Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Private Money Lenders Can Be a More Flexible Option for You

By Tomasheus Privetsky

In fact, a lot of people can potentially become very successful investors in real estate, but very few people actually try. Most do not try to get rich this way because they think they can't; they don't have the money to invest in properties and they believe they cannot get financing by going to a bank for a loan. However, there is a better and easier way for you to finance your properties if you want to become a real estate investor. You do this through what are called private money lenders.

What Are Private Money Lenders?

A private money loan is one that is financed through an individual who has spare money to lend and who wants to make a small profit off of that money. This is the most flexible financing option for real estate investors because you get to borrow money from a regular individual, just like you and me, instead of a bank or other lending institution - which can be very impersonal and formal. Banks and lending institutions have rules and regulations that they must follow when deciding who to lend money to, but private money lenders do not.

Why Private Money Loans Are a Better Way to Finance Your Properties

As previously mentioned, unlike banks and other traditional lending institutions, private money lenders are not bound by strict rules and regulations imposed by a board of directors or harsh credit standards imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Instead, private money lenders have the option to choose who they want to invest in, regardless of an investors financial statements or credit ratings.

What are the Benefits of Using a Private Money Lender?

As a real estate investor, you can approach a private money lender and explain as to why it's a good idea to invest in you. This will let the lender come to his own conclusions, but there are further benefits, too. If the private money lender is interested in working with you, both of you can work out payment and financing arrangements that are of benefit to both of you. Both you and the private money lender can state what you expect from the arrangement, agree on an interest rate and payment schedule, and basically hash out any details so the both of you are happy with the end result.

What's more, since a private money loan is a short-term loan, the lender may even be willing to wait until after you flip the property to receive any repayment at all. This allows you to focus on fixing and selling the property, without the anxiety that can be associated with payments on a property that hasn't brought in any money.

Drawbacks to Traditional Hard Money Loans

While private money loans benefit both borrower and lender, bank loans usually give the benefit to the bank. They get to set the standards on their side, and if you are lucky enough to get a loan through them, they also get to set the interest rate and determine what other fees might be. In general, you're not going to be allowed to make payment arrangements or other special arrangements, but will have to stick to the schedule the bank sets. This means that even if your credit history is perfect, and even if you can receive financing from a traditional lender, using a private money lender may still offer you more advantages.

Summarizing the Benefits of Working with a Private Money Lender

The private money lender can lend to whomever he or she wishes to and doesn't have to follow specific rules and restrictions in the same way traditional institutions like banks do. This means that even real estate investors who have less than perfect credit histories may be able to obtain financing needed for their properties.

Provides for more open-minded communication between the borrower and private money lender. The borrower can negotiate a flat fee or interest-rate that is certainly a better deal for the borrower than that of a traditional loan.

As the borrower, you can negotiate with the private money lender to customize payment arrangements that will be beneficial to you both. If the lender is amenable, you may be able to suspend payments altogether until you've "flipped" your property.

In general, you don't need any financial application to borrow money from a private money lender. Instead, you can talk directly with the lender to try and convince him to take a chance on you and on the property in question.

The private money lender has the opportunity to see the borrower as an individual with goals instead of simply seeing the paper application that does or does not pass rigid, predetermined guidelines.

For all of these reasons and more, private money loans can be the most beneficial and flexible funding option for you as a real estate investor. Using a private money lender lets you have a variety of options and may give a chance to real estate investors who would likely otherwise be turned away by a traditional lender. - 15432

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