Fixing up and flipping a house can be a lucrative investment, but first you need the investment. In the state of Arizona, many savvy investors use what are known as “fix and flip” loans to purchase and then quickly renovate a property to get ready for sale.
Keep reading to learn more about fix and flip loans and to determine what type may be the right choice for you and your project.
Why a ‘Fix and Flip’ Loan?
You may be wondering why you should consider a fix and flip loan as opposed to a regular bank loan. Well, fix and flip loans actually come with many advantages over traditional loans.
To start, fix and flip loans are intended for shorter designated periods of time and can even be approved faster than traditional bank loans. Experienced fix and flip lenders also do not require as much background investigation or have as stringent qualification standards as traditional banks, giving people a greater likelihood of getting approved.
Types of Fix and Flip Loans
There are three main types of fix and flip loans in Arizona. These include the following:
- Hard Money Loan – this is highly convenient type of loan that is intended for people of all skill and experience levels (when it comes to flipping houses). Funds are approved (within 24 hours) and received quickly, allowing projects to get underway fast. While these types of loans do often come with higher interest rates, they usually include shorter terms that many people use to make a profit off of their house quickly.
- Home Equity Line of Credit loan – A Home Equity Line of Credit or “HELOC” loan works kind of like a credit card. The investor is given a designated line of credit that is based on their existing property’s value. While the project is underway, interest is only charged on the amount borrowed during the credit line period. Now, it is important to note that this type of loan usually comes with repayment terms that may not be right for everyone: interest-only payment for the initial 5-10 years, followed by both interest and principal payment. Furthermore, while interest rates are lower, approval can take up to a month or longer.
- Bridge Loan – This is a temporary short loan that is used only during the gap between real estate transactions. In other words, you can purchase a house you intend to flip without having to sell another property first. Interest rates are usually mid-range, but it’s worth pointing out that this type of loan often results in the investor having to pay two mortgages at once. And while the loan period is shorter, approval time may still take a bit longer than a hard money loan.
Which Loan is Right for Me?
The right kind of fix and flip loan for you will depend on a few different factors, namely your personal experience in flipping houses, the amount of time you have and the type of property. For example, those who need to close extremely quickly may benefit from a bridge loan, while those who need longer terms may look to a HELOC loan.
Nevertheless, hard money loans will be the right way to go for many due to this type of loan’s lenient requirements and fast approval / fund delivery. If you already have your project planned out and need financial assistance fast, this will likely be the best choice for you.
Are you ready to learn more about how a fix and flip loan can get your project underway? Contact the experts at Barrett Financial Group today!
