
How do we Finance our deals?
What is a Creative Financing?
A typical Real Estate transaction looks like this: 1. Buyer makes offer on property. 2. Seller accepts offer. 3. Buyer gets loan from bank. 4. Closing Agent arranges everything and completes paperwork. 5. At closing, seller gets paid (or their current mortgage is paid off), the buyer receives a Deed of Trust and a Mortgage (which makes the property "collateral" for the loan and gives the bank the right to foreclose if payments stop. 6. The buyer then takes possession of the property and starts making mortgage payments to the lender. And then keeps on making payments until the loan is paid-off.
90% of the time, that system works fine. However, there may be some conditions in which a bank or financial institution might not want to lend on a particular property. Some examples include:
-
Conventional Loans, like FHA loans, VA loans, etc. will require a property to Appraise at a certain value before lending on it. It must be habitable and not require any significant repairs. This would disqualify 99% of the properties we seek to purchase.
-
As a Buyer, you might be in a situation where your credit is "less than attractive" to a lender. This can be true even if you have a high score, and NEVER have late payments. Common causes include carrying too much debt (DTI). In these cases, a Borrower would not be able to get a loan for a property.
-
In many cases, a Real Estate Investor may want to purchase a property in a method which preserves their cash, so it can be used to repair the property or on other projects.
So in these cases, what is a Buyer that wants to buy a property, and a Seller that wants to sell it to them, to do. The answer is that they have to think out of the box and use some Creative Financing techniques to make the transaction happen.
​
Creative Financing in real estate refers to ways an individual can purchase land or properties that are for sale other than the traditional Lender involved method. Albeit not the norm, these methods are far from illegal or shady, and are used every day by investors everywhere.
-
It works in both up & down markets, and is particularly attractive when interest rates are on the rise.
-
It is very flexible. Several methods can be combined to forge a deal that is advantageous to the Buyer & Seller.
-
It is less risky. The property is the collateral and you don't have to sign Personal Guarantees or risk your assets or Credit.
-
It is more relationship based. A relationship and partnership is formed.
-
It is fast. By not having to undergo Bank underwriting and qualification, the process is shortened by weeks, and a deal could literally take a day or two from start to close.
-
It has no supply limit. There is no arbitrary number of loans you can have in your name, nor Debt-to-income concerns.
-
All terms in a Creative Finance Deal are negotiable. Try getting the bank to change terms.
Why would someone use creative financing options?
We employ Creative Financing in our business. When we do, the objective is the same as when we employ traditional financing, to acquire a distressed property that an owner wishes to be rid of, in as quick and mutually beneficial method as possible.
Our philosophy when employing Creative strategies is to get the Buyer the outcome they are seeking (sales price, short closing time, avoid foreclosure, etc.) in exchange for the Terms we need (Rate, payment, length of deal, etc.) to make the deal work.
These deals are more common with off-market sales, but they absolutely will work with on-market properties (i.e., listed by a realtor on the MLS). We work with agents all the time to educate and understand some of these non-traditional methods. The biggest difference in calculating the deal is that now the commission (or finder's fee) will be taken into account.
If you are interested in selling a property by one of these methods, please contact us and speak to an Acquisitions representative for more information. If your property or situation appears to be a good fit for one of these methods, we look forward to working with you to solve your problem and get your property sold.
Creative Financing Deal Types
Seller financing, also known as owner financing, is a real estate transaction in which the property seller acts as the lender rather than the buyer obtaining a traditional mortgage from a bank. Instead of receiving the full purchase price at closing, the seller allows the buyer to make payments over time according to mutually agreed-upon terms, including the interest rate, payment schedule, and loan duration.
Seller financing can provide an alternative path to homeownership or property acquisition when conventional financing is unavailable, difficult to obtain, or undesirable for either party. These arrangements can offer flexibility in structuring the transaction and may help facilitate a sale by expanding the pool of potential buyers. However, both parties should carefully evaluate the legal, financial, and tax implications before entering into a seller-financed agreement and should seek professional legal and financial advice when appropriate.
Advantages of Seller Financing
-
Expands the pool of potential buyers who may not qualify for conventional financing.
-
Can result in a faster sale and reduced time on the market.
-
Allows flexible negotiation of loan terms, interest rates, and repayment schedules.
-
May provide the seller with a steady stream of income through monthly payments.
-
Can reduce or eliminate certain lender-related closing requirements and delays.
-
May allow the seller to defer capital gains taxes over multiple years, depending on tax circumstances.
-
Buyers may face fewer qualification requirements than with traditional lenders.
Disadvantages of Seller Financing
-
The seller assumes the risk of buyer default and potential foreclosure proceedings.
-
The seller does not receive the full purchase price at closing.
-
Ongoing loan servicing and payment tracking may be required.
-
Existing mortgages may contain due-on-sale clauses that could create complications.
-
The seller's capital remains tied up in the property rather than being available for other investments.
-
Buyers may face higher interest rates or larger down payment requirements than conventional financing.
-
Legal documentation and compliance requirements can be complex and require professional assistance.
