Multi Family Property Living
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If you've ever been married and going to school at the same time, chances are you've had the wonderful experience of living in a multi family apartment or house. While most multi family properties are designed to allow the peaceful coexistence of many families within their separate units, some apartments and houses give you the feeling that you're actually living in one big family. Things like sharing one washer and dryer between five families means you never know whose underwear you'll have to fish out of the washer before you start your own laundry. And a shared water heater means that now there's an incentive to early morning classes. Catching the 'Cosby Show' every night at seven through your living room wall keeps you conveniently updated on the latest goings-on in the Huxtable home.While living in multi family housing may not be an ideal situation for many of the tenants, it can be a way to wealth for the person collecting the rent. My own landlord, also currently a college student, manages several properties for his wealthy, out-of-state family, collecting a handsome property manager's fee in the process. Sure he had to evict the people upstairs, replace the roof, renovate the unit next door, and perform other sundry tasks, but at the end of the month, he's got another $2500 in the bank.One time while he was fixing a clogged drain at our place I asked him how his family got to be so successful in the multi family investment property business. He told me that his family hadn't always been the housing barons they are today; after scraping together everything they had, even borrowing from extended family, they still had to take out a substantial loan from a local bank. With this they bought their first multi family property, an old duplex three blocks from the university. Although the location was great, being as close to campus as it was, the purchase had depleted the family's financial resources to the point were they had to move into the property while renting out the other half. From this experience, my landlord's family gained some useful insight into multi family apartment financing.Several weeks later I had the opportunity to speak with my landlord's father, the owner of the property my wife and I were currently living in. While enquiring about his investment property business, I learned a little about multi family investment property financing. According to him, most lenders will only provide financing for multi family dwellings of five units or more, with a minimum loan amount of $500,000. Apparently it isn't worth a lender's time to finance smaller investments.Most multi family or apartment loans have a thirty-year term with interest rates ranging from 4.7% to 6.625% for loans up to $3 million. I learned that most of the time these "smaller loans" carry a little higher interest than loans exceeding $3 million and are termed as 'recourse' loans; in other words, if you default on the loan the lender may take 'recourse' by seizing your private assets. Loans in excess of $3 million are termed as 'non-recourse', meaning private assets are protected in the event of a borrower default. In addition, most lenders offer basic options like fixed and adjustable rate loans.In the final analysis, the key to the success of this family in the multi family investment property market wasn't the way they quickly handled tenant complaints or provided decent amenities; these things merely kept them in business. The reason for their success was a thorough understanding of investment property financing gained from years of research, experience, and trial and error.
About the AuthorCameron Brown is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For information on apartment financing , visit Security National Capital .


Investment Property Part 2 of 2
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Welcome to the second portion of a two-part series on investment property. In the first installment, "How Not to Become a Slumlord", we discussed a little of what it takes to own and operate a property as well as some of the do's and don'ts of the property management trade. In this second segment, we will be discussing some pre-investment principles that will help you maximize your ROI.There are three basic principles of investment property that you should know before you buy an investment property in order to avoid overpaying:TimeHow long do you plan on owning the investment property? As with stocks and bonds, the value of your investment may change significantly during the time you own it. While most real estate will appreciate in value over time, there are frequent fluctuations in the short-term market. If you plan on selling your investment property after less than five years, be prepared to accept the investment risk inherent in a shorter time horizon. This is especially true if you bought your property in an overheated real estate market. If this is the case, you could find yourself losing money if the market has taken a temporary downturn, especially if you've had to make major repairs to the property.If you plan on owning the property for the next twenty to twenty-five years, it's almost certain that your investment property will appreciate in value. There's also a good chance, however, that you'll have to make major repairs like replacing the roof, wiring system, or major appliances like a water heater or refrigerator. Of course, these repairs will be offset by the fact that you've had/will have twenty plus years to recoup the cost. If on the other hand, you're only planning on owning an investment property for the next five years, buying a "fixer up'er" can eat up all the profits you would have made during your shorter investment horizon. NetworkingIf you want the best deal possible on an investment property, than there are some people you'll want to be friends with. City hall clerks and bank employees may know what properties will be available on foreclosure and when they will go on the market. Real estate agents usually know everything real estate related within their respective territory. Some prospective landlords even run ads in local newspapers.Many individuals interested in entering the investment property market may even join local landlord or investment property owners organizations. These types of organizations hold regular meetings where you can get the inside scoop on what's for sale in your area. The National Real Estate Investors Association is an online organization that provides a wealth of information and resources to potential investment property owners.Financial PreparationGet your finances in order. The less debt you have when you walk into your local lending institution, the better loan you'll get. This is common sense, but it's even more true for those seeking financing for an investment property. This is because lenders know that people are much more likely to default on a rental property than on their own homes. This means that the bank will demand a larger down payment and higher interest rates that you may have expected. It's also a good idea to have some extra cash left over to make unforeseen repairs should they arise.By wisely choosing an investment property time horizon, making contacts in the investment property community, and preparing proper financial means, your investment may become a significant means of supplementing retirement and other savings accounts.
