The first step in deconstructing real estate finance is to grasp the fundamentals of a hard money loan. After all, hard money loans are a real estate investor’s best friend and the quickest way to close a purchase. But before making any choices on your own, you must understand what you are getting into since hard money loans may become quite difficult very quickly.
A short-term loan, known as “hard money lending,” is received from private investors or people with conditions that could be stricter than a regular loan. Although the conditions of this innovative financing choice could be more stringent, this kind of private financing for real estate often has less tight requirements. Investors seeking to invest in real estate properties may require a hard money loan, and this Atlanta hard money lender will come in handy.
Here are some pros and cons of hard money loans
PROS
You can gain from obtaining funding through a hard money loan in several ways, including:
1. Speed :
Ten years ago, the Dodd-Frank Act was passed as legislation for financial reform. It was followed by additional mortgage lending rules, which makes it difficult for investors to settle loans quickly (often taking months). Hard money lending, on the other hand, is speedy since you can get a loan in a couple of days or weeks (depending on negotiations). Hard money funding can speed up the long process of massive development projects.
2. Flexibility:
Because you work directly with private investors, hard money lending loan terms can be negotiated. Banks are less adaptable.
3. Collateral:
If you choose hard money financing, your property will be your loan’s collateral. Some lenders may even take other assets as collateral for a loan, such as a retirement account or a home registered in your name.
4. No “Red Tape”:
It is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a loan for an investment property using a regular mortgage. Traditional borrowers must be concerned with their credit score, LTV ratios, debt-to-income ratios, and several other indicators for which they must fulfil requirements. On the other hand, hard money lenders take an asset-based approach to lending and are more focused on the property than the borrower’s credentials.
5. Convenience:
Something positive can be said about the ease of closing with cash. It might become burdensome and drain your concentration and energy to provide bank statements, income verification, tax returns, and leases to a lender. Contrarily, hard cash eliminates the intermediary and most of the hassles.
6. VOLUME
Thanks to hard money lenders, investors can leverage other people’s money. Therefore, investors can support many deals simultaneously. Traditional loans won’t accomplish this. A hard money loan is something you should think about if you want to fund several projects at once.
- Competitive Advantage:
Using hard money, investors can outperform rivals, or at least those using conventional loans—sellers like hard money since it delivers cash and a quick transaction if nothing else.
CONS
But there are several drawbacks to employing hard money for real estate investments:
1. Cost:
Although convenience may be hard money lending’s biggest advantage, it is also one of its key disadvantages. Hard money lenders may demand up to 10 percentage points more than conventional loans since they are at more risk than borrowers. The range of interest rates is 10% to 15%. Expect additional expenses, including origination fees and closing charges, to climb at a similar rate.
2. Short Payback Schedule:
The cost of being able to list a property quickly is a shorter repayment duration. This may take anything from six to eighteen months. Make certain that you can sell the home quickly for a profit.
3. Higher rates
Rates on hard money loans are sometimes substantially higher than those on fixed-rate mortgages. Hard money loans often range from 8% to 15% more than the conventional 3.5% fixed-rate mortgage loan. Furthermore, it’s possible that hard money loans won’t cover the entire amount of the asset you want to finance. You might need to put more money down on the property or find another source of funding to complete the transaction if a hard money loan does not cover the entire amount.
In conclusion, there are many benefits and disadvantages to hard money loans in real estate investment. The above listed dictate why hard loans are more popular in real estate.
