How to "Be the Bank" by Investing in Notes

 Note investing is a little know investment strategy that can provide high returns and low risk. You can get started investing in notes by learning the basics of the investment strategy and finding a private lender who specializes in alternative investment strategies.

Have you ever heard of investing in notes? Probably not, but you are most likely already doing it. If you have a credit card, car payment, student loan, or mortgage, you are in the note investing business. But, you are on the wrong side of it. You are paying interest on a note to a bank or note holder instead of earning high interest rates by being the bank. When you purchase a note you become the bank and have many of the advantages like high interest rates and security that the bank has. This includes the ability to renegotiate the terms of the note in some cases, earn higher than average interest rates, and have a consistent interest income that is not dependent on market conditions. If this sounds like it is too good to be true, it is not. Note investing is a little known but very legitimate type of investment that money savvy investors and banks take advantage of regularly.

If you want to get started in note investing, it is important that you learn the basics about the types of notes you can purchase and what your role as the investor is. Note investing has a number of advantages, but perhaps the most appealing is that it creates passive cash flow. This means that you don’t have to do anything to earn the money beyond your initial time commitment to obtain the investment. The capital you invest then begins to work for you, earning you interest each month without requiring time or additional money.

One popular way to start investing in notes is to invest in real estate notes. In this situation you basically buy a promissory note that is part of a mortgage. You hold the note and earn interest. You receive payments each month until the mortgage is paid in full and then you get back your initial investment. You don’t have to work for your payments, you sit back and let the cash flow in.

Benefits of Investing in Notes

Passive cash flow, as mentioned above, is probably the most appealing benefit to most investors who engage in note investing. It is truly a way to let you money work for you, rather than you working for your money which is often the case. In addition, investing in notes is a relatively safe investment because the note you invest in has a fixed interest rate. If you sign on for a 5% note, the rate is always 5%. It is exempt from market fluctuations and you will not lose money if some catastrophe occurs to close the Chinese stock market, or of Wall Street crashes. Your interest is fixed and you can earn high percentages. Think about the interest you pay on your credit card every month. If you own the note, you get paid that instead of paying it to Visa.

Aside from consistent cash flow that you don’t have to work for and high interest rates, note investing is also an easier investment that can be cashed out quickly, if need be. Think about real estate, if you own an investment property you have to maintain it and if you want to sell it, it can take months or even years to find the right buyer. If you own the note on an investment property, you have absolutely no maintenance and a note is easier to sell than a physical piece of property.

Investing in notes is also a versatile investment strategy. You can flip a note like in the case of a non-performing note that is sold as performing, you can rehab a note by working out a loan modification if a borrower is struggling to make payments, or you can even borrow against a note and use it as collateral. Each type of note investing has various advantages that can help you make your money work for you.

Like any investment, there are also risks involved in note investing.

You can help minimize these risks by working with a private lender who specializes in alternative investment strategies. Here at Level 4 Funding we work investors to reap the benefits of note investing while helping to mitigate the risks involved. Call us today to have all your note investing questions answered.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO

Level 4 Funding LLC
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444 
Texas Tel:     (512) 516-1177 
dennis@level4funding.com
www.Level4Funding.com

NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
23335 N 18th Drive Suite 120
Phoenix AZ 85027

Trust Deed Investments: How to Make Your Money Work for You!

When it comes to investing, there are many, many options to choose from. While conventional options like stocks or bonds can be lucrative, trust deed investments are a lesser known type of investment that can yield high interest rates and low risk.

When you buy a property in Arizona and finance through a bank like Wells Fargo or Bank of America, most people think the bank holds the deed to the property. This is not the case. Usually someone’s grandma in Oklahoma or an investment banker in New York purchases a promissory note, funds your loan, and retains the legal title to the property. Sounds complicated, but really it is not, it is all part of trust deed investments.

The investor in trust deed investments purchases an interest in a mortgage through a promissory note. The investor can purchase the full mortgage or a part of it. If the investor purchases the full deed, he/she must have enough capital to fund the whole mortgage. If a fraction is purchased then the investor puts up a fraction or percentage of the value of the mortgage or promissory note. In this case the investor has the option to purchase a first or second deed of trust. A first deed of trust means that the investor is first in line to be paid back in the event of default while a second deed investor is more at risk for losing his money.

Once you have purchased trust deed investments, you officially hold an interest in the mortgage. You also hold the legal title to the property on behalf of the bank (the borrower retains possession of the physical property). Each time the borrower makes on time payments, you earn interest from the bank. The interest rates on trust deed investments are often higher than the interest rates on stocks and bonds. Once the loan is paid in full either by sale or after the mortgage term, you get your initial investment back. Basically, the bank pays you to hold onto a piece of paper for them.

