Real Estate Information

Real Estate Investing: How to Choose a Lender


To become a successful real estate investor it's vital to have a long-term relationship with a good lender. Having a flexible lender who knows your needs and objectives can be the difference between success and failure in your investment career.

Choose several lenders to begin with, and then interview all of them. Ask friends, other investors, and realtors for referrals. Call all of your potential candidates in the same week, so you'll have identical criteria for comparing their rates, fees, and programs.

Instead of trying to fit into a lender's program, interview your lenders by finding out how they can accommodate your needs. Here are a few questions to ask:

1. What are their requirements for middle credit scores and income?

2. What are their standard loan costs? These include things like points, processing, underwriting, documentation preparation, filing, and credit report fees. Can you add these fees to the loan amount?

3. Is there a required holding period before you can resell the property? Are there prepayment penalties when you flip your investment properties?

4. Do they require mortgage insurance? If so, what is the minimum percentage you'll need to put down in order to avoid having to purchase that insurance?

5. How much can you finance, and can you finance fixer houses? How much down payment would be required on such houses?

5. Can sellers help with the loan costs, and to what extent?

After you've interviewed your potential candidates, make your choice according to the programs that fit your needs, as well as from the feeling you get from that person. Do they seem as if they'll be easy to work with from a personal standpoint? Since you're hoping to use that lender again and again, it's important that you feel comfortable with them as a person as well as a source of financing.

A good lender wants your repeat business and works hard to find the right loan for each transaction. They may even be able to help you locate potential investment properties. Finding a great lender is a crucial component for your ultimate success as a real estate investor, so choose carefully.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm


MORE RESOURCES:

German Stocks Drop; Hypo Real Estate, Continental, E.ON Fall
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
Hypo Real Estate Holding AG and Continental AG dropped at least 2 percent after Deutsche Boerse AG said the companies’ shares will be removed from the ...
Salzgitter, Beiersdorf to join German DAX-30 Index The Associated Press
Salzgitter, Beiersdorf to join Germany's DAX index Forbes
German Stocks Erase Gains; Hypo Real Estate, Continental Drop Bloomberg
Bloomberg - Bloomberg
all 80 news articles


Cousins Properties to Present at the 12th Annual Wachovia Global ...
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, Cousins Properties Incorporated is a leading diversified real estate company with extensive experience in ...
Kite Realty Group Trust to Present at 12th Annual Wachovia Global ... MarketWatch
all 13 news articles


Four Industry Greats Form National Real Estate Consulting Firm ...
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
NEW YORK, Dec 04, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Real estate industry giants Henry Gallin, Michael Glick, Frank Sullivan and Ray O'Keefe announced the formation of ...


International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) to Host European ...
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
Austria has developed into a major European centre of real estate and financial transactions. It seemed most appropriate for FIABCI to hold its European ...


Reuters

China's CIC appoints real estate fund head -sources
Reuters - 13 hours ago
Besides real estate funds, Zhou's team is also responsible for CIC's direct investments and non-real estate private equity funds. ...
Israel stocks fall; Israel Corp., Discount in focus MarketWatch
Seabreeze's Kass favors US stocks over Treasuries Reuters
Developer Africa Israel posts steep loss in Q3 Reuters
Reuters - Reuters
all 1,886 news articles


ERA Pacesetter closes real estate business
Bizjournals.com, NC - 21 hours ago
One of Greater Nashville’s largest residential real estate firms — ERA Pacesetter Partners — is closing up shop, the latest casualty of tough economic times ...


Nokomis Real Estate Ventures LLC files bankruptcy petition
Bizjournals.com, NC - Dec 3, 2008
Nokomis Real Estate Ventures LLC filed a petition in Tampa federal court seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company does business as the Nokomis Inn ...


Real Estate Pain on Tap for Smaller Banks
TheStreet.com - 1 hour ago
This is the second story of a two-part look at banks that could suffer from their exposure to commercial real estate and construction loans. ...


Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc. Announces ...
MarketWatch - Dec 3, 2008
... in the markets for its portfolio securities, and in particular, common and preferred stocks issued by Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs"). ...
Marshall to raise $500m for Russian real estate PrivateEquityRealEstate.com
Marshall Capital Partners launches new $500 million fund for ... WebWire (press release)
all 9 news articles


ABC News

Keepin' It Real Estate: Treasury Tries to Re-Inflate Housing Bubble
Minyanville.com, New York - 4 hours ago
A protracted period of stabilization will ensue, during which time the opportunity to purchase high-quality residential real estate below its long-term ...
The real estate industry gets a favor from Bernanke Todays Financial News
See Your $800 Billion and Raise You $7 Trillion Smartmoney.com
New Treasury Plan May Lower Mortgage Rates Washington Post
The Associated Press - Boston Globe
all 587 news articles

Real-Estate - Google News

home | site map
© 2006