Real Estate Investing Tips - Use A Second Mortgage For Lower Downpayment On Investment Property

Second mortgages are a great way to start investing in real estate because they will have lower down payment requirements for:

A commercial second mortgage, which is usually obtained from a mortgage company instead of a bank can be used for investing in real estate or financing part of a primary residence.

A second mortgage, because it will be in a junior position to the first mortgage and so will have a slightly higher interest rate as well as a lower term; ten or fifteen years rather than a twenty five or thirty year term.

Mortgage companies will lend on a loan-to-value ratio to reduce their risk. They’ll lend you about 80% of the value of the sum total of the first and second mortgages so if you default they can sell off a property quickly even below fair market value and get the full 100% of their money back.

You may be able to simply assume an existing second mortgage as part of your new financing for the property. If the seller is holding a second mortgage you may be able to assume it by just asking the mortgage company. You would need to qualify for the particular mortgage of coarse. If you don’t qualify for the existing second mortgage that is already on the property the mortgage company may very well offer you a new second mortgage of your own.

Here’ a creative idea you can use with a willing and motivated seller:

Even if you can’t get the second mortgage you may still buy the property “subject to” the second mortgage. In this way the seller stays on the second mortgage agreement as guarantor but you are making the payments. Sounds like a risk for the sellers but there is actually little to no risk because if you were to default on payments they would simply get the property back and would be responsible for no more payments than when they first owned the home.

keywords: Real Estate Investing Tips: Second Mortgage

Purchasing a property “subject to” isn’t the same as using the clause to attempt to circumvent the non-assumability of a first mortgage.

Use this second mortgage strategy as a great way to start investing in real estate.

Real Estate Investing - Ten Myths

Is real estate investing only for the wealthy? Can you buy with no money down? Do you have to know the “right” people? Let’s answer by looking at some of the myths of real estate.

1. Real estate investing is for the wealthy. Money helps, but my first real estate investment was a $3,500 lot - which I sold for a profit two weeks after I bought it. Small deals, partners, low-down deals, or just putting aside $7 per day for a couple years until you have enough money for a downpayment - these are some of the ways to start with a little and invest in real estate.

2. “0 down” isn’t possible. I sold a rental property for $1,000 down because I trusted the buyer to make the payments, and I wanted the 9% interest and higher price. He could have gotten a cash-advance on a credit card for another $30 per month and made it a “0-down” deal. “No money down” means none of YOUR money down, and yes, it happens.

3. “0 down” is the best way. If you don’t invest some of your own money, you’ll have higher payments. You’ll also spend more time finding suitable properties, and pay more for them (generally cooperative sellers want more for their cooperation - I do). There are 0-down deals out there - they just aren’t always worth doing.

3. You need experience. Experience helps, but you get it by investing. Start with common sense, ask how you can lose money, be willing to learn the numbers, and you can start where you are.

4. Some investors have a “knack” for making money. Sort of. More accurately, some just took the time and risk to learn the market and continue their education.

5. You need to know the “right” people. It helps, so start the process. Talk to investors, real estate agents, landlords, etc.

6. You have to be great negotiator. If you learn to run the numbers and make the offers based on them, you can be the worst negotiator and still do okay.

8. You need insider knowledge. Understand one deal, and you are on your way. Read and read more, but the best “insider” knowledge comes from experience.

9. Fixer-uppers are safe. People have the idea that doing the work themselves is the safest way to assure a profit. Not true. Mis-planned “fix and flips” have bankrupted even experienced investors. Most poorly purchased rental properties will only eat a little money every month.

10. The key is lowball offers. The numbers have to work, and you need a plan. You can offer MORE than the market price and make money investing in real estate, if you understand creative financing - and how to do the math.

About the author:

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Real Estate Investing - Ten Myths

Is real estate investing only for the wealthy? Can you buy with no money down? Do you have to know the “right” people? Let’s answer by looking at some of the myths of real estate.

1. Real estate investing is for the wealthy. Money helps, but my first real estate investment was a $3,500 lot - which I sold for a profit two weeks after I bought it. Small deals, partners, low-down deals, or just putting aside $7 per day for a couple years until you have enough money for a downpayment - these are some of the ways to start with a little and invest in real estate.

2. “0 down” isn’t possible. I sold a rental property for $1,000 down because I trusted the buyer to make the payments, and I wanted the 9% interest and higher price. He could have gotten a cash-advance on a credit card for another $30 per month and made it a “0-down” deal. “No money down” means none of YOUR money down, and yes, it happens.

3. “0 down” is the best way. If you don’t invest some of your own money, you’ll have higher payments. You’ll also spend more time finding suitable properties, and pay more for them (generally cooperative sellers want more for their cooperation - I do). There are 0-down deals out there - they just aren’t always worth doing.

