Chapter 6 - Loan Underwriting

The underwriting discipline of the lenders is one of the single most important elements when investing in a trust deed. The reason why loan underwriting is so significant to trust deed investing is because part of the underwriting process is to determine the Loan-To-Value Ratio (LTV).

The process of underwriting is what the lender goes through in order to qualify a borrower for a loan, and also makes certain that the loan has been properly documented and structured. The LTV if often determined though the comparison of the loan amount to the appraised value regarding the collateral that secures the loan.

Throughout a loan transaction there tend to be far fewer problems when a loan has been properly underwritten. However, if problems do arise, the borrower is encouraged to set them right should they wish to protect their equity in the project. Almost any problem can be rectified; its only a matter of money.
In the event that the borrower fails to solve their problems, regardless of the reason, the loans margin of equity proves to be helpful as it enables the lender to absorb the cost to solve whatever problems have occurred.

Loan-to-Value


The loan-to-value principal is what makes carrying a high yield with a trust deed investment secure. The reason is because LTV means to loan a percentage of money that is less than the actual property value. When it comes to real estate lending, LTV is the single most important element, because an adequate LTV protects the initial investment, while a remaining cushion of equity helps to pay off any unexpected costs that may occur.

When it comes to loan-to-value ratio, the goal of an investor should always be to try and keep the LTV at the lowest possible amount. For instance, a good rule of thumb that every investor should follow is to never have an LTV higher than 70%. Remember, the lower the number, the more equity the investor will receive on the property. For the most part, when lenders need to analyze a loan situation, they generally rely on appraisals in order to determine their loan-to-value ratio.
Borrowers

Another important aspect of the underwriting process is finding out how the borrower intends to refinance the loan in regard to the loan terms that have been specified in the promissory note. Typically, a lender should want to conduct business with a borrower who has a decent record.

The following is information the lender should take the time to find out about the borrower before distributing a loan, so that the loan can be underwritten accurately

The address of physical property description. This includes the square footage of the land, the description of the building(s) or improvements, operating statements, rent rolls and income property.

The property preliminary title report

If it is a purchase, find out the purchase agreement

Confirmation of the zoning letter issued by the city/county that confirms the zoning for the property.

The corporate papers of the borrower

Phase one environmental report

If the loan happens to be funding a construction or rehabilitation project, the lender will also want to obtain the following criteria:

Breakdown of the construction cost

Agricultural and engineering plans that have been fully approved

Description and site plan of buildings/improvements on the site

California Trust Deed Investments

Ground-up Construction Loan V This loan is one that assumes the borrower has approvals and a completed set of plans which are sufficient so that construction can begin once the loan has been funded.

At this time, a Temporary Restraining Order will be set in place and will delay the trustees sale until the state court can determine whether or not a preliminary injunction will be granted, until a trial or a full hearing can take place regarding the matter. However, the vast majority of notes are transferable through endorsement. With a lender approved draw schedule, the proceeds of the loan may be funded over a certain amount of time.

Set conditions in regards to transfer and payment 6.
A trust deed is recorded as a lien on real property. With a mortgage investment you have control over when you receive your checks, which allows you to obtain your money as quickly as possible. Without the constraints of such rules, private investors can provide quicker loans that do not follow the same rules as is required for traditional lending. By comparing the above two examples, Jamess trust deed investment provided him with approximately 15 times more retirement income! Trust deed investors who invest for their retirement agree that it is the best investment they can make, because a trust deed can earn 10%, which is as much as 5 times more retirement income compared to other investing methods such as a savings account which on average pays between 2-4%.

Escrow number V Should it become necessary in the future, for the investor to discuss a section of the escrow with the agent in charge, if the investor has the escrow account number it will be easier for the agent to locate the escrow file in question.
00 would become 63. The Straight-Interest-Only Note V The straight-interest-only note, is one that does not require payments of principal during the life of the loan. It is also their responsibility to enforce on the borrower the loan agreement terms, so they respond in a proper and timely manner. In order to keep your original note and deed of trust safe, you should place them in a safety deposit box at your bank. Borrowers that create this type of problem can often be extremely difficult for an investor to deal with, especially if the investor is new to private money lending. When all is said and done, the entire foreclosure process takes approximately 110 days to complete (usually 90 days for the redemption term and 12 more for the advertising).