Real Estate Investing Scare

Just recently, I was consulting a former Real Estate Investor that was in a serious situation that would scare anyone. This investor has twenty-eight properties that he’s personally purchased using bank financing over the last 4 years.

Here’s the typical deal this investor would purchase: The house would have an appraised value of $50,000 and he was able to purchase the property for $30,000.

The bank would then loan him 80% of appraisal regardless what he paid for the property allowing him to cash money out at closing when buying.

OK, follow me so far? So, in this example, he’d pocket $10,000 when he bought the property.

So, you’re thinking - that’s not scary.

Not yet anyway…

Back to the story, he calls to see if I can help by buying the properties from him. I told him I would gladly take a look to see if there was something I could do, but I assured him I couldn’t make any promises.

After, I talk with him a little more, I discover he’s 3 months behind on payments on ALL 28 properties. With all 28 properties, one would need to come up with close to $20K just to reinstate these loans.

But, that’s not the scary part. We still have to see if there’s any equity. And unfortunately, there’s not, therefore I tell him I can’t do anything for him. He’s gonna see 28 houses go to the foreclosure block. Not only will the bank foreclose, they’ll drag his name through the paper causing humiliation, disgrace with his family and his church. The bank doesn’t just foreclose, then go away. They’re gonna stay after him till they get paid. If the bank takes a loss on these properties, which they will, the bank will pursue the following options:

1. Deficiency Judgment:

This will attach to anything this homeowner owns (real estate, cars, boats, motorcycles, etc.) till the debt is paid. Judgments are usually good for a set amount of time. In Alabama, the company has 10 years they can pursue the homeowner to get paid on the judgment. Plus, you should be aware that these judgments then can be renewed after they’ve lapsed.

It’s pretty terrifying to say the least to have some attorney harassing you to collect on a debt.

2. Garnish Wages

After a judgment has been attained, the creditor can and will garnish any wages from the borrower’s pay.

3. Forgive The Debt

Maybe, you think the borrower would love for the bank to just forgive the debt. Even though they forgive the debt, they don’t forget. Because at the end of year they’ll send the borrower a 1099 for unearned income from the loss of the sale of the property they’d loan money on.

Finally, the obvious factor of having a foreclosure is the fact it shows on your credit rating, thus ruining your credit.

Why did I just tell you this information about this particular owner?

I want you to be able to make sellers aware that are in similar situations of exactly what they can expect. See, most investors expect a homeowner to make some logical decision during a totally emotional time like a foreclosure proceeding. Most owners react out of fear, thus making the wrong choice, which is doing nothing but watching the sheriff show up to finalize the eviction after the house has been foreclosed.

What Is Real Estate Investing?

Real estate investors don’t need to ask the question, “What is real estate investing?” They know the answer, because they know what real estate investing means to them, which may be something quite different than it means to someone else. What is real estate investing to you?

You could ask five different people the question, “What is real estate investing?” and get five completely different answers. The only thing for sure is that real estate investing normally involves real estate. Let me tell you what I mean.

First, to one person, real estate investing might mean buying and selling. Normally, the investor wants to buy low and sell high, and this kind of investor doesn’t normally want to hold on to a piece of property for very long. Their answer to “What is real estate investing?” is “Quick turn around.”

Another person’s answer to the question, “What is real estate investing?” might mean buying and holding. This kind of person doesn’t mind the thought of being a landlord, and doesn’t mind the idea of managing tenants and collecting rents. Maintenance and upkeep don’t scare this investor.

Yet another type of investor is interested in high-value commercial property like hotels, office buildings, and malls. This is a high-risk, high-reward game played for big stakes. When asked, “What is real estate investing?” this investor doesn’t shy away from mega-sized deals.

One more type of investor prefers rehabbing and repairing. This investor buys the worst property and uses their skills and abilities to turn it around and make it nice again. These investors breathe new life into old properties. Their answer to, “What is real estate investing?” involves creating something of great value from next to nothing. People with construction experience or project management skills fit this type of investing best.

There’s also the kind of real estate investor who doesn’t actually buy any property at all. Their answer to, “What is real estate investing?” may involve partnerships, trusts, and possibly even the sale of notes, mortgages, and other financial instruments.

