Learn To Be A Fix and Flip Investor: November 2016

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Dodd-Frank is DEAD! God Bless America!

Dodd-Frank is DEAD! God Bless America!

I just spend the past 12 hours in a Continuing Education class discussing the changes that are required for Dodd-Frank/CFPB regulations. And let me tell you it's a massive, madness, unbelievable, un-holey nightmare. We are going to have to hire a full time person just filling out forms so the government can track you even more.

BUT maybe we won't.

Word is now circulating in Washington that a top priority within Team Trump going forward is the swift and decisive dismantling of the disastrous and highly controversial Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform legislation that has resulted in record-breaking bank profits while decimating the small-business and private party loan environment that is doing yet further harm to an already weakened American Middle Class.

The Democrat-sponsored bill greatly favored the richest of the rich who could afford to wade through the monstrous layers of red tape, while crippling smaller banks and businesses who could not do so. The result was further consolidation of the banking industry, less competition, and ultimately, fewer choices to the consumer. Personally, I'm amazed that any small mortgage company is even still in business or making any money.

However, congressional leaders have already been put on notice that within days after Donald Trump is sworn in on January 20th, the new president expects Congress and the White House to move quickly to dismantle the Dodd-Frank boondoggle and bury it deep within the growing trash-bin that was once the Obama legacy.

So how bad is Dodd-Frank?

Let me put it in terms for a Realtor, if the Dodd-Frank rules were applied to a Realtor this is what it would be like in general terms.

1. If you did not get signatures and disclosures to your buyer or seller in a timely manner. - YOUR FINED

2. If you had a typo on your contracts sales/listing - YOUR FINED

3. Total cost to seller for buyer/broker fees cannot ever exceed 3%. That 1.5/1.5 for the split.

4. If the seller/buyer feels that they were treaded un-fairly you will have to give them back your commission and then - YOUR FINED.

5. If any buyer/seller complain to the CFPB you may be audited and will have to pay for the cost of the audit.

6. You will have to collect data on the national origin, sex, status, results, sales, status, time, discussion, and much more on everyone who you talk to about selling/listing a home. Up to 138 different items to collect on everyone. Even if you don't list or sell them a home.

Recently I've realized that God is now answering my prayers.

When you look at the Dodd-Frank measures, its frustrating that this piece of regulation ever came to being. It's equally frustrating that there is no way that I can change the rules and fix the situation. However, I do have an ace in my back pocket that can fix anything and lately this ace is fixing a-lot-of-things in the world. All you have to do is ask. Miracles and answers to prayers do happen and this is all we can do to fight the stupid corrupt people in charge.

Miracle 1 - Cubs win!

Miracle 2 - Cuba is going to become free!

Miracle 3 - Trump Wins!

... and soon to be....

Miracle 4 - Dodd-Frank is killed!

I do believe that God answers payers. So keep praying, because this all we can do. This massive, unbelievable, un-holey nightmare will end.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC
Tel: (623) 582-4444 | Fax: (888) 279-6917
www.Level4Funding.com
NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112
Phoenix AZ 85027

About the author: Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true.

Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years an Arizona resident for the past 40 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

What makes trust deed investing appealing and scary to most people?

There are few investments that give you the feeling of uncertainty along with excitement. Trust deed investing will give you that throughout the entire process. Yes, these types of investments can be very risky, but the payoff would be very profitable if all parties were able to follow through. The article will explain why some are reluctant and some are willing to take on trust deed investing.

Over the past few years, the real estate business has made a resurgence throughout the United States. While there are many new properties and developments that are being made, one must wonder, are there any ventures that seem very risky from the outside.

You do not have to look any further, trust deed investing has taken on that risky role to many people that are in the real estate field. In fact, many banks and other financial institutions can be a little apprehensive when it comes to investing in trust deed partnerships. But, why is this? There are risks with other properties and projects, right?

Well, for many banks, the biggest thing that turns them off is the short lifespan of the loan itself. Usually, borrowers that are looking into trust deed investing want a short term loan. Often these loans, judging by the reliability of the borrower, could be paid off a year or two after being financed. Most banks want to find investments that will have longevity. Most of the loans that are lender by banks have a 30-year payment plan.

So what attracts people to trust deed investing?

Time is the main factor that attracts people to trust deed investing. Generally, banks will take an extended period of time to do a thorough check on your credit and prior investments. Most of the time when investors are looking to flip homes they want to do it fairly quickly. Most of the time the funding period only lasts one to two weeks before the property is placed back on the market. In the flipping business, the competition can be pretty steep so you must move as soon as possible when you find a potential buy.
So how do you combat this? You go to hard money lenders that are willing to cut out a lot of the time-consuming elements. You do not need to have the best credit score to get a loan from a lender for your investment.

On top of time management, you will get a nice return with trust deed investing.

