The concept of seller financing has caught on quite fast and is very beneficial to those who are planning to buy their first Atlanta investment property. It also helps those people who are unable to get a loan from the normal or traditional route. One does not have to deal with financial institutions and since the interest rates are low, you would find that it facilitates investment property purchase. It is possible to even refinance and sell as well as build credit while refinancing for lower payment. Sellers are able to take the 30 year rate and put a spread on it. Given the current real estate market sellers have made seller financing widespread and regular so the process has become quite standardized too.
Sellers want a fast closing with little hassle. Sellers also want to pay as little taxes as possible on the gains incurred. Sellers are anxious to sell; and in a sluggish real estate market, owner-financing is an attractive alternative to losing money while properties sit vacant. Otherwise, homes can remain on the market for years with owners either making mortgage payments out of pocket or renting. Sellers may consider 100% owner financing or partnering with the right buyer of Atlanta investment property for a win/win outcome.
In the past, some sellers were of the opinion that financing is the buyer’s lookout and not theirs. But the trend and the understanding on the matter is changing as sellers have started to realize that by using seller financing they can get an advantage against competition in terms of overcoming an important hurdle in selling, namely financing for this fairly large buy. First time home owners or even seasoned investors can purchase a home with hardly any down payment and sellers can often contribute as much as 6% of the price towards closing costs.
One of the key advantages of seller financing is that sellers and buyers are spared the rigors of dealing with a financial institution and hence there are hardly any problems in facilitating the sale. In the normal course, buyers can get as much as 50-60% financing, with a lower interest rate and a much longer amortization period. But the sellers must be aware of various rules and regulations like by-laws, insurance policies and budgets and also rules and regulations which could be reviewed by lending underwriters. There has to also be a knowledge that the property’s master association should allow a sale in the first place, or else the sale cannot occur.
In seller financing, the property is vested in the name of the seller till such time as the buyer makes good the payments and has the grant bargain, sale deed or such device transferred into his/her name. In other words, in some cases of seller financing, the buyer assumes the seller’s mortgage while the loan is assumed by the buyer. Most sellers would like to pay as little taxes on their capital gains and set up the interest on a balloon payment. They would not like to wait for 30 years or more to set a return on their Atlanta investment property. This is one of the reasons why sellers are often interested in installment sales rather than a cash sale which is more traditional.
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