Finding Cash Flow Notes – Does It Help To Get Social?

It seems you can’t make a move today without being reminded of the surge of “social media” outlets. But do these outlets actually help anyone do business?

What about finding cash flow notes?

First off, let’s look at some of the top social media sites in 2010 (in no particular order).

YouTube  -  Twitter  -  Flickr  -  Digg  -  Facebook  -  Del.icio.us  -  Propeller

Reddit  -  Metacafe  -  Technorati  -  StumbleUpon  -  LinkedIn  -  Mixx  -  Slashdot

My Space -  Class Mates  -  LiveJournal  -  Yahoo 360  -  Scribd

Blogger  -  WordPress  -  MSN Groups

Wow, where do you start?

There are really over 100 social media sites that have “significant traffic.” But you certainly don’t have the time to check them all out. Here are a couple that we think deserve your attention.

1.     LinkedIn – Touted as the “business” option for social media, you can connect with colleagues, clients, and prospects. You can send and receive emails as well as create and join groups.  Think business networking groups in an online environment.

2.     YouTube – Great venue for sharing videos and a low price (how is free for low?). Be sure to allow people to re-post your video on their site if they want to share.

3.     Facebook  – Ever since the addition of Fan Pages and Groups, Facebook has become a potential melting pot of information. If you use the “group” function you can also email people (within Facebook) directly. A great way to let them know what you are doing.

4.     Twitter – Short messages to a group of “followers.” This venue gives the user and opportunity to add a personal touch. Just don’t go too far – no one cares what you had for lunch. Send out more than 4-6 updates per day and you will probably find your followers start to ditch you – especially if you are doing nothing but selling them.

Although the jury is still out on how many actual deals you can get from social media, there is no question that it will be here for awhile and millions of people are interacting in this venue.

In all cases, you want to be sure that you are delivering useful content, not just a sales pitch (some sites will even have rules against you doing just that). Contribute solid information and you just may find yourself sought out when it comes to buying owner financed notes!

Buying and Selling Notes – What is the Current Property Value?

One of the considerations when buying and selling mortgage notes is knowing the current value of the home. After all, the property is the collateral and knowing its true value will greatly affect how much an investor will pay for a note.

Historically this process was a bit easier, when everything was in an “up” market.  But with property values still on the downside or just recovering, it is often difficult to put a (safe) number on it. At least one that everyone agrees on.

Although there are excellent programs on the Internet that help the average consumer to get an idea of value, they are not always accurate. The actual value of a property can be determined in a couple of credible ways.

Often, note investors get what they call a “drive by” appraisal or valuation.

Usually performed by a licensed appraiser, the report will  include other sales or comps in the area. The main difference is a “drive- by” evaluation does not require the appraiser to have access to the interior of the property. The appraiser actually drives by and takes pictures from the street for the report.

Some investors are using what is called a Broker Price Opinion (BPO) – an evaluation based on the advice of a real estate agent or broker. They are often very similar comparable to a “drive by” and at a lower cost but do not follow the strict guidelines of a certified appraiser.

The note buyer may even require a full interior appraisal to get comfortable with the value. This might be the case when there are substantial improvements to verify or there’s concern over the property condition.

The actual approved or preferred method will be up to the individual investor.  While they are buying the mortgage note and not the property itself, the value is still important in deciding risk, investment to value (ITV), and the price they will pay to purchase the remaining payments.

Questions on Selling Mortgage Notes

Owner financing is on the rise with more sellers agreeing to accept payments from buyers. There are many reasons people agree to a carry-back real estate notes including:

• Quick sale of the property
• Monthly income from the note
• No hassles of bank financing
• More qualified buyers
• Property that is hard to sell or finance

Rather than waiting 20-30 years for payments, many sellers opt to sell future payments to a Note Buyer. Here are the seven most common questions we receive on selling mortgage notes and trust deeds.

Why Would I Sell My Mortgage Note?

Circumstances change and many sellers would prefer cash today rather than small payments that trickle in each month. Here are just a few reasons people have sold their note for cash:

• Retirement
• Taxes
• Investment Opportunity
• Expensive Medical Care
• Vacation
• College Tuition
• Unexpected Financial Changes
• Peace of Mind – no more worrying if the buyer is going to miss payments or having to foreclose
• Accounting headaches, IRS regulations, paperwork hassles, and the list goes on…

What Is A Note Appraisal?

A note appraisal reflects the current market value of your payments similar to what a real estate appraisal provides for real property. Frequently referred to as a “quote” it shows what your future payments are worth to an investor in cash dollars today. We recommend having it evaluated once a year as pricing may change based on market conditions.

How Do I Maintain the Value of My Note?

Many of the items that affect the value were determined at the time the property was sold. However, keeping good records of the payments received and requiring the buyer to provide annual proof of current taxes and property insurance will help maintain the value of your important asset.

Can I Sell Just Part Of My Promissory Note?

Investors can purchase all or part of the remaining payments. Selling part of the payments allows you to receive a lump sum of cash up front, then payments when the note reverts back to you.

To minimize the discount, many people elect to sell just enough payments to meet their cash needs today and keep some of the future payments as an investment or nest egg. Always ask for an option that meets your needs.

How Is The Value Determined?

The value of a note is affected by the down payment, interest rate, payment amount, length of repayment, buyer’s credit rating, and payment history. The type, condition, and value of the property also impact the value of your note.

The time value of money, which makes payments due now more valuable than payments due in 20 to 30 years, is also factored into the offer. Due to inflation, money in your pocket today is generally worth more now than later. All of these elements will be taken into consideration in determining the current value of your note.

How Will Selling My Note Affect The Payer?

The payer or buyer experiences no change in the way the payments are structured. The only change will be the address where the payments are mailed.

How Do I Get Started?

The first step is to obtain a quote from a note buyer. The investor will ask some questions on the property sale and terms of the promissory note. This can usually be done over the phone or by completing an online worksheet. The investor may also request copies of the documents relating to your transaction, such as:

• Promissory Note
• Mortgage (or a Trust Deed, or Land Contract in some states)
• Closing statement
• Buyer information
• Pay history and current balance
• Previous title insurance policy
• Current hazard insurance policy

The investor will provide an offer subject to the standard title, appraisal, and buyer’s credit review. Once the review is finished and the documents gathered the transaction is reading for closing.  This process typically takes 2-4 weeks.  If preferred, an attorney or title company can handle the exchange of funds for the original closing documents.

Grab your copy of the Note Buyer List today!

Owner Financing Made Easy For Sellers and Home Buyers

There is a new site connecting sellers and buyers that want to use owner financing. Note Investor caught up with Fernando Sanchez, founder, and asked him to share his vision.  He explains how his site can help homeowners that want to offer seller financing and take back a real estate note. Read more

Dodd-Frank Hijacks Owner Financing

Private property owners have been swept into the regulations of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act which was signed into law in July 2010. Owner financing will be regulated in Title XIV Section 1401(2) (E) Mortgage Loan Origination Standards. The law restricts private property owners who want to sell their own property using owner financing (installment sale). These are some of the consequences.

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