Hard Money Lenders: Direct Loans For A Faster Deal
The condition of the market has gotten better over the last several months. Technically speaking the economic downturn may be over; we may be growing gdp once again. But, sadly, the market meltdown keeps going. Many banks are very worried about further deterioration commercial real estate values and growing commercial mortgage delinquencies. They worry that more large proportion write downs of their CRE portfolios may be necessary threatening their legal solvency. Banks on the edge are very cautious about funding.
Other banks, even healthy ones, along with insurance providers are looking at their investment capital as they await the next trend of new polices out of Washington. Regulators are implementing existing procedures more strictly than before while promising even tougher financing guidelines are coming. Loan companies will not give a loan seriously until they know what the regulating situation will look like. While the administration supports lending with their words they are demoralizing it with their heavy given steps.
For most borrowers the answer has been private lending. Privately financed, known as “hard money” commercial mortgage loans are backed by private individuals or privately owned businesses. These special loan providers often keep the loans they write in their own portfolios instead of sell them to the secondary mortgage bond market. Private hard money lenders aren’t regulated by the Federal or state Authorities so they enjoy much more freedom and can finance loans quicker than banks can. Multi-million dollar loans can close in less than ten days if the offer works for the hard money lender.
The disadvantage to private lending is that charges and points are significantly higher than bank interest rates and that a lot more collateral is demanded. Private loans almost always top ten percent with at least 3 source points and loan-to-value ratios hardly ever go beyond sixty-five percent
The financial crisis has caused many good loans to be rejected by banks. Further, slipping property values make it even more complicated to be entitled to standard financing. Hard money lenders are often able to finance transactions that banking institutions are being made to turn away. Private lending is now a vital component of commercial real estate finance. Borrowers would prefer to get a decent, low interest mortgage with good terms and conditions, but that type of lending is simply not easily accessible right now. Private hard money lending is now mainstream finance and, for a lot of striving investors, could be the only solution.