February 21, 2008

Think Property First For Commercial Real Estate Mortage

Make sure the condition of the property you want to buy will survive market conditions before seeking a commercial real estate mortgage. When you go to purchase a new residence, a good lender does a thorough financial background check on the individual seeking to borrow money. On the other hand, when you go to apply for a commercial real estate mortgage, the lender's greatest concern is the property. Some of the most important issues include your credit score. But that's not enough. The lender wants to make sure the property is in pristine condition and will survive tumultuous market conditions.

Research the commercial market

Before deciding to seek a commercial real estate mortgage, scout the city or town and get a sense of the market conditions. Are there many "for rent" or "for sale" signs for multi-family units such as offices or apartments? Is the commercial property in a part of town that receives enough traffic flow or is it difficult to locate? Talk to professionals in the area to find out where you can find the best deals before obtaining a commercial real estate mortgage.

Prepare to put money down

Just as you would put money down on the purchase your dream house, you will need to come up with money for a commercial mortgage. Most lenders want between 15 and 20 percent down. Next, you are ready to see if you can pre-qualify for a property. A loan officer will put together a loan package before giving you a letter of interest. Then, the lender will review the file and create a loan document.

Gathering documents for mortgage

You can begin getting together the documents you need in order to move along the commercial mortgage process. Put together your employment history for the past two years as well as with salary, employment dates, pay stubs and the contact information of your employers. You should also figure out your net worth and list all other assets.
Make sure you have all of your tax records organized. Bring along your social security card, the last three statements from savings and checking accounts, stocks and certificate of deposits. You should make a copy of your 401K or IRA plans, the title of your automobiles or loan information. Finally, write down the names, addresses and account numbers for all credit cards, loans and mortgages so those facts and figures will be handy for your loan officer.

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September 17, 2007

Is Commercial Real Estate the Way To Make Your Dreams Come True?

Is Commercial Real Estate the Way To Make Your Dreams Come True?

Commercial real estate will help you live by that old saying, "Work smart, not hard." Your output on your job is limited. Even if you could work 24-7, you could only make so much money at any rate of pay and your employer is going to be willing to pay you only so much money for the work anyway. If you could somehow make those hours worth more without having to put out more work per hour, then perhaps you could earn enough money to accomplish your dreams and goals. With commercial real estate, this type of philosophy becomes possible.

When one becomes a real estate investor, he opens the door into an entirely new financial world. Developing an awareness of investment real estate is like suddenly getting a new pair of eyes, which allow you to see farther in each direction. This is because investing is a way to make your hours represent many more dollars than they would if you simply relied on the income from a job. Look at it like this - if you make a nice salary, say $50 per hour, you are limited by the number of hours in the year it is physically possible to work. Never mind the fact that you are also limited by the number of hours that actually exists in a given year. But what if you make only $15 an hour? How in the world are you ever to make your dreams come true?

What you need to do in order to become a real estate investor is educate yourself. Don't just grab a real estate listing and jump in as though you were playing at the roulette wheel in Vegas. Although there is a certain amount of luck involved, this is not a gamble. You must learn about the real estate market so you can make educated guesses about where to put your money. Learning to read financial statements and other basic accounting skills is a great first step. In fact, it is necessary. You can't win at the game unless you know the language of the game, and that language is finance. Take a few real estate courses. You will need to know the types of real estate that is out there, as well as the types of investments. You will need to know the terminology and you will need to get to know people in the business.

Although many people think that, in order to get into investment real estate, one must approach the table as though it were the roulette wheel in Las Vegas, investing is not a gamble. You must make educated guesses. Educate yourself. Do this by learning the basics of accounting, by learning about the real estate market, and by getting to know the people who are already in the business. Do this also by keeping a real estate listing with you at all times.

If you first invest in your education, you can make your dreams come true with commercial real estate. It's all just a question of knowing how and it is something anyone can learn. The knowledge is out there. Learn to think like a wealthier person and you will learn to become one. It may sound like a cheesy corporate slogan, but the more you imagine your success the more your success becomes a reality with the right ideology.

The ability to become wealthy by investing in commercial real estate seems like some sort of magical power, but it isn't. Working with investment real estate is simply a skill, like any other. If you think about the job you're doing right now, you weren't born doing it - you had to learn it. When you were much younger, learning such a thing may have seemed like a very difficult, if not impossible, task. Yet you did it, and probably didn't think it was that difficult when you did. Investing is simply another job. Contrary to how it may seem, Donald Trump was not born with a real estate listing in his hand. If he can learn to invest, you can too.

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October 20, 2007

How does the Uncertainty in the Mortgage Industry effect Commercial Real Estate Professionals?

How does the Uncertainty in the Mortgage Industry effect Commercial Real Estate Professionals?
 
 
The reality is that there are huge differences between how investors and bank underwriters evaluate, analyze, and value Residential vs. Commercial Mortgages.
 
Consequently, there are varying effects on the Residential vs. Commercial Mortgage sectors when Uncertainty creeps into the Mortgage Industry in general.
 
In the Residential world, the primary source to repay the loan is the person who occupies the property that is mortgaged…..95% of residential property is owner occupied……..
 

On the contrary, 95% of commercial property is strictly investment grade, and the owner lives nowhere near the subject property……

More on How does the Uncertainty in the Mortgage Industry effect Commercial Real Estate Professionals?

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