Real estate is a lucrative industry with many investment opportunities. However, this cannot be possible if you lack capital. As an investor, hard money can be a fast way of having the necessary finances.
It’s an asset-based loan whereby the security is on the real estate property you’re investing in. Before investing in hard money real estate, understand the merits and demerits first. Here is a guide to help you decide on venturing into the investment.
Pros of Hard Money Real Estate Investment
Minimal Requirements
When taking a hard money loan, there is a low requirement. This is as compared to the traditional loans from banks and private lenders. The hard money lenders only want to see if you have sufficient equity concerning the property.
Another aspect they consider is your capability to make the monthly payments. This is why having an appealing credit history is crucial as they’ll have confidence in your ability to deliver the services.
Faster Approval Process
Another significant aspect of these types of loans is that you’ll receive the funds faster as a borrower. At times, applicants even receive the loan within a day.
The main reason for this is that the lenders use a simple criterion for approval. For instance, some will focus on the business experience you have before granting the financial support.
There is also consideration of the exit plan on the property. The best part is that these days, you have options on the lenders to target. However, this comes with the challenge of not knowing which option to take.
It can also be time-consuming when narrowing down to the best. Thus, doing an online search through dependable sites is essential.
By entering the state’s city’s name, these internet sites can provide you with results on the available lenders. The site HardMoneyHome.com guides on how first an online search can be reliable. Look for platforms that are well-updated as you can be sure of arriving at the right loan providers.
Flexibility
Loans often follow a specific guideline on the requirements. This is not the case with hard money loans, as they don’t use a standard underwriting process.
As a borrower, you’ll notice that the loan agreement will display some flexibility. This is because the lenders will usually evaluate each case differently.
This means the borrowing situation will vary depending on your negotiation skills and business experience. Therefore, consider sharpening your bargaining abilities and convince the financiers that you have exposure in real estate investments. It can see you bend some of the loan terms, such as repayment period and amount.
Cons of Hard Money Real Estate Investment
With a loan comes the issue of risks to the lender. Try attaching security terms before loan processing. Often the level of riskiness is directly proportional to the interest rates. It can be between 8% and 11%, depending on the lender.
Due to the elasticity of the hard money loans, you may find the interest rates being high. Again, the lenders hardly ask for full documents on the credit history and income. Since they are in business, it only sounds fair if the interest rates are higher.
Down Payments
As an investor, you may need to make a down payment of between 25% and 30%. On the other hand, it could be that you already own the property but need a refinance.
In this case, you may need to have between 25% and 30% equity on the real estate property. Banks often ask for lower down payment amounts, and so do the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans.
Hard money in real estate is becoming a popular way of raising funds for investors. If you’re considering it, it’s a good thing to understand what it’s all about. Most importantly, understand the pros and cons it comes with. It helps you make a well-guided decision when going for it.
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