When it comes to the safest form of investment, the first thing that comes to mind is the real estate industry. I mean, if you’re resourceful, knowledgeable, and persuasive, you can quickly earn more money that you had invested initially.
But, here’s the catch.
Unlike any other market, it’s important to have a hefty financial back-up. After all, you have to buy the house before you can sell it, right? So, by the account, is it really possible to start investing in the real estate industry with zero money?
Oh, yes. I mean, when I started off my journey in the house buying-selling segment, I didn’t have enough cash in my bank account. And, what did I do?
Well, I opted for a hard money lender.
With them, it was easier for me to go get the money with a quick turnaround time and invest the same right away. After I made a profit from selling the property after some improvements, I simply returned what I had taken from them initially. No huss, no fuss.
Pretty simple, right?
But, How Did I Choose The “Right” Lender?
Now, here’s the thing.
When it comes to choosing a hard money lender, the “popular” one isn’t always the “right” one. Like a product in the market, they come with their own characteristics as well.
For example, some of them can offer a bargain in the interest rate while others are more flexible with the duration of the loan.
Anyway, I have written down some considerations for the same to offer some aid. Hopefully, it’ll be helpful for you in the long run.
When choosing a hard money lender, the “popular” one isn’t always the “right” one. Like a product in the market, they also come with their own characteristics. You may check lending club reviews for borrowers to give you more details when finding the right one.
Tip – 1: Educate Yourself First!
If you’ve never worked with someone in the hard money loan industry, we’ll ask you to get a fundamental understanding of it first. Your lesson should include –
- Learning about the positive and negative aspects of hard money loans.
- The time limit you can get for each dealing.
- The amount of money you have to offer at the beginning, etc.
Also, don’t forget to learn a little about how hard money lending is different from traditional financing. It’d help you out learning the market a little more as well.
Tip – 2: Opt For A “Direct” Lender.
If you’ve set your eyes upon a particular lender, ensure to learn where they’re getting the cash from. You can work with a broker if you don’t want to get into the hassle of paperwork.
However, the process with a direct lender will be much more straightforward and easy. Also, in this aspect, you’ll be able to save your money by not offering any broker fee.
Tip – 3: A Local Person Would Be Better.
Investing in real estate, in essence, is a local business, and so is the aspect of working with a hard money lender. Why? Well, when you’re working with an out-of-the-state lender, it will take quite a lot of time to complete the proceedings.
Also, they’ll take much more time than usual to offer servicing to you. On the contrary, if you choose a local lender, they can offer their expertise on the local market. This way, you can always make the right decision while buying or selling a property in the same area.
Tip – 4: Look For Customer Review.
Almost every hard money lender out there has their own website. Now, when you visit it, you will find a customer review section there.
Now, if you read it, it’ll be easier for you to learn about their reputation. After all, you’ll need to work with them for quite some time, so it’s best if you choose someone well-behaved.
Tip – 5: Don’t Go For The Lowest Rate!
Yes, I know. The interest rate of hard money lending is quite high. But, that doesn’t mean you will go for the one who’s offering the lowest possible rate.
It might lead you to opt for someone shady who might ask for hidden expenses when you are done dealing with them. So, it’s always better to choose someone who’s legitimate.
The Bottom Line
Since their inception, the hard money lenders have been quite an essential part in real estate. They help in filling up the gap left by the conventional money lending agencies. But, they’re still not perfect in any way. So, before you make a move, don’t forget to do some research on the market. It’ll definitely be helpful for you.
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