Although there are many legitimate opportunities to invest, there are also a number of ways to get swindled.

Just this week, a Utah man was arrested for allegedly operating a “Ponzi-like” scheme that drew in investors under the guise of making high-interest hard money loans.

KUTV 2 explains:

“The SEC says Smart put some money into risky real estate and some went to pay other investors. It says the rest went into his pocket or his business…

In court documents, the SEC refers to this part of Smart’s alleged scheme as phase three. The agency says Smart recruited investors to his “hard-money” lending business, promising as much as 18% a year.”

Before dealing with any hard money lending operation, consult a qualified financial adviser and an attorney.

See Also:

Hard Money Mortgage Guide

Answers to Common Hard Money Mortgage Questions

If you choose a broker that does not know how to handle hard money mortgages, you may not have a successful experience. Many honest brokers will let you know about their lack of knowledge upfront. But, some may try to handle a hard money mortgage without knowing what to do.

If you’ve decided to pursue a hard money mortgage, take a look at this list of what to look for in a broker. You’ll be glad to save yourself the hassle of working with someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

See Also:

Hard Money Mortgage Basics

Hard Money Loan FAQs

Here’s what can happen if you choose the wrong broker for a hard money loan:

1. The broker you pick doesn’t know where to find hard money investors. He tries to put your mortgage through with traditional lenders and gets turned down. He tells you a hard money loan is impossible.

2. Rather than doing any research into the issue, the broker responds to your queries with “Oh, no, we can’t do that. It’s illegal.” You’d be surprised how many will claim that something is illegal when they actually mean “I don’t know anything about that.”

3. Despite never having completed a hard money transaction, your broker is overconfident. He makes outrageous claims without double-checking the facts. He reassures you that you can take out a hard money mortgage without a down payment or that your interest rates will be the same as those given for traditional loans (both false).

As you can see, choosing a hard money mortgage broker is an extremely important decision and can have a big impact on whether or not your loan goes through at all. Unlike traditional transactions, a lot of brokers don’t have any experience with hard money loans and won’t even know where to begin.

I’d suggest gathering references and calling your top picks to get some information about their business and direct experience with hard money loans. Take a look at my complete article How to Choose a Hard Money Mortgage Broker for some of the most important qualities to consider.

photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

See Also:

Answers to Common Hard Money Mortgage Questions

How to Take Out a Hard Money Loan

But, what exactly is a hard money mortgage? And why are so many borrowers interested lately? Basically, a hard money mortgage is a home loan funded directly by an individual investor or group of investors rather than a traditional lender.

Hard money mortgages are often available to borrowers who don’t qualify for traditional loans because of poor credit, short employment histories, or difficult-to-prove income. In order to qualify, investors require that the borrower bring a large down payment to the table. That way, the homeowner has some stake in the loan even though he does not necessarily have the best financial past.

Hard money mortgages are popular with homeowners who need time to improve their credit but want to buy a property now. These loans tend to have very high interest rates, so borrowers usually refinance within a few years.

To learn more see: Hard Money Mortgage Guide

Hard money loans are high-interest mortgages available from private investors. Desperate borrowers with poor credit scores, bankruptcies, no verifiable income, or too much debt often take out hard money loans when they are unable to qualify for traditional mortgages. Hard money becomes a last resort when borrowers cannot meet the lending standards set by banks or government sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

How Hard Money Loans Work

Private investors are willing to create hard money loans in return for charging a very high interest rate (often about 11.5% plus five points for residential home purchases). You meet a minimal set of requirements, make a monthly payment to the investor, and find a way to either sell your property or pay the balance when it becomes due. Hard money loans use the borrower’s property as collateral. They often offer interest-only payments and tend to have shorter terms (usually fifteen years or less). You can take out a hard money loan for either a home purchase or a second mortgage. Read more…