But why? This is the main question that holds many people back from trust deed investing. Why would the bank pay you interest to hold a paper for them? The reason has to do with foreclosure procedures in the event of default. The bank cannot hold the title to a property so if there is no trustee, the borrower retains both the legal and physical tittle to the property. If the borrower defaults, this makes it very difficult to foreclose. If the legal title is held by a third party, a trustee, the trustee can foreclose on behalf of the bank, making the process much quicker for the lender.

What Happens to the Investor?

In the event of a foreclosure, the investor is at a greater risk for loss than if the borrower pays off the loan in full. However, trust deed investments are at least backed by actual real estate. Once the lender’s investment is repaid, the investor also gets their money back, assuming there is enough left from the foreclosure sale. This makes trust deed investing a bit safer than stocks because it is backed by something with real value.

Since the investment is backed by real estate, there are ways to make it safer. If you are considering trust deed investments, make sure that you are the first note holder. This will make you a higher priority when it comes to recouping your initial investment. Also, do your research. Make sure the deed you are investing in does not have any title issues or claims against it. Finally, make sure you know the market value of the property that the deed backs. Knowing the market value will help you decide if you are making a smart investment. Always assume that the property could go to foreclosure and you may need to be able to sell it quickly to earn back your money.

If trust deed investing sounds like a good fit for you, call a lender today!

Here at Level 4 Funding we specialize in deed of trust lending and other types of alternative investment and funding options. You won’t find trust deed investing by walking into your local bank so you need a private lender like Level 4 Funding. We know that trust deeds are not an investment that many people take advantage of and we know how much money you can make by doing so. We will be here every step of the way to answer your questions and help grow your money. 

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO

Level 4 Funding LLC
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444 
Texas Tel:     (512) 516-1177 
www.Level4Funding.com

NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
23335 N 18th Drive Suite 120
Phoenix AZ 85027

Trust Deed Investing: Good Lenders Are There When You Need Them!

Many homeowners think the only people involved in their mortgage are them and the bank. However, this is not usually the case as most loans also have a trustee who has engaged in the process of trust deed investing as a way to build an investment portfolio.

When a mortgage is approved, underwritten and recorded, many people imagine that there are only two parties working together, the bank and the borrower. However, this is not usually the case. In most mortgage transactions, there is a third party who works behind the scenes called the trustee. The trustee engages in something called trust deed investing by purchasing a promissory note from the lender. The trustee then holds the legal title to the property on behalf of the bank. The bank pays the trustee interest to hold the title on its behalf.

You may find yourself wondering, why would the bank do this? Why pay money to someone to hold onto a piece of paper for you? The bank engages in trust deed investing to help protect its assets in the event of default. If a borrower defaults on a mortgage, the bank has to take them to court to foreclose on the property and get its money back. This is a long, expensive process and there is always the possibility that they bank may lose. However, if the mortgage loan has a trustee who holds the title, the trustee can foreclose on the property on behalf of the bank. This can be done without a court hearing and is a much faster process. Once the foreclosure is complete, the lender will get its capital back and any remaining funds are paid to the trustee and finally the borrower.

Benefits of Trust Deed Investing

If trust deed investing sounds intriguing, there are a few ways to get started. The first and most important step is to find a private mortgage company or investment firm that loans on promissory notes. From here, you should be able to decide how much you want to invest. You can purchase an entire deed as a single investor. This is one of the safest ways to invest because you are the only investor that needs to be paid back in the event of default.

If investing in the full deed is out of your budget, there are still ways to get into trust deed investing. You can invest as a fractional investor and buy a portion of the deed. If this is your plan, finding the right broker is crucial. Depending on whether you are the first investor, your investment may be less safe. Your investment professional can work with you to explain how to purchase a first deed of trust vs. a second deed of trust. This is important because a first trust deed holder is the first investor paid back in the event of default. If you are a second deed holder, you are at a higher risk for losing some or all of your investment.

Your private lender should be able to fully explain all of the risks to you and help you make the right choice when it comes to trust deed investing.

If trust deed investing sounds like an investment option you want to explore, give us a call today!

Here at Level 4 Funding we specialize in alternative investment strategies like trust deed investments. Our financial professionals can help explain the process and answer any questions you may have. We will also make sure that you know all the risks and benefits so you can make an informed decision about how to invest your money. Call us today for sound financial advice and to get started trust deed investing. 

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO

Level 4 Funding LLC
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444 
Texas Tel:     (512) 516-1177 
www.Level4Funding.com

NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
23335 N 18th Drive Suite 120
Phoenix AZ 85027