the amount of the down payment is an important consideration. With the zero down note on House #2, the Note Buyer would need to apply a larger discount in order to make it a fair deal for him. On the other hand, while the note on House #1 is secured by a $20,000 down payment and has substantial protective equity even before the first monthly payment, it would cost the Note Buyer a lot more.
Almost any note deal can be a good deal… for everyone involved
A strong down payment lends a side benefit related to having protective equity. When a large down payment is made at the time of sale, that person is more likely to be committed to owning the house and keeping up with the note payments. Seller-financed deals with zero down payments are very attractive to first-time home buyers or others without a large nest egg saved – but it can be riskier for the Note Buyer. So the educated Note Buyers can offset this risk by increasing the discount on low or zero down payment notes.
Remember, even a note created without a down payment can be a sound purchase. The key is to look at each situation individually and to establish a fair price based on the specific note.
Even when liquidating private mortgages at a discount, Note Sellers still get to receive a lump sum of cash immediately instead of waiting years – decades, even – before the debt owed to them is paid.
The bottom line is that a qualified professional Note Finder can bring a benefit to both parties – the Note Holder and the buyer. In the end, when a deal is struck, everyone wins and ends up in a stronger financial position.

Join my mailing list or subscribe to this publication by leaving me your contact information. I can be reached at 303.317.4488 or via email at sydney@smilingdogenterprises.com.
Sincerely,
Sydney Griecci
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Monday, August 18, 2008

Selling Property with a Land Trust or Mortgage Note!

In many cases, home buyers are in a financial position to afford the monthly payments associated with home ownership, but they lack the down payment necessary to purchase a home. Or the buyer's credit score or rating may prevent him or her from obtaining the traditional bank or mortgage company financing required for the purchase of a home. When this is the case, it often makes sense for the buyers to consider purchasing a home or piece of real estate and have the owner/seller provide the financing for the purchase - called a Land Contract or Contract for Deed.

Likewise, selling a home by way a land contract can prove beneficial to the seller in many ways. Selling property with a land contract can provide a quicker and more inexpensive way for the property owner to sell the property - the seller does not need to comply with the often rigid and tedious guidelines of bank financing and the delays that often accompany those guidelines. Likewise, real property sold on a land contract can often be priced higher than sales with bank financing since the seller provides the all-important financing and the buyer is often times not required to come up with a large down-payment, thereby permitting a higher asking price for the property.

So how does a land contract work?

Land contracts are common throughout the United States. In some states, they are called Trust Deeds, Contract for Deed, Deeds of Trust, Notes, or (privately held) Mortgages, but they all represent the same thing: a way of selling property where the buyer "borrows" from or relies upon the seller for the financing rather than paying cash up front or borrowing from a bank.

The process is generally as follows:

The seller and buyer enter into a contract that normally states that the seller shall transfer ownership of the property to the after the buyer has fully paid the seller the agreed upon purchase price. In most cases, the contract requires the buyer to make a modest down payment and then to make monthly payments over time. The land contract can require the buyer to pay the seller interest on the money owed (just like a bank would). Also, because the buyer and seller privately negotiate and reach their own sales terms, the contract can also call for smaller monthly payments - beneficial to the buyer - and then a balloon payment to be made at some certain period of time; this balloon or lump sum payment will pay the balance of the purchase price for the property.

During the term of the land contract (i.e. while the contract is in force and effect, the buyer is not in default and until all of the payments are made), the buyer holds legal possession of and occupies the property. The land contract can call for transfer of the property once the seller has received all of the required payments or can call for the transfer at some time sooner, with the seller then holding a mortgage on the property to ensure that the balance of the purchase price will be paid in full. Whatever the terms agreed upon for transferring ownership, when the agreed upon transfer date is reached, the seller tenders (or gives) a deed to the property to the buyer who then records the deed in the county recorders office or the real property office of the county where the property is located.

While the benefits of land contracts are many, there are some potential pitfalls to a land contract that the parties must be aware.

If the buyer misses any payment under the land contract, he or she may lose the property (the right to have the deed transferred to him) and the seller may keep the money paid up to that point as rent. Thereafter, the seller would not be required to transfer the deed to the buyer.

Some states have laws providing that if a buyer makes a majority of the payments under a land contract (which cover a large percentage of a purchase price of the property), the seller may not be able to keep or refuse to transfer the deed if the buyer can make payments on the contract price at a later date (known as the right of redemption). Your state laws should be reviewed.

A disadvantage for the buyer can be found when the seller has a mortgage on the property that the buyer is purchasing and the seller does not payoff existing mortgages by the time the buyer pays the entire purchase price - thereby causing the property to subject to foreclosure. The buyer should determine whether or not any mortgages exist on the property being purchased and then require the seller to pay off all mortgages prior to the final payment being made - but if the seller does not, the buyer should be aware that he or she may be required to pay off the mortgages.

We Buy and Sell Mortgage Note or Land Trusts. Contact us for more information information@smilingdogenterprises.com

List your note at Smiling Dog Enterprises