3. You need experience. Experience helps, but you get it by investing. Start with common sense, ask how you can lose money, be willing to learn the numbers, and you can start where you are.

4. Some investors have a “knack” for making money. Sort of. More accurately, some just took the time and risk to learn the market and continue their education.

5. You need to know the “right” people. It helps, so start the process. Talk to investors, real estate agents, landlords, etc.

6. You have to be great negotiator. If you learn to run the numbers and make the offers based on them, you can be the worst negotiator and still do okay.

8. You need insider knowledge. Understand one deal, and you are on your way. Read and read more, but the best “insider” knowledge comes from experience.

9. Fixer-uppers are safe. People have the idea that doing the work themselves is the safest way to assure a profit. Not true. Mis-planned “fix and flips” have bankrupted even experienced investors. Most poorly purchased rental properties will only eat a little money every month.

10. The key is lowball offers. The numbers have to work, and you need a plan. You can offer MORE than the market price and make money investing in real estate, if you understand creative financing - and how to do the math.

About the author:

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Real Estate Investing - Ten Myths

Is real estate investing only for the wealthy? Can you buy with no money down? Do you have to know the “right” people? Let’s answer by looking at some of the myths of real estate.

1. Real estate investing is for the wealthy. Money helps, but my first real estate investment was a $3,500 lot - which I sold for a profit two weeks after I bought it. Small deals, partners, low-down deals, or just putting aside $7 per day for a couple years until you have enough money for a downpayment - these are some of the ways to start with a little and invest in real estate.

2. “0 down” isn’t possible. I sold a rental property for $1,000 down because I trusted the buyer to make the payments, and I wanted the 9% interest and higher price. He could have gotten a cash-advance on a credit card for another $30 per month and made it a “0-down” deal. “No money down” means none of YOUR money down, and yes, it happens.

3. “0 down” is the best way. If you don’t invest some of your own money, you’ll have higher payments. You’ll also spend more time finding suitable properties, and pay more for them (generally cooperative sellers want more for their cooperation - I do). There are 0-down deals out there - they just aren’t always worth doing.

3. You need experience. Experience helps, but you get it by investing. Start with common sense, ask how you can lose money, be willing to learn the numbers, and you can start where you are.

4. Some investors have a “knack” for making money. Sort of. More accurately, some just took the time and risk to learn the market and continue their education.

5. You need to know the “right” people. It helps, so start the process. Talk to investors, real estate agents, landlords, etc.

6. You have to be great negotiator. If you learn to run the numbers and make the offers based on them, you can be the worst negotiator and still do okay.

8. You need insider knowledge. Understand one deal, and you are on your way. Read and read more, but the best “insider” knowledge comes from experience.

9. Fixer-uppers are safe. People have the idea that doing the work themselves is the safest way to assure a profit. Not true. Mis-planned “fix and flips” have bankrupted even experienced investors. Most poorly purchased rental properties will only eat a little money every month.

10. The key is lowball offers. The numbers have to work, and you need a plan. You can offer MORE than the market price and make money investing in real estate, if you understand creative financing - and how to do the math.

About the author:

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Real Estate Investing Tips - Use A Second Mortgage For Lower Downpayment On Investment Property

Second mortgages are a great way to start investing in real estate because they will have lower down payment requirements for:

A commercial second mortgage, which is usually obtained from a mortgage company instead of a bank can be used for investing in real estate or financing part of a primary residence.

A second mortgage, because it will be in a junior position to the first mortgage and so will have a slightly higher interest rate as well as a lower term; ten or fifteen years rather than a twenty five or thirty year term.

Mortgage companies will lend on a loan-to-value ratio to reduce their risk. They’ll lend you about 80% of the value of the sum total of the first and second mortgages so if you default they can sell off a property quickly even below fair market value and get the full 100% of their money back.

You may be able to simply assume an existing second mortgage as part of your new financing for the property. If the seller is holding a second mortgage you may be able to assume it by just asking the mortgage company. You would need to qualify for the particular mortgage of coarse. If you don’t qualify for the existing second mortgage that is already on the property the mortgage company may very well offer you a new second mortgage of your own.

Here’ a creative idea you can use with a willing and motivated seller:

Even if you can’t get the second mortgage you may still buy the property “subject to” the second mortgage. In this way the seller stays on the second mortgage agreement as guarantor but you are making the payments. Sounds like a risk for the sellers but there is actually little to no risk because if you were to default on payments they would simply get the property back and would be responsible for no more payments than when they first owned the home.

keywords: Real Estate Investing Tips: Second Mortgage

Purchasing a property “subject to” isn’t the same as using the clause to attempt to circumvent the non-assumability of a first mortgage.

Use this second mortgage strategy as a great way to start investing in real estate.