Challenges Facing Real Estate Investors In Todays Market

A few years ago, the real estate investing was a wide open playing field where you could do any type of deals. Real estate investors have been forced to re-discover themselves with the real estate and economic bubble.

Here are a few things that affect real estate investing business.

1)Taking over mortgage payments

This is one of the most favorable real estate investing business models with most investors. Deals with lease options, rent to own, owner financing, form a big part of most real estate investors income.

Lots of states are now requiring that you disclose and get permission to the lender before you can take over payments.

They also require you to disclose to the buyer. Some states force you to less than 180 days for lease options. This means you have to keep up with lots of paperwork.

2)No stated income loans
If you are self employed, you are unlikely to get a loan. Previously you just needed to provide proof of assets like bank statements and you could get funded for a mortgage.

You can no longer do this, so if you are self employed you have to re-think how to acquire your properties.

3)Hard money credit based?
This comes as a surprise that some hard money lenders need you to fully disclose your income and lend based on your credit.

They have more relaxed rules, but you still have to shop for hard money lenders who lend based only on property.

4)Limit on number of properties you can finance
You can only finance up to 10 properties if your income is fully documented and your credit score is 720 or better.

For each property you buy, you must show cash reserves equal to six months your monthly payment.

Of course if you are self employed you cannot document your income!

5)Seasoning rules
You cannot refinance a property to cash out until you keep it for 12 months even if you bought it with cash. In other words you cannot just move on to the next deal when you want!

If you buy rental properties, you have to take this into account.

And of course if you are self employed, how will you refinance if you cannot disclose your income?

6)No refinancing properties held in an LLC
In order to refinance, you must hold a property in your personal name. If they are held in an LLC, you have to hold them in your personal name for six months to refinance them.

So what do these new limitations mean? Is it the end of real estate investing as we knew it?

The answer is no. Real estate investors know how to re-discover themselves and are flexible enough to adapt to changing market forces.