That’s right most investors, when they have taken the right precautions will on average be able to get a 10% return. You will not always get that, but for the most part, you will be successful if the market is forgiving.

This type of investing is also very popular among people that have creative or unpredictable sources of income. With all these factors, trust deed investing is a great option for those who want the freedom to move from investment to investment with a degree of safety.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

What are the parties involved with trust deed investing?

Trust deed investing involves multiple people to make an investment work seamlessly. With normal real estate investments, you may take on the venture by yourself if you feel up to it. Sometimes you may need a partner that is willing to invest the time and money with you. However, with trust deeds there are multiple parties that you should be aware of.

The first thing that you must realize when you decide to take on trust deed investing is that you will be dealing with people whether you like it or not. Certain processes or plans may take longer than expected or you may have to jump through a few more hoops before you are able to reach your finish line.

The big three that you will most likely fall into will either be; trustee, borrower or lender. The borrower and lender should be fairly simple to distinguish for the novice investor. The lender hands out the loan. This will usually be a hard money lender or a financial institution. Borrowers are the people or partners that need funding. Where some people get confused is the trustee. In California, by definition, this person holds the deed of trust for the security of the loan. In the event of a foreclosure, they are also giving the authority to sell the property to recoup money lost from defaulting.

In trust deed investing, the trustee has a lot of importance.

As stated before regular commercial real estate ventures only involve two parties. When a trustee is included you are able to have a mediator that is able to maintain the property title. This also means the trustee is the sole owner of the actual property unless the borrower was to default on their loan. The law requires the trustee not be affiliated with either the borrower or the lender. That being said, the trustee and be a single person, group or even a business.

Neutrality is one of the biggest things a trustee needs to be worried about. Throughout the entire the agreement it is the trustee’s, job to make sure that they do not favor one party over the other. This can cause friction between everyone if the trustee were to favor the borrower’s situation and vice versa. The trustee is also responsible for making sure the title of the property is transferred to the borrower after the payment period is completed.

In trust deed investing the trust also handles the foreclosure.

Of course, the trustee cannot officiate the hearing if there was a trial that was to take place. It is the job of the trustee to handle the Notice of Default. Many people think that this duty is given to the lender, not true in this case. It is the job of the trustee to take care of the foreclosure from beginning to the end. Most of the time it is the trustee’s obligation to get as much revenue from the sale of the property to make sure the lender’s loss is covered.

Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Monday, November 21, 2016

How can a lender tell if a borrower is reliable for trust deed investing?

As a real estate lender, you will have hundreds of potential borrowers that will need your financial help. What sets certain borrowers apart the masses that file into your office? In trust deed investing how do you choose which venture will be the most profitable? There are certain characteristics that you should look for when vetting a potential client.

If you are reading this you are probably having a little trouble deciding between a handful of potential clients. You have come to the right place for advice. Hooray for you. In all seriousness, when it comes to trust deed investing you will have hundreds of different venture that will pique your interest. One month it could be the duo that wants to open a local hostel in the neighborhood. The next could be the moonlighter that wants to get their hands in the business.

Who ever it is, there is a litmus test that you should follow before making your decision on who you give your money to. For example, say you have a client that wants to open a boutique that will require a $800,000; they have a nice shiny and well thought out business plan for breaking into the market. The one hiccup that you find is the property value. When you correctly check you find that the property is only worth $300,000.

Since the margin of safety will not be able to cover the loan, this investment may not work in your favor if business were to hit a rough patch. Of course, you can take the investment if you believe that you will be able to make a return on your money. On the other hand, you could potentially find someone that will be able to give you more for the money. Due diligence is the key to trust deed investing.

Foreclosure is a normal thing when it comes to trust deed investing.

There will be ventures that will fail. Nothing in real estate lasts forever, and foreclosure could happen if your client is not careful. So what happens after your client defaults and foreclosure is in the pipeline? If you are in California usually the foreclosure process would last about four months after the client were to default.

As far as the selling process goes, that should take around 60 days; it may take a little longer if the property was improperly valued. Another thing that you have to take into consideration is bankruptcy. If your lender decides to file for bankruptcy that could add more time to the foreclosure process.

Character is everything when it comes to trust deed investing

One of the best tools a lender or investor can use is intuition. Sure you could look at your borrower’s credit file. You could extensively go through their business plan. But at the end of all your research, your gut could be your saving grace. If you do not feel as though the investment is not for you give it you someone else that is willing to take the risk.

Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Friday, November 18, 2016

What does the borrower need to bring to the table when trust deed investing?

When it comes to trust deed investing preparation is the key to a successful venture. Lenders have their quality standards that they should adhere to, but what of the borrower? What must they do to make sure that the whole process goes as smoothly as possible? This brief piece will provide the newcomer with the tools they need for a successful investment.

