Beware Of Cash Back
| | Monday, August 29, 2005 @ 10:23 AM EDT
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Contributed by: Larry Goins
Larry Goins Properties
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I love the real estate investment industry. Everyday, I learn new and interesting ways to structure deals that are fair to all parties and allow all parties to make the money they need to make. Attending meetings offered through your REIA are great ways to learn what others are doing and how those deals can be structured to work for you.
Unfortunately, as in every industry, there are a few bad apples that can throw a kink in all that is good. Some people just want to "get rich quick" and may bend the rules a little or even a lot to make sure that happens. Greed can be a dangerous thing.
We have been blessed with a wonderful following of customers who have referred me to others that in turn have referred me to even more customers. We are thankful to have each and every one. Lately though, it seems we have been getting many calls from builders and investors working with
builders and other investors who are getting cash back after the closing. Some call it a rebate, some call it a home warranty buyout clause and I have heard one call it a decorator allowance. Folks, any money given to the buyer after the closing that is not disclosed on the HUD or in the purchase contract is FRAUD! Sometimes the builder's are unaware that it is fraud and the buyers are unaware that it is fraud, but the mortgage broker should be aware that it is fraud if they know or suspect that cash is being received. Many lenders have a good idea of what is happening and will wink, wink, nod their head and look the other way until the following happens: The builder sold out to many investors who paid top dollar for several houses in a neighborhood. The investors got $15-20K cash back at closing, their prospective lease option tenants could not pay enough to cover the mortgage and now there are several foreclosures in the neighborhood. Maybe a builder has an appraiser squeezing a little more than he should out of a condo complex. He sells the condos to an investor who then sells them to other investors who can't get them sold or rented as they had hoped according to the appraiser's numbers. Now 40 of the 350 plus units are in foreclosure. HOA cash reserves are in- adequate. Not even the honest folks can get loans to close on any of the units. Someone is going to jail. Let's make sure it is not you. Don't get caught up in the get rich quick schemes. Sometimes, they are difficult to spot, but if you are offered money outside of the closing, something is not right.
There are many honest, ethical people in this business. Do your best to associate with them. Talk to other investors about your values and make sure theirs are similar to yours. I attend a group that meets at 7am every Friday morning called Sonrisers. It is a subgroup of the Metrolina REIA. There is a 3-5 minute devotional and the meeting is based on ethical, moral and Biblical ways of doing business. Do what you can to make sure that we, as investors, leave a clean mark on the world. Deals should be fair to all involved, not just one person. Investors have an opportunity to truly change lives for the better. I want to be a part of that! If you should have any questions about possible fraud, call and we will do our best to guide you to the right solution.
Note: Larry H. Goins is not only licensed as a mortgage lender and mortgage broker in North Carolina and South Carolina, he is also licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina as a Real Estate Broker and General Contractor. He is a member of the North Carolina Association of Mortgage Professionals and a member of the National Association of Mortgage Professionals.
Larry will be speaking on our Teleconference on May 16th at 9PM EST . You must register for this event! Register for Larry's Teleconference here
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