Our
Program
Our program
is as much about the loan as it is about the builder or the location.
This program is based on the fact that our bank will lend to appraised
value as opposed to purchase price.
With traditional
financing, if a home were purchased for $200,000 and the bank financed
90%, you would need a down payment of $20,000. But, if the house
appraised for $220,000 (all of our homes appraise for at least 10%
more than you pay for them), the bank is lending you $198,000. So,
you only have a small down payment to make.
The fact that
are homes appraise for much more than they cost, gives you a built-in
profit cushion. A year later, the house has appreciated even more.
Even in a slow market, the area will generally see 8% appreciation
or more a year. So, the $200,000 house, that appraised for $220,000,
is now appraising for $237,000 a year later. Rent it for a year
and you will have a home worth about $256,000 in a slow market.
Keep in mind that the appreciation in Ocala has been a lot more
than 8%.
With a modest 12% gain each year, the house appraises for over $275,000
a year after completion.
Qualifications
If you have $5,000 in the bank and hope to make your fortune in
real estate, I cannot help you. You will have no trouble finding
other web sites with similar programs that will set you up for disaster.
I just like to sleep at night.
To qualify,
I generally like to see the following:
- A credit score
of 680 or better
- A reserve put aside for the investment of at least $10,000
- An understanding of how the investment works
The last qualification
is as important as the others. This is an excellent investment and
you can make a very nice return. But, I want you to have a complete
understanding of how you are going to make a profit. Ask me lots
of questions until you are confident about what we are doing. However,
just try not to be one of those individuals who ask questions for
the next year and miss your investment window.
The
Builders
The builders that we use must be approved by the bank. We are using
the top builders in the area. We will help you select which floor
plan to use, in order to maximize your Return on Investment. The
builder gets paid only as the building progresses.
Investment
Example
These numbers
are from the actual Settlement Statements and Appraisal for our
Client J. C. of Pembroke Pines, FL and was provided by my broker,
Dennis London of London Realty. The closing was in February 2006.
Below is an example of the profit our investors might see when investing
in our pre-construction homes.
| Total
Cash Investment: |
$4,000 |
| Pre-Construction
Appraisal: |
$340,000 |
| Price
of Turn-Key Home with Lot: |
$284,812 |
Equity/Profit
Before Construction Begins:
|
$55,188 |
| |
|
| Anticipated
12-Month Appreciation 10%: |
$28,000* |
| Gross
Equity/Profit After Construction: |
$83,188* |
| *
Based on average anticipated appreciation. Appreciation is not
guaranteed. |
|
Where
We Build
You can find
lots in Ocala for $35,000 and build a wood frame, vinyl sided home
for about $180,000. Of course, after it is finished you would have
a piece of garbage in a lousy area. Its your choice, but will not
build those houses.
Our lots are
in the "better" areas and we only build CBS, concrete
brick homes. So, please do not take me on a tour of what you found
on the Internet. I do this for a living and have already seen what
I like and what I do not like. I need to insure, to the greatest
extent possible, that you will be able to sell the house at a profit
or rent it with the least problems.
There are builders
and other individuals who have already purchased lots and need to
move them. Whether you make money or not is of no concern to them.
You are, so to speak, "a one night stand" to them. I will
keep the builders honest when they start to pull out their lots
or sneak in upgrades you don't need.
I know of one
agency sitting with 80 lots that their agents are directed to sell.
Not great lots but they will move them come hell or high water.
Hopefully, your personal real estate education will not come to
you at an unnecessary expense.
What
We Build
Currently, we
are building homes on one acre lots with living areas of between
1800 and 2500 square feet under air. Upon completion you may sell
the homes. Although, you could rent them for a year and pick up
the long term capital gain rate on the profit as well as benefiting
from another year of appreciation.
Renting
Your Investment Home for Increased Profit
When renting
a house today, it is very difficult to maintain a positive or even
neutral cash flow. Without substantial down payments it is next
to impossible. But the advantages of renting out your new investment
home for a year bring you rewards that usually outweigh the costs.
1. You get an
extra year or more of appreciation
2. You get the long term capital gain treatment
3. You can do a 1031 exchange and defer all of the tax on the gain
4. You have a depreciation expense
5. There is less pressure to sell the home immediately and you can
wait for the right offer
Depending on
the price level of the home your negative cash flow can be anywhere
from $50 a month to $500 a month. But even if it cost you another
$6,000 to hold the home for a year, it only a takes a 2% increase
in price to make it up and we are running a hell of a lot more than
that. Plus, if you save 10% on the gain (or more) that will give
you about $5,000 more in your pocket. So, do not dismiss this method
too quickly.
You do not have
to necessarily spend your own money to make up the negative cash
flow . There are a few alternatives:
1. We can establish
a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) on the house. You would dip
into this credit line to make up the difference and pay off the
loan when you sell it.
2. We can arrange
a Option Arm at a very low initial rate. With this choice we can
keep the out of pocket to a minimum and make renting a very worthwhile
option.
If you like,
you can put your home up for sale and rental at the same time and
decide based on offers and tenant availability. But do not overlook
this method of enhancing your investments.
Appraisals
We do not have
our own appraisers. The bank or lending institution provides appraisers
on a rotating basis. The bank is not going to do anyone a favor
and boost the appraisal value. The appraisals are very real.