When you were studying for your driver’s license you had to make sure that you had everything in order before you took the written and driving tests. If not you would have to go back and redo everything. The same goes for trust deed investing you want to make sure that before you attempt to borrow you have all your prerequisites taken care of.

Contingency is the most important word to keep in regard to commercial real estate. The first thing that you should focus on is a backup plan in any event something were to happen to you. For example, if you were to get hurt during the life of the investment, you would need to make the necessary arrangements so you do not default on the monthly payments. Each day investors are faced with unexpected setbacks. Since trust deed investing does affect your credit planning before hand will help you before your investment does too much damage.

In regard to credit, as stated in previous articles, you do not have to have the best credit in the world to take on a trust deed investment. There are other options you have to get money, such as a hard money lender, but you want to make sure that your credit is still acceptable. It does not need to be around 780, but having a little padding would not hurt.

Trust deed investing requires you to do a bit more work.

Commercial real estate, in general, requires you to do as much background work as possible so there are no mishaps that could hinder your investment. The biggest stumbling block that most investors face is the preliminary research that needs to take place. In regard to research, many fall short calculating the value of the property.

This, in turn, could affect your margin of safety if, in any event, you were to fall behind and default on your loan. Say you valued a certain property at $300,000 and you were able to borrow a loan $200,000, your margin of safety would be $100,000. Now fast forward a few weeks after the ink has dried, and you find out that the property was only worth about $250,000. Now if you were to run into any issues your margin of safety is dropped down to $50,000.

Is trust deed investing the right choice for you in your career?

One of the best things that you could do to prepare for a new investment is to know when you are not ready. It may be tough at first, but quitting before you figure out it is too late. It is much better to start from ground zero than to dig yourself out of a deep hole.

Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Trust deed investing gatekeepers: Who can lend you money for your investment.

Trust deed investing takes money just like all the other real estate ventures that you may undertake. You have a plethora of options that you could take when you are trying to fund your first trust deed investment. In this brief you will learn about all the institutions that are willing to give you a loan.

So you are looking to dive into the deep end of the trust deed investing pool, but you are having trouble finding lenders. You have found the perfect location, the perfect building and the deed of trust are available, as well. Now all you need is the loan. The process of getting a loan is complicated and nerve-racking even if you are not in the commercial real estate field. It could take weeks or months for certain loans to be approved; even then you are not guaranteed a loan at the end.

What happens if the place you are looking at has more than one party interested in it? You have to be able to quickly get those funds before someone else undercuts you. Luckily for you, if you are familiar with the commercial real estate business many of the lenders that you already know are able to provide you with the loans that you are seeking.

For example, let’s say you have a low credit score, and your local bank is not willing to lend you the money you need. In this case, a hard money lender would most likely yield the best outcome. If you decide to apply through a hard money lender, you can expect basically the same process with a regular investment. As usual, they will charge you higher rates than the bank normally would, but you would most likely receive the loan quicker. There is also an origination fee that is paid to the lender when you receive the loan. It is represented by posts that correspond to 1% of the loan amount.

Bridge loans can be used when trust deed investing as well.

Without a doubt, yes, you are able to use bridge loans for trust deed investing. In fact, more often than not hard money loans and bridge loans can be mistaken for the same thing. There are subtle differences, however, with a bridge loan you would typically want to have more reliable credit. Most of the time banks would lend a borrower a bridge loan.

There is one big advantage that bridge loans have over hard money loans; the property does not need to be in great condition. That being said, you do not want to purchase something that will not help with your monthly payments.

Make sure you do your research when trust deed investing.

So you know where you could go to receive help, but now how do you go about getting it. One of the best ways is by relying on your connections. Use people that have experience with trust deed investing. Look at their reviews online; email some people if you have to, as well. Just make sure you feel comfortable with your decision in the end.

Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Trust deed investing can be very risky, but what could possibly go wrong?

Trust deed investing has its benefits, but often many people have to face the downsides, as well. The rates could go up unexpectedly or there could be a mistake made on the documents that the borrower and lender have drawn up may have made an error. This can cause a mountain of issues that will need to be taken care of.

Variables are things that you should always think about when you are investing in commercial real estate. There is a myriad of things that could go wrong when you are dealing with commercial real estate. Things could go extremely well for a period of time, but what happens when your business plan fails? What happens when the dice roll a different way? The real question is what should you look out for when you are investing.

Trust deed investing is not fool proof. As an entrepreneur, you should make backup plans for your backup plans. Details, especially in trust deed investing, are the single most important things to any deal. One of the most common mishaps that cause trust deeds to fail is a missed number, name or small detail. For example, say you find a property that you estimated a certain value.

Now say the property value is not as high as you thought. The margin of safety could potentially be insufficient to cover the entirety of the expenses that may incur. We all know when it comes to real estate changes in property can happen at any moment. Now add in a random godly act, such as a tropical storm or flood, you may not be able to cover the needed repairs. This could end up leaving you in the hole of debt.

