Key Fundamentals of the Note Business: Part I

Key Factor 1: Borrower

Most investors pay too little attention to the borrower, which is a strategy that often leads to poor and often costly buying decisions.

When buying, modifying, or even creating a note, you should always ask to see the borrower’s credit score, income statement, balance sheet, and employment verification. This will provide the best insight into how the borrower will perform on the note.

In my experience, a credit score below 600 is often the first red flag.

It doesn’t mean I won’t buy the note – but it sure does impact the price I’m willing to pay. And just like any investment… the higher the risk, the lower the price.

Conversely, I consider borrowers with credit scores above 675 as low risk, at least in terms of their creditworthiness.

It’s important to balance this concept of creditworthiness against other criteria, like the size of the down payment or equity in the property, which, as you may have noticed, is my third key factor.

I have a higher tolerance for a lower down payment if the borrower has over a 675 credit score and is gainfully employed with a decent debt-to-income ratio, as determined by the income statement. (A borrower’s debt-to-income ratio can be determined by dividing monthly debt by gross monthly income.)

Typically, I prefer a debt-to-income ratio at or below 36 percent.

Similarly, I like to see a housing expense-to-income ratio at or below 28 percent (calculated by dividing monthly housing expenses by gross monthly income).

The basic idea is that you’re looking for a borrower with not only the propensity to pay but, more importantly, the ability to do so.

Video: Basics of Note Investing in an IRA

Key Factor 2: Collateral (a.k.a. the physical real estate)

Without question, the best notes available today are on owner-occupied single-family homes, small multi-family units, and commercial real estate.

The riskiest are industrial properties, and I would advise you to steer clear of them – along with vacant land and manufactured homes.

Industrial properties carry some serious risks, most notably possible contamination or other waste hazards which could become very costly.

Vacant land involves some extra consideration, such as zoning, potential property improvement, location, and overall usefulness of the property.

And although notes on manufactured homes can be profitable – that’s why Berkshire Hathaway has a stake – these properties are very different from single-family homes. Manufactured homes do not maintain their value as well.

In general, notes on vacant land, manufactured homes and industrial properties have the most risk, because there are many more factors involved in determining the value of these properties.

So, if the worst-case scenario in a note investment is getting stuck with the property, my advice is to stick to single-family homes, small multi-family units, and commercial real estate.

In today’s market, notes on these premium property types are by far the easiest to value.

Hedge funds are buying non-performing notes on these properties, modifying them, and then selling them as re-performing notes. Additionally, private individuals are selling their seller-financed notes on these property types in numbers not witnessed since the late 1980s.

Why pile on additional risk? My advice is to follow the easy money.

Key Factor 3: Down payment or borrower’s equity

The basic concept here is “skin in the game.” Look for a borrower that has a financial stake in the property.

The larger the borrower’s investment in the property, the more likely he/she will continue making payments (i.e., “perform” on the note).

But, again, this is more of a balancing act than a straightforward calculation. As previously mentioned, it’s always prudent to weigh the size of the borrower’s down payment and overall investment in the property against his/her credit score.

Personally, I tend to tolerate a down payment as low as 5 percent, if the borrower’s credit score exceeds 625. Inversely, if his/her credit score is below 625, I prefer a down payment of at least 15 to 25 percent.

I never focus on just one factor – finding the sweet spot is always about weighing all factors.

Read Key Fundamentals of the Note Business: Part II to learn about the final three factors to consider.

About Aaron Halderman

Aaron Halderman has over 15 years of real estate development, distressed debt management, and financial services experience. Aaron owns NoteWorthyUSA.com and is the publisher of the NoteWorthy Newsletter and host of two annual note investing conferences, the NoteWorthy Investors Summit & National Convention. Aaron was a managing partner for a private investment company that acquired over 2,000 single-family assets nationwide and managed over $100 million in note investments.

Aaron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Arizona State University. Aaron loves spending time with his children, traveling, golfing, and following sports stats.

Aaron Halderman is not an employee of Equity Trust Company. Opinions or ideas expressed are not necessarily those of Equity Trust Company nor do they reflect their views or endorsement. These materials are for informational purposes only. Equity Trust Company, and their affiliates, representatives and officers do not provide legal or tax advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

Equity Trust Company is a directed custodian and does not provide tax, legal or investment advice. Any information communicated by Equity Trust is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax, legal or investment advice. Whenever making an investment decision, please consult with your tax attorney or financial professional.