Many sellers discover they would now prefer cash today rather than the small amount that trickles in each month.

Here are just a few reasons people have sold all or part of their seller financed mortgage notes for cash:

• Retirement
• Taxes
• Investment Opportunity
• Expensive Medical Care
• Vacation
• College Tuition
• Unexpected Financial Changes
• Peace of Mind – no more worrying if the buyer is going to make late payments or having to foreclose
• Accounting headaches, IRS regulations, paperwork hassles and the list goes on…

Discover Your Options – Request a Free Note Analysis

The only way to decide what is best for your situation is to know the options available.

When you request a free note analysis it reveals the current market value of your payments -  similar to what a real estate appraisal provides for real property. Sometimes referred to as a “note appraisal” or “request for quote,” it lets you know how much your future payments are worth in cash dollars today!

We recommend having your note reviewed once a year as note values change based on market conditions.

Click Here to Receive Your Free Note Analysis Today!

Hoping to stand out from the crowd, sellers are advertising “Owner Will Finance!”

Accepting payments over time provides buyers an alternative to bank financing. Of course sellers don’t want to trade a house that won’t sell for a buyer that won’t pay.

Before you agree to “Be the Bank” read these 7 Tips For Safe Seller Financing!

Tip #1 – Review the Buyer’s Credit

How buyers have paid bills in the past is a good indicator of how timely they will make future payments. Always review the buyer’s credit prior to accepting a promise to pay.

Sellers can obtain a signed authorization from the buyer to pull credit through a reporting agency, or simply ask the buyer to obtain a copy of his or her report for review. Most note investors prefer credit scores above 675. If the scores are lower it will likely reduce any offers to purchase the note after closing.

Tip #2 – Get a Down Payment

The more money a buyer puts down, the more “skin” they have in the deal. The greater the equity, the lower the likelihood the buyer will stop paying.

When people have little to no equity, they are more likely to default or just walk away from the home. Few sellers want the hassle of taking back a property through foreclosure, so increase the odds in your favor by requiring a down payment.

Tip #3 – Verify Affordibility

If a buyer can’t afford the monthly payments it soon results in late payments or worse, no payments. Buyers should be willing to share their job history along with how much money they make each month. Paycheck stubs or tax returns can help verify the income.

A common gauge of affordability is to keep the housing expense around 27-30% of income. The monthly housing expense is a combination of the principal and interest payment plus 1/12th of the annual property tax and insurance bills (known as PITI). If a buyer makes $2,000 per month than the PITI should be no more than $540 – $600 using this rule of thumb.

Tip #4 – Set Valuable Terms

The terms include interest rate, payment amount, and the due date for payment in full. There are also late fees, default clauses, requirements for insurance, and other standard provisions.

While the terms can be whatever the buyer and seller agree upon, sellers that charge 2-4% above the standard mortgage interest rate increase the value of future payments. The buyer still saves on the expensive loan fees and the seller is compensated for having to wait for payments. Charging a below market rate means the buyer is unlikely to refinance in the near future. It also results in a higher discount should the note be sold.

Tip #5 – Seek Professional Help

The legal documents are an important part of safe seller financing. They put the agreement in writing and make sure the terms can be enforced. The do it yourself approach is great for some projects but when it comes to legal documents seek the help of an attorney or title company familiar with local laws and the HUD Safe Act.

These professionals handle the closing and prepare the documents. They will likely suggest a Promissory Note for the obligation to pay with a Mortgage or Trust Deed recorded in the county records. In some states a Contract for Deed or Real Estate Contract can be an alternative option. The HUD-1 Settlement Statement itemizes the sales price and payment of closing expenses.

Tip #6 – Collect Payments Like a Pro

Collecting the monthly payments, tracking the balance, and calculating how much goes to principal and interest is often referred to as servicing the note. A third party company or servicing agent can handle this process, automatically deposit payments, and provide the annual IRS Form 1098 mortgage interest reporting.

While it’s a whole lot easier to use a third party some sellers elect to collect payments on their own. This involves setting up an amortization ledger, taking a copy of the check or money order each month, and keeping the bank confirmation of deposit. To create a verifiable payment history it is best to avoid accepting payments in cash or cashing checks without first depositing.

Tip #7 – Track Taxes and Insurance

Making sure the buyer keeps taxes and insurance current is right up there with collecting timely payments. A check with the county where the property is located will verify if taxes have been paid current on their due date.