About the AuthorCameron Brown is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For information on Investment Property, visit Security National Capital.


No Hotel Loan for You!
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Meeting the requirements to get a decent hotel loan from your local lender can be difficult but not impossible. Let's face it, what lender wants to put money up for a roach infested dump in downtown Detroit? You'd have to get a separate loan just for the insurance.Most lenders will only finance hotel properties that are "flagged". In other words, most banks, public and private lenders will only provide hotel loans to individuals who are starting a franchise under certain major hotel/motel chains such as Best Western, Hilton, Super 8 and other well-established hospitality brands; Sid's Sleep Shack need not apply. In addition to being a virtual nation-wide brand, the particular establishment in question needs to show a profitable operating and occupancy history.Even if you want to build a new hotel/motel from the ground up, forget about starting your own brand; most lenders will only provide hotel loans to build the same "flagged" hospitality companies as they will for the purchase of an existing property. Besides having a well-known flag, getting a hotel loan for a new property is possible provided it is well located and can be provided with strong management.Lenders reserve the best hotel loan rates and terms for properties that are well cared for, attractive, and have pleasing amenities like pools, wireless internet, cable, and complimentary continental breakfast buffets.Hotel loan terms will, of coarse, vary from lender to lender, but most banks and other investment capital institutions provide 5, 10, or 20 year loan terms for amounts up to $2,000,000. These loans can carry an interest rate ranging from 7% to 8% and typically carry a recourse clause, although some lenders are more flexible than others in this regard.Just a brief note on recourse loans; this type of loan hold your personal assets liable in the event you default on the hotel loan-seriously bad news if your franchise doesn't turn out to be as successful as you originally thought. This is the lender's way of protecting its assets by separating those who are serious about the hotel business from those that just want to try something new. If you're not familiar with the details of this loan, you should either educate yourself thoroughly first or look around for a non-recourse loan. The terms of a non-recourse loan simply hold the hotel, or whatever else you spent the loan funds on, liable in the event you default.If you're planning on borrowing over $2,000,000 to build or buy a larger hotel/motel, the interest rates may be a little better, although not much. Interest rate lows can be more favorable by up to a half percentage point, while to current ceiling is still hovering around 8%. With a larger hotel loan comes a longer loan term, usually 20 to 25 years. One boon of a larger loan is that most institutions offer limited recourse in the event of a default.Meeting hotel loan requirements can be difficult, after all, this is unlike any other kind of real estate loan and as such has its own rules, terms, and procedures. If you think the hospitality business may be for you, make sure you choose a lender who will take the type to answer questions to your satisfaction. With how the market is these days, there are plenty of lenders out there competing for your business. Take your time and choose carefully from the several loan products they offer; if you're not satisfied, move on. The hotel business can be both challenging and rewarding. Depending on your location, service, and financing, it can be a great way to build long-term wealth.
About the AuthorCameron Brown is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For information on hotel loans , visit Security National Capital .