The US housing market has gained value around $ 2.5 trillion in the year 2020, more than any year since 2005. The strong demand and record low mortgage rates have been the main reasons behind this growth in the market. This could be the golden period for investors who want to start Real Estate Investing.
A low or bad credit score can become a hindrance for many investors buying real estate. So, does that mean you should abandon the idea of investing? NO!
There are many other options for investors to start investing in real estate despite a less than perfect credit score. Using the following investment strategies, investors can build capital through alternative financial sources and have better investment opportunities.
Real Estate Wholesale
If you want to invest in real estate but can’t build the required capital due to a slightly lower credit score, then real estate wholesale can be a great option for you. Real estate wholesale allows you to make significant profits without having to buy an investment property.
Grocery real estate is completely different than flipping houses. You need to test your marketing skills and communicate effectively with everyone. Skiing how to make connections as a real estate investor will help you play the game of real estate wholesalers.
How Does Real Estate Grocery Work?
No investment or funds are required to start a grocery store, so your credit score is insignificant here. Mainly three parties are engaged in real estate wholesale: seller, wholesaler and buyer. Let’s take a look at the following example to better see how wholesale works:
- You find a seller who is willing to sell his property at a discounted price. After some negotiations, you form a contract with the seller to purchase the property at a price of $ 90,000 and with the terms agreed upon.
- Then take advantage of your networking skills to find a potential buyer or investor looking to buy a property to invest or invest in wolf ownership.
- Using your marketing skills, you convince the buyer to purchase the property at a price of $ 100,000, assuming all the conditions specified in the purchase contract.
- Now you take the $ 100,000 from the buyer and give them the ownership of the house. Give $ 90,000 to the seller under the purchase contract and the remaining amount of $ 10,000 is your net profit from the deal.
Investors can earn anywhere from $ 5000 to $ 30000 with real estate wholesale. The key here is to build capital with smaller profit margins.
Go for Hard Loans
Asset loans are a great way to start investing in real estate. Lenders look beyond your credit score and give loans based on the post-repair value of the house’s offer as collateral.
Hard cash loans are short-term loans lasting for 6 months and up to 2 years. This is ideal for an investor looking for funds to buy an investment property, renovate it and turn it into profit in a shorter time.
La interest rate on hard money loans are higher compared to conventional loans due to the higher risk involved in real estate investing. The typical interest rates on difficult cash loans range from 7% to 15%.
Because the property is the only protection against default, lenders force you to pay anywhere from 10% to 50% of the loan amount on the down payment. The down payment is calculated based on the Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio of the property. It may vary depending on the lender and the estimated value of the property.
For example, if you are willing to buy a property worth $ 100,000, then a hard money lender will offer a 90% LTV connection. That means the total loan amount will be $ 90,000 and you will have to pay the remaining $ 10,000 for the down payment.
Advantages of Using Hard Loans for Real Estate Investment
1. Simple Signature and Less Documentation
Unlike the process of traditional lending by lenders, hard money lenders are not looking for your credit score, credit history or debts. An asset is a major qualification for difficult cash loans. This makes it easier for investors with a not so perfect credit score.
Documents such as a purchase contract, two forms of identification, a preliminary title report, proof of finance and insurance are enough to get a difficult loan.
2. Quick Lending and Approval
Thanks to the simplified control process, investors can take advantage of a difficult loan within a few days or a week. This allows you to build capital in a short amount of time to capture a lucrative investment opportunity.
3. Flexible Conditions
Hard cash loans are given by individuals or a group of private investors and they do not conform to any guidelines, which means you can take advantage of flexible terms. You can negotiate with lenders on loan terms, repayment schedule and other terms of the loan.
Approach Private Lenders
Another option is to approach private lenders to finance your real estate project. Private lenders can be your friends, relatives, business partner or anyone looking for a return on their investment.
A strong investment plan and the potential returns are the ones that private lenders are looking for by lending to you. So no matter if you have a bad credit score, private lenders can still lend to you.
Private lenders do not follow specific guidelines or rules and regulations. They give you a loan with their own money, so you can negotiate on terms like an interest rate or a repayment period with the lender. The key here is to compensate well to the lender to get the best deal.
When you have bad credit, you will have to try to convince a private lender to give you a loan. You can form a partnership with the private lender, where the benefit can be shared in equal parts, agree to pay them a specific interest for a defined period or offer to pay loan points to seal the deal.
Select Seller Financing
Seller financing is also known as owner financing or purchase money mortgage. It allows you to sign a mortgage agreement with the seller instead of applying for a loan from a financial institution.
From a seller’s perspective, financing your purchase makes it easier to sell the house. This also allows a seller to collect monthly payments for an offer to finance your purchase.
A buyer usually has to sign a payment letter to take advantage of a seller to finance. The promissory note indicates the interest rate, repayment schedules and details of non-payment. These types of loans are generally repaid over 30 years with a balloon payment at the end of the loan.
Advantages of Using Vendor Financing
- A seller will finance your purchase ignoring the fact that a bank or other traditional lenders have refused you. That makes it a great alternative to bank mortgages.
- There are no credit checks or income checks involved in the loan process. A buyer can take advantage of this strategy to start investing in real estate despite a low credit score.
- The terms of the loan are flexible and fixed between the buyer and the seller. So the interest rate, down payment or monthly payments have room for negotiation.
- Because there are no controls, vendor financed loans can be obtained quickly. The closing process of selling financing is relatively cheaper.
Conclusion
The great thing about real estate investing is that it doesn’t need you to have deep pockets or a perfect credit score to get started. Everyone has an equal opportunity to build their wealth by investing in real estate.
Having a less-than-perfect credit score cannot prevent you from buying an investment property. You can choose alternative financial sources to make your first purchase and start investing in real estate.
Alternative financial sources are more flexible with their loan terms and may be more convenient for an investor in terms of repayment.
Your knowledge of the field, marketing skills, effective communication and ability to make connections will open doors to more investment opportunities.
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