When the property includes a home or other buildings the documents should require insurance to protect against fire, hazard, or flood (if in a flood zone). The buyer can provide a copy of the insurance declaration page, showing the seller as a loss payee. A call to the insurance company when premiums are due will verify the coverage is being kept current.

Safe Seller Financing

These 7 tips for safe seller financing can help protect sellers. They also make the note payments more valuable to a note buyer. After closing, many sellers find they would prefer a lump sum of cash rather than payments over time.

We work with investors that buy real estate notes. If you would like a free no cost analysis of your note please feel free to contact our office.

Sellers have the choice to sell all or just part of their future payments for cash today.

Option 1 – When note buyers purchase all the remaining payments on a land contract, mortgage note, or trust deed it is considered a full purchase.

Option 2 – When the note buyer purchases just a portion of the remaining payments it is considered a partial purchase.

Here’s a closer look at two examples using the Full and Partial Purchase Options.

The Full Purchase

For example, a note has a balance of $90,000 at 9.0% interest payable in monthly installments of $1,140.08 with 120 months (or ten years) of payments remaining. When the seller sells all 120 remaining payments of $1,140.48 to an investor it would be considered a full purchase.

The Partial Purchase

If the investor only purchased the next 48 monthly payments of $1,140.48 each then it would be considered a straight partial purchase. Once the investor received the next 4 years of payments, the note would be reassigned to the seller and the seller would collect the remaining 72 payments (120 total payments less the investors purchase of 48 payments leaves 72 payments remaining to the seller).

The purchase can also involve splitting the monthly payments received from the buyer between the investor and the seller, also known as a split partial. Using the same example of 120 payments of $1,140.08 each, an investor might agree to purchase $600 of each remaining payment leaving a remaining residual of $540.08 to the seller for the next 120 months.

The terms of the transaction are spelled out in the Purchase Agreement. This important document outlines the servicing arrangement along with what happens in the event of an early payoff or default by the buyer. Competent legal counsel should review the agreement to protect the rights of all parties.

So What Option Is Best When Selling Mortgage Notes?

The best choice will depend on the cash needs of the seller and the value of the payments being sold.

A partial purchase can help minimize the discount but it comes with the worry of the buyer keeping payments current in the future.

A full purchase can give sellers peace of mind knowing they are through with the property once and for all.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss the options available on your owner financed mortgage note.

Increase the value with payment histories!

Keeping an accurate record of the payments received on a mortgage note is essential for knowing how much the buyer still owes.  This also establishes a record of their payment habits – with an added benefit.

The value of a note can be improved by presenting note buyers a verifiable payment history!

There are two main ways to keep track of payments on seller-financed mortgage notes: 1) outside serviced, or 2) seller direct.

Professional Mortgage Note Servicing

The first and easiest is to let a professional handle it. The payments are made to a third party servicing agent that keeps track of the balance and sends the money along to the seller. They will also send out the annual 1098 Mortgage Interest Statements and can hold original documents in safe keeping.

The DIY Approach to Collecting Payments

If a seller chooses the “Do-It-Yourself”’ method over a third party pro they will need to follow these steps:

1. Place original note and other original documents in a safe deposit box.

2. Make a copy of each check or money ordered received. Accepting cash is not recommended since it is hard to verify the payment history without a paper trail.

3. Deposit the payment and keep a copy of the bank record of deposit.  It is best to deposit each payment separately rather than combining with other checks.

4. Create a ledger or spreadsheet reflecting the date and amount of payments received.

5. Calculate the amount applied to interest, principal, late fees (if any), and the resulting principal balance. An amortization schedule or financial calculator can be helpful. Once calculated, record in the ledger.

6. Send out an annual statement to the buyer or payer along with the IRS1098 Mortgage Interest Statement.

7. Verify the real estate taxes and property insurance are being kept current. Consider establishing a tax and insurance escrow where the buyer pays 1/12th of the annual amount into a reserve account each month.

8. Send collection letters as necessary for late payments, lapsed insurance, or delinquent real estate taxes.

Why Note Buyers Want Payment Histories

When an investor agrees to purchase a note they will request a payment history. A verifiable payment history can improve the value of a note as it provides proof of timely payments. A payment history is considered verified when it is either provided by a third party or is backed up by the documents and records outlined above.

Unfortunately many sellers fail to keep track of the payments received. When they go to sell the note, contract, or trust deed they try to recreate the history from memory. Without any proof of payments received, a note buyer has to go on faith. Sometimes a payment history affidavit can substitute for a payment record but it still doesn’t add the value of verifiable proof.

Protect the value of your mortgage note! Set up a payment tracking method today.