2022 Metrics that Matter

Inflation, interest rates, and commodity prices came roaring back in 2022 and caused market turmoil in many asset classes.  Inflation peaked mid-year in the US at circa 9%, housing and food prices rose strongly, and many Wall St. instruments dropped precipitously.  Despite volatility in these capital markets, Trust Deed Portfolios continued to generate consistent results,…

Cash out and Capitalize

Now may be the time to Cash Out and Capitalize on the steamy housing market.  Home prices continue to reach record highs in the United States. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released data showing that average home prices in June 2021 reached $363,300 — a 23.4% increase over the average of $294,400 in June 2020, as…

10 Reasons to Buy an Investment Property

The Bloom is not off the Rose. Orange County’s homebuying binge continued in February with sales up 13% and prices increasing 9.6% over 12 months to a record high according to the Case-Shiller Index. These price increases zoomed through the Spring of 2021. While some have accurately predicted future occurrences, few have predicted the future with an associated…

3 A.M. Wakeup

Trust Deed Investments and the secured, equity protected, non-correlated monthly cash flow should create peaceful and blissful sleep filled nights. Sometimes, however, I wake up at 3 in the morning wondering about this hard money lending business and our loan originations. Usually, these sleepless encounters result from an upcoming decision or circumstance that causes angst. …

Sacramento Foreclosure Legislation Update

Elections matter and votes for our current Sacramento elected officials have consequences. My last Blog discussed AB 2501 which was a proposed Foreclosure Law that would create moratoriums on Foreclosures.  Our voices, calls, letters and emails to elected officials quelled AB 2501, however the Super Majority in Sacramento took many of those same destructive ideas and passed…

Short to Close, Now What?

What does it mean to be short to close? Property sellers, brokers and borrowers cringe when they hear the phrase, “Short to Close”.  This Escrow alarm sent out to all stakeholders in the transaction means that the loan amount is not sufficient to cover all the costs necessary to close the loan transaction.  Unfortunately, the…

AB 2501 Update – Not So Fast Sacramento!

Thank you to all the Mortgage Vintage and CrowdTrustDeed related parties who contacted California Assembly members asking for a “NO” vote on AB 2501 earlier this month.  With your help, AB 2501, the disastrous California Foreclosure Prevention Bill, appears dead for 2020. This outcome to defeat AB 2501 was the result of an enormous coalition effort…

California Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Opportunities Update

What are the 2020 opportunities in ADU lending?   This Blog is an update to our Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Blog published in Sept. 2018.  Many new developments have happened in the last 1½ years relating to ADU’s that influence ADU requirements, development, construction, laws and financing. Recently I organized and spoke on a California…

10 Influences on Hard Money Loan Rates

What are the influences on hard money loan rates? With conventional mortgage rates near historic lows, I often get the question about: “What factors impact Hard Money Loan Rates (HMLR) and the subsequent yield on Trust Deed Investments?” The influences on conventional rates funded by our Government vs. hard money rates funded by private parties…

Gaps, Cracks and Whacks: A Hard Money Lenders Guide to Identifying and Preventing Poor Quality Contractors and Construction

What to look for when evaluating the quality of construction? Many hard money loans in Orange County involve a borrower rehabbing or repositioning a property before a sale or rental. The resulting property sale or rental will happen  faster when the rehabber deploys proper project management and quality construction. A well-run project will facilitate a…