What Is a Hard Money Loan and How It Works?

A hard money loan refers to a type of loan. However, what makes it different from other types of loans is that it’s secured on real property. Moreover, they are considered short-term bridge or last resort loans. Basically, they are used in different real estate transactions. The lenders are either companies or individuals, not banks. Read on to know more.

Key Takeaways

Given below are some of the salient features of these loans.

Primarily, they are used for real estate transactions. And this money comes from a company or individual instead of a bank.
Typically, this type of loan is granted for a short period of time. The purpose is collect money quickly at a lower ration of LTV and higher cost.
Since these loans are not executed traditionally, the funding time is reduced is usually quite quick.
It’s interesting to note that the terms of these loans are negotiated between the borrower and the lender. Plus, these loans use the real estate as collateral.
Although repayment may result in default, they still leave a lot of profit for the lender.
How does a Hard Money Loan Work?
Usually, the terms of hard money loans are based on the value of the real estate, not the borrower’s creditworthiness. Since conventional lenders like banks are not the lenders, private lenders or firms are most interested in this business.

Also, these loans may be a good choice for property flippers who have plans to renovate a property and sell it again. Here you may be thinking the cost of this type of loan is quite high. But the good thing is that the extra cost is offset by the loan will be paid off rather quickly. In most cases, the loan is granted for a period of 1 to 3 years. Aside from this, they offer a lot of advantages as well.

Aside from this, this type of loan is considered a great investment as well. You can find a lot of people out there who have done this business and are happy with the practice.

Special Considerations

Typically, unlike the bank financing or the financing programs offered by government, the cost of these loans is quite higher for a typical buyer. However, this cost reflects the higher risk that the loan granter bears. But the great thing is that the extra cost is a worth it as the money is available quickly. The approval process is less stringent and the repayment schedule is also quite flexible.

Also, these loans can be a great choice to deal with turnaround situations. For instance, if you need money quickly for a short-term financing but you have poor credit score, you can give it a go. Since the amount is issued pretty quickly, you can use the funds to stave off a foreclosure, for instance.

Pros and Cons

Now, let’s take a look at some pros and cons of hard money loans.

Pros

First of all, the approval process is quite faster unlike the process of mortgage or a conventional loan. The thing is that private lenders are interested in this type of business as they can make decisions quickly without running a lot of checks. In other words, they won’t check your credit history. These are the steps that slow down the process and make the borrower wait for weeks.

Typically, these investors only care about the repayments. Plus, they have the opportunity to resell the property in case the borrower fails to make payments and becomes a defaulter.

Another advantage is that the lenders don’t apply the conventional underwriting process. Instead, they evaluate all of the cases one by one. Often, applicants can sit with the lender and discuss the repayment schedule based on their circumstances. Aside from this, borrowers can take advantage of a lot of opportunities during the time they have. So, this is another great advantage you can enjoy if you go for this option.

Cons

Since the real estate is used as a security against default, these loans feature lower LTV rations unlike the regular loans. This ration is between 50 and 70% unlike the ration of regular loans, which is 80%. However, if you are an experienced flipper, it can be even higher.

Aside from this, the interest rates of these loans are higher as well. For subprime loans, the rate of interest can be even higher. In 2019, for instance, the rates of hard money loans were between 7.5 and 15% based on the period the loan is granted for. By contrast, the prime interest rate was only 5.25% in the same period.

Another disadvantage is that these lenders may not offer loans against owner-occupied property because of compliance rules and regulatory oversight.

Hope, now you understand what hard money loans are and the pros and cons associated with them. For more information, you can consult your mortgage broker.