Do I still have to worry property value when it comes to trust deed investing?

Sadly yes, as stated before there could be something that could happen out of nowhere. Once this happens the borrower has to take the first loss on the investment. They are still required to pay back all the loan amount. If the borrower is unable to pay the loan back then foreclosure usually follows soon after. It is in the investor’s best interest to sell the property at a price that is less than the value of the loan, as well.

This will not always ensure that you will get your money back in full, but there is a strong chance that you will be able to get some form of payment for the investment. Make sure that the property value is sufficient to support the margin of safety.

Can bankruptcy affect trust deed investing?

Once again yes, bankruptcy can affect your trust deed investment. This will cause a few hiccups in the when you are trying to move ahead with foreclosing. In general, a foreclosure usually takes a couple of months to settle. When bankruptcy is involved an additional number of months to an already long process. Bankruptcy judges are also allowed to change certain things documents related to the trust deed. The interest, for example, can be changed to alleviate some of the circumstances the borrower is facing.

Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

What should you use to fund trust deed investing in this market?

When investing in commercial real estate you have dozens of different options for funding. Trust deed investing is no different you just have to look in the right places. It may be hard at first, but with a little work and grit you should be able to find the fight option for your investment.

For entrepreneurs, one of the biggest obstacles you may come across is funding for an investment or project you are looking to acquire. It could be months or years until you can be fully funded for the venture you are interested. Luckily for you reading this, there are hundreds of option that are available to you. If you are just starting out in this area of real estate you have an advantage many could not take advantage of 30 years ago, digital outreach.

Let’s face it many of us live in or near large metropolitan cities, and it can be extremely difficult trying to get money from your local bank. Crowdsourcing is one of the best ways that many people are able to receive funding for the investment that they are working on. People naturally want to be a part of something that is bigger than they are.

For example, in the say you are thinking of investing in a church that has been in a certain neighborhood for years; the community will fight to keep a piece of history open. When you are able to get the neighborhood involved with the investment it gives it a meaning deeper than making money or curb appeal.

Having friends that are willing to help you out in a pinch will always be the best option for you in the end. Take trust deed investing, for example, you are able to split the note between multiple people if you cannot cover the cost yourself. In trust deed investing you are able to divide the note with up to ten investors. In turn all in the involved receive their own percentage and they would receive a proportional amount of the monthly fees. This is called a fractionalized note.

IRAs can be used for trust deed investing also.

Yes, you read that right you are able to use an IRA for trust deed investing. The best way that you could go about this is to go through a company that specializes in this type investing. Luckily in California, there are a few firms that are able to help you. The percentage you have to pay is fairly low as well. Usually, it ranges from around 0.3% to 0.5%.

When you do use your IRA or another retirement account you are able to reinvest into it tax-free. Pro-tip: Trust deeds are generally classified as regular income; if you are able to use your retirement you may be free of certain taxes.

You have dozens of options for funding when it comes to trust deed investing, but…

If you do not use them you are going to waste a lot of time and money trying to take on everything by yourself. One of the best things you could do is find someone that specializes in trust deed investing and have them give you pointers on where the best resources can be found. You could even potentially find a partner in the venture you want to take on.

Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Learn To Be A Fix and Flip Investor

Featured Post

The Big Show is Coming to Town.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Dodd-Frank is DEAD! God Bless America!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

What makes trust deed investing appealing and scary to most people?

So what attracts people to trust deed investing?

On top of time management, you will get a nice return with trust deed investing.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

What are the parties involved with trust deed investing?

In trust deed investing, the trustee has a lot of importance.

In trust deed investing the trust also handles the foreclosure.

Monday, November 21, 2016

How can a lender tell if a borrower is reliable for trust deed investing?

Foreclosure is a normal thing when it comes to trust deed investing.

Character is everything when it comes to trust deed investing

Friday, November 18, 2016

What does the borrower need to bring to the table when trust deed investing?

Trust deed investing requires you to do a bit more work.

Is trust deed investing the right choice for you in your career?

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Trust deed investing gatekeepers: Who can lend you money for your investment.

Bridge loans can be used when trust deed investing as well.

Make sure you do your research when trust deed investing.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Trust deed investing can be very risky, but what could possibly go wrong?

Do I still have to worry property value when it comes to trust deed investing?

Can bankruptcy affect trust deed investing?

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

What should you use to fund trust deed investing in this market?

When investing in commercial real estate you have dozens of different options for funding. Trust deed investing is no different you just have to look in the right places. It may be hard at first, but with a little work and grit you should be able to find the fight option for your investment.

IRAs can be used for trust deed investing also.

You have dozens of options for funding when it comes to trust deed investing, but…

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