When you are planning to buy property, dealing with financial institutions can be a hassle. This is one of the reasons why some people prefer to go in for seller financing. This is useful for first time investors as well as those who have been turned away by traditional financial institutions. The interest rates are also lower and one can sell or get the property refinanced at will. There are a number of sellers who have made seller financing a kind of standardized and common process, as they take into consideration the 30 year fixed rate and give it out along with a spread on Phoenix investment property.
Sellers want a fast closing with little hassle. Sellers also want to pay as little taxes as possible on the gains incurred. Sellers are anxious to sell; and in a sluggish real estate market, owner-financing is an attractive alternative to losing money while properties sit vacant. Otherwise, homes can remain on the market for years with owners either making mortgage payments out of pocket or renting. Sellers may consider 100% owner financing or partnering with the right buyer of Phoenix investment property for a win/win outcome.
When sellers offer seller financing to buyers, they in effect make it easier for buyers to purchase the property thus enhancing buyer interest. In these times, sellers should be helping buyers buy the property which is in sharp contrast to the opinion expressed by some sellers that financing shouldn’t be a seller’s concern. There are cases where sellers help in contributing 6% of the sales price which facilitates first time buyers’ completion on the sale of their first investment property.
Seller financing presents very little, if any, problems. The seller doesn’t have to pass the rigors of a lending institution, nor does the buyer. Sellers will typically finance 50 to 60 percent – or more – of the selling price, with an interest rate below current bank rates and with a far longer amortization. The terms will usually have scheduled payments similar to conventional loans. Sellers must know when they list their property for sale that the master association for their property must also qualify in order for a buyer to be able to get a loan. The Rules and Regulations, By-Laws, budgets, insurance policies, everything, are subject to review by lending underwriters, so be aware of conditions while exploring investment property.
In seller financing, the property is vested in the name of the seller till such time as the buyer makes good the payments and has the grant bargain, sale deed or such device transferred into his/her name. In other words, in some cases of seller financing, the buyer assumes the seller’s mortgage while the loan is assumed by the buyer. Most sellers would like to pay as little taxes on their capital gains and set up the interest on a balloon payment. They would not like to wait for 30 years or more to set a return on their Phoenix investment property. This is one of the reasons why sellers are often interested in installment sales rather than a cash sale which is more traditional.
Marshall Foster owns several Phoenix investment properties. He also enjoys talking to investors about creative financing for property.