5 Truths and 1 Lie About Business Productivity Software

Business productivity software is the key to having everyone working off of the same “page” as it were in your business. Being able to have an integrated set of packages that works together means data can easily shift from one program to the next, data can be shared and collaborated on, and all of that flexibility has led to a certain amount of confusion about exactly what business productivity software is, and what it isn’t.Here’s a list of things that good business productivity software is:* It works off of a common data platform giving everyone a common standard to work with
* It allows for collaboration through IM and other services
* Reporting software works flawlessly through all the different modules
* Modules that work together covers every aspect of the enterprise including accounting, marketing, sales and production
* Everything works together in real time without time lag including all phases of the enterprise.Part of the confusion, aside from being clear about how well everything works together is the fact that there’s one lie about well done business productivity software* It is hard to implement and maintain.This is actually as far as it gets from the truth. Well designed business productivity software is actually easier to install, set up, configure and maintain than any other set of packages could be. If the software is designed properly, then all it takes is one install on the server and one install on each client unless the implementation is web-based. Then all it takes is the server side setupMaintenance is easy as well. From a single point password and profile setup through apply once patching and upgrading, the best business productivity software reduces labor costs for IT dramatically. Instead of having to dedicate IT staff specifically to doing system upgrades and software patching, having the right business productivity software means that all the labor is centralized in a single process. No longer do techs have to track down salesmen and marketers to update their laptops, updates are handled automatically once installed server side.Between the flexibility business productivity software offers your accounting, sales, marketing and senior staff and the ease of setup and maintenance for the IT staff, having the right package enables your entire enterprise to work more smoothly than ever before. Check out the packages available and see which gives you the flexibility you need and the ease of use your IT department will appreciate.

Honoring the Memory of Your Lost Pet

Anyone who is a true animal lover will tell you that the loss of a pet can sting every bit as much as losing a human friend or family member.Unfortunately the sad truth is that most pets don’t have the same type of life span as a person. This means that losing a pet is often inevitable. For those who feel the loss of a pet, pet memorials can offer a sense of closure. It’s important to remember that a beloved pet is just as much a part of the family as any human being is. Honoring pets with pet memorials gives grieving family members the opportunity to come together and say goodbye.We have memorial services when we lose friends and family members, to have one for a pet is a normal part of the grieving process.Just because a pet was an animal does not reduce the significance that they had in your life. You can form a loving bond with a pet that can be very painful when it comes to an end.As pets get older there may come a time when an especially difficult decision must be made. When a beloved pet is suffering due to age and injury it is in the best interest of the animal to consider euthanasia. Although the thought of losing a pet may seem like it is too much to take, keeping a pet around that is suffering isn’t fair to the animal.When the time comes, euthanasia is a way for you to allow your pet to rest in peace and escape the suffering that age can bring. You can choose to take your pet to a local vet, or many vet offices will even come to your home to perform this merciful and compassionate service for you. Although the pain may be overwhelming at first, you can take comfort in knowing that you have done what is right for your pet. Your pet is no longer suffering, and can finally rest in peace.Once your pet has passed away it’s possible to still feel close to them when you choose pet cremation. Cremating your pet allows you to keep their remains in a manner which is legal and safe. Burying your pet has health issues and there are often laws in place that prevent you from doing so. Instead of burial you can choose to cremate your pet and keep their remains, and memory close to you. There are many types of urns for pet ashes that can be purchased allowing you to keep the ashes of your pet nearby. Memorial pet urns are a way to remember your pet and give them an honored place in your home.You can place a pet cremation urn on your mantle, or in another place of significance, allowing you and your family to remember how much your pet meant to you.Loss is a part of life. All of us lose loved ones and friends over time, and the loss of a pet can be just as painful. Why not honor your pet by choosing pet cremation? Your pet was a part of your life, for many people a pet could have been a companion for many years. You owe it to your pet to make certain that the end their lives with dignity and respect.When the time comes, and your pet is no longer healthy enough to function normally, you may have a difficult choice to make. You may have to choose euthanasia. Know that while this choice may be painful, it is the right choice to make. Even after yourpet has passed away you and your family can still feel close to him by placing his remains in one of the many pet memorial urns that are available. With your pet’s ashes nearby you and your family will be reminded not of the pain of losing him, but of the joy that he brought to your lives.Your pet probably spent most of his life in loyal service to you and your family. He probably wanted nothing more than to please and protect his human masters. By having a memorial service for him, and choosing pet cremation, you can honor him in the way that he deserves.