Real estate investing is a very big umbrella, and there are as many different answers to the question, “What is real estate investing?” as there are individual investors. Your job is to do the research, learn the strategies and then decide for yourself which style fits you.

At my website, I’ve written a more in-depth article on the question, “What Is Real Estate Investing?”

Now, go make more offers!

What Is Real Estate Investing?

Real estate investors don’t need to ask the question, “What is real estate investing?” They know the answer, because they know what real estate investing means to them, which may be something quite different than it means to someone else. What is real estate investing to you?

You could ask five different people the question, “What is real estate investing?” and get five completely different answers. The only thing for sure is that real estate investing normally involves real estate. Let me tell you what I mean.

First, to one person, real estate investing might mean buying and selling. Normally, the investor wants to buy low and sell high, and this kind of investor doesn’t normally want to hold on to a piece of property for very long. Their answer to “What is real estate investing?” is “Quick turn around.”

Another person’s answer to the question, “What is real estate investing?” might mean buying and holding. This kind of person doesn’t mind the thought of being a landlord, and doesn’t mind the idea of managing tenants and collecting rents. Maintenance and upkeep don’t scare this investor.

Yet another type of investor is interested in high-value commercial property like hotels, office buildings, and malls. This is a high-risk, high-reward game played for big stakes. When asked, “What is real estate investing?” this investor doesn’t shy away from mega-sized deals.

One more type of investor prefers rehabbing and repairing. This investor buys the worst property and uses their skills and abilities to turn it around and make it nice again. These investors breathe new life into old properties. Their answer to, “What is real estate investing?” involves creating something of great value from next to nothing. People with construction experience or project management skills fit this type of investing best.

There’s also the kind of real estate investor who doesn’t actually buy any property at all. Their answer to, “What is real estate investing?” may involve partnerships, trusts, and possibly even the sale of notes, mortgages, and other financial instruments.

Real estate investing is a very big umbrella, and there are as many different answers to the question, “What is real estate investing?” as there are individual investors. Your job is to do the research, learn the strategies and then decide for yourself which style fits you.

At my website, I’ve written a more in-depth article on the question, “What Is Real Estate Investing?”

Now, go make more offers!

What Is Real Estate Investing?

Real estate investors don’t need to ask the question, “What is real estate investing?” They know the answer, because they know what real estate investing means to them, which may be something quite different than it means to someone else. What is real estate investing to you?

You could ask five different people the question, “What is real estate investing?” and get five completely different answers. The only thing for sure is that real estate investing normally involves real estate. Let me tell you what I mean.

First, to one person, real estate investing might mean buying and selling. Normally, the investor wants to buy low and sell high, and this kind of investor doesn’t normally want to hold on to a piece of property for very long. Their answer to “What is real estate investing?” is “Quick turn around.”

Another person’s answer to the question, “What is real estate investing?” might mean buying and holding. This kind of person doesn’t mind the thought of being a landlord, and doesn’t mind the idea of managing tenants and collecting rents. Maintenance and upkeep don’t scare this investor.

Yet another type of investor is interested in high-value commercial property like hotels, office buildings, and malls. This is a high-risk, high-reward game played for big stakes. When asked, “What is real estate investing?” this investor doesn’t shy away from mega-sized deals.

One more type of investor prefers rehabbing and repairing. This investor buys the worst property and uses their skills and abilities to turn it around and make it nice again. These investors breathe new life into old properties. Their answer to, “What is real estate investing?” involves creating something of great value from next to nothing. People with construction experience or project management skills fit this type of investing best.

There’s also the kind of real estate investor who doesn’t actually buy any property at all. Their answer to, “What is real estate investing?” may involve partnerships, trusts, and possibly even the sale of notes, mortgages, and other financial instruments.

Real estate investing is a very big umbrella, and there are as many different answers to the question, “What is real estate investing?” as there are individual investors. Your job is to do the research, learn the strategies and then decide for yourself which style fits you.

At my website, I’ve written a more in-depth article on the question, “What Is Real Estate Investing?”

Now, go make more offers!