Next
Steps
| Step
1. |
Get
Approved by Our Lender. How many can you buy in this program? |
| Step
2 |
Our
Realtors will assist in the lot selection, and the lot contract
to purchase same is fully executed. |
| Step
3 |
The
investor will execute a Vacant Land Contract and write a small
deposit check ($1000) for the purchase of the vacant land. |
| Step
4 |
Our
Realtors will forward a copy of the executed lot contract
to the builder, in order for the builder to do a site evaluation
to determine the cost to build on your lot. |
| Step
5 |
Once
the site evaluation is in place, the Investor will select
which model home to build, along with selecting any available
upgrades to the model home. |
| Step
6 |
The
Builder will review the selected model home along with the
selected upgrades in order to determine if acceptable and
if so, the price to build the selected home with upgrades
for the Investor. The builder will assemble the Construction
Contract to include all foreseeable expenses to the investor.
At this time, two (2) more checks from the Investor will be
necessary: one for the Builder as a building deposit ($ 3,500.00),
depending upon which builder and one for the appraisal ($
500.00). |
| Step
7 |
We
present the loan package to the Bank. The Appraisal results
must substantiate the investment potential. We are seeking
appraisals significantly above the combined cost to purchase
a lot and build the home. With the right appraisal, we take
the whole package to the bank to obtain a construction loan
for the lot, home, improvements, and all anticipated costs.
|
| Step
8 |
The
closing usually occurs approximately forty five (45) to sixty
(60) days from the effective contract date for the lot. |
| Step
9 |
It typically takes about ten (10) to twelve (12) months to
completely build the selected model home, depending upon a
variety of factors including, but not limited to, obtaining
applicable permits, etc. |
| Step
10 |
While
the home is being completed, the Investor should consider
whether to sell the new home when completed, or decide if
the home will be used as a rental. We strongly recommend that
all investors consult with their own tax and legal advisors
to assist them is their decisions. |
Frequently
Asked Questions
How
do I choose a lot?
We search for individual lots through MLS. We send you some choices
and explain why we like a particular property.
What are the deposits for?
The $1,000 is a good faith deposit for the lot and up to an additional
$4,000 - depending on the builder - towards your new investment
property. The funds are held by the title company, as escrow agent.
You will receive a deposit receipt. You will never pay us. Quite
frankly, we do not want to hold money. I feel much better when it
is in the escrow account of the title company, an attorney or broker.
Does the price of the house include the lot and if so, why
do I receive two separate contracts?
The price of the house does not include the lot. We will send you
two contracts; one is for the lot and the other is the Builder's
contract for the house.
"Can you tell me about my lot?"
The typical lot may be as small as 1/4 acre, 80' x 125', or as large
as 1 or 2 acres. Occasionally the lot will have has trees - in some
areas, a lot of trees, some of which of course need to be cleared
in order to build your house. We will be sending you the Property
I.D. numbers, or addresses so that you will be able to go on to
the County Property Appraiser's web site, The best site is www.netronline.com
go to Florida and look up the individual county's appraisers site
in public records.
You may also try (http://www.maps.google.com), put the property
address in address bar on top and you will get an area map that
you can zoom in on. If you go to the right of the screen near the
top, you'll find "Satellite". Click on it and you will
get an aerial of the site. You can also zoom in on it and if you
hold the cursor down on the photo and move the mouse, you'll get
the photo to move so you can see more of the neighborhood.
What
about water and sewage?
In areas where municipal utilities are not available, we build with
well water and septic as sewer. Eventually city sewer and water
will be brought in by the city / county to most, if not all lots.
This could occur one year or more from today. If and when it happens,
the property owner of record at that time will be assessed for this.
It is generally paid off in small installments over several years
and paid with one’s tax bill.
What are the additional costs of the upgrade design options?
Your home includes many standard items, which are optional with
other builders. You will have the choice of upgrade selections.
Depending upon what you choose will ultimately be reflected in the
total costs.
What is the time span from finding a lot to completion of
my houses?
For pre-construction, it will take anywhere from about 9-16 months,
depending on numerous factors.
What is the resale value of these homes?
These values are based on appraisals and are constantly changing
due to the booming market in Florida. It is important to remember
that, in our program, our goal is to obtain appraisals significantly
higher than the cost to build. This is where the investor will have
built in equity prior to the home being constructed.
How long do we have to wait to “flip”?
Technically you are free to seek another buyer immediately upon
closing. We suggest that we market the property for sale 3-4 months
prior to completion in order to secure a good buyer. We strongly
suggest you consult with your financial advisor before making any
decision in order to establish the best exit strategy for your specific
financial goals and tax ramifications.
What methods are available to help sell my property faster?
The first and most obvious is to offer your house for slightly under
the competition in order to draw more prospects to your listing.
We will list your investment property for resale as it nears completion.
It will appear in the Local MLS, as well as Realtor.com, Yahoo,
MSN, and many other internet sites.
How
much money will I need at closing?
It is our goal to provide you with an opportunity in which you will
NOT have to bring money to close.
What should I bring to closing?
Valid picture identification, and any other documentation requested
by the Title Company. For your convenience, If you prefer, we will
do what's called: a "Mail-a-way". As the name suggests,
the Title Company mails all the closing papers directly to your
home or office for your review and signature. You in turn would
simply return all the executed documents back to the Title Company.
It's all very easy and is routine for the Title Company.
Do you charge a fee for services such as: finding a qualified
tenant to rent my house; supervising the property management; and
locating a qualified buyer when I’m ready to sell?
As licensed real estate professionals we do charge a discounted
fee for services performed to assist you in accomplishing your exit
strategies.
If you would
like to learn more you should give me call and/or fill out the Contact
Page information.
Call 954 - 255-5056 |