Month: November 2015

Small Loan Scenario

Have you wondered why it’s so hard to get a small loan for real estate?

Honestly, a small loan for real estate just isn’t very profitable. Just as you are borrowing money to make a profit, the lender wants to make a profit too. The interest received on a small loan isn’t very profitable. The risk of losing money is much greater with a small loan than large one. I know, it doesn’t seem to make sense at first, but read on.

First, the lender has to cover the overhead of setting up and approving the loan. Some lenders will charge points and fees to cover some or all of this cost. They still have to pay the overhead for every loan that gets rejected too. Compare this: A lender charges $2,500 up front for a $25,000 small loan. Does that seem steep? The same lender charges $2,500 for a $150,000 not so small loan. It doesn’t seem as bad now does it? The fee didn’t change, but our perception of it did. It’s the ratio that changes.

Once a lender makes a loan, every month the lender has the expense of servicing the loan. That includes: sending statements, processing payments, tracking balances, end of year reporting, sending a 1098, government compliance, etc all those costs have to be covered, and they cost the same to the lender whether it’s a small loan or a large loan.

If a small loan goes unpaid, just like the expenses of setting up the loan, proportionally there is a large cost with the attempt to collect on the debt. So, even if you find a lender that will do a small loan, they typically want better credit to reduce the chance of the loan going bad.

Cheap houses purchased with a small loan are typically in areas that have more foreclosures, and more damage to the property when it is foreclosed. This increases the chance of loss to the lender even after they foreclose on a property.

Is it any wonder lenders are reluctant to do a small loan? It’s easier to get a loan completed for $100,000 than $25,000. Admittedly, we do get some small ones done, but with the challenges listed above, it’s not nearly as often as we’d like.

What is a Commercial Mortgage Broker?

A commercial mortgage broker is your central point for funding your real estate investments. A broker has existing relationships with wholesale and retail lenders. Since a broker works with multiple lenders, they’re not limited to the funding programs available from a single lender.  They use those relationships to match their clients with the right loan at the right price.

A great broker takes the time to look at your financial goals, how this loan will impact them, and how to position yourself for the future. A great broker is going to help you expand your business. A bad broker will be a dreaded middle man just trying to take your money. Choosing the right broker is critical to your success.

A good broker understands that every real estate transaction is unique. Brokers are flexible enough to make sure financing is not an unexpected obstacle when you pursue a real estate deal.

Consider a commercial mortgage broker a networking resource. They can help connect you with other people in the real estate industry. People who can help you do even better.