The Bank’s Role in Trust Deed Investing

A common question about trust deed investing is what is in it for the lender. This is a valid question because banks generally don’t like to give away 12% interest rates for free. In order to understand why the bank would engage in trust deed investing, it is critical to understand the two types of mortgages in the United States.

The first type of mortgage is a true mortgage wherein the only parties involved are the bank and the borrower. The borrower holds the legal title to the property they purchase. If the borrower defaults on mortgage payments, the bank has to take judicial action against the borrower by actually suing them in a court of law. Only after the court has ruled in their favor can the bank take possession of the property via foreclosure. This is a lengthy process and can get quite expensive.

In trust deed investing, the trustee holds the legal title to the property and is paid interest by the bank for doing so. In the event of a default in payments by the borrower, the trustee can take legal possession of the property via foreclosure without judicial action. The bank can then sell the home quickly to recover their investment as well as the investment of the trustee. This is a much shorter foreclosure process and saves the bank money in the event of defaulted payments.

Investing in deeds of trust helps the lender protect their collateral while earning money for the trustee. The trustee’s investment is also protected by the actual physical real estate.

Investing in trust deeds is a high interest, low risk investment strategy. If the borrower pays on time, the investor literally does nothing other than collect interest. If they borrower defaults, the property that the borrower is making payments on helps to secure the trustee’s investment. This is perhaps the greatest benefit of trust deed investing. The investment is actually backed by physical collateral that the investor could literally drive by and see. The investor can also do a number of things beforehand to help secure his/her investment. The investor can use credit scores of borrowers to determine the riskiness of a particular loan. In addition, the property will be appraised to ensure that it can be sold to recover the investment if necessary. A further investment safe-guard is the requirement of all borrowers to obtain sufficient hazard and fire insurance. This protects the investor in the event of the property being destroyed.

If investing in deeds of trust sounds like a good investment opportunity to add to your portfolio, contact a broker that specializes in real estate investments. A broker can help you make the best investment decisions and help you start earning high interest rates with trust deed investing.

The Basics of Trust Deed Investing

Many smart investors incorporate the strategy of investing in deeds of trust as an easy and relatively low risk way to help grow their retirement accounts. With rates of return as high as 12% and real estate collateral, investing in trust deeds can be a good addition to a well-rounded investment strategy.

Trust deed investing is an investment tool that can help many people reach their monetary goals for retirement. It is a useful addition to your retirement investing strategy because it is relatively low risk and low maintenance with a high rate of return. Before deciding to invest in deeds of trust, it is important to understand the basic types of mortgages available and why trust deed investing is a win/win situation for all parties involved.

The first type of mortgage is what is known as a true mortgage. In this type of real estate transaction, the borrower purchases a property with funds that are supplied by a bank or other lending institution. The legal and equitable deeds to the property both belong to the borrower as the owner of the property. This can pose an obstacle to the lender should the borrower default on his/her loan. Since the borrower holds the deed to the property if he/she defaults the lender must go through what is known as the process of judicial foreclosure. This involves the lender obtaining a court order before the home can be sold without the borrower’s consent. This can be a lengthy and expensive process for the lender.

The second type of “mortgage” situation involves a deed of trust. In this lending situation, there are three parties involved, the lender, the borrower, and a third party known as the trustee. The trustee purchases a deed of trust from the lender which gives him/her the right to hold the legal deed to the property on behalf of the lender. Deeds of trust can be purchased for anywhere from $1,000,000 and up. Once the trustee buys the deed, he/she is said to be investing in deeds of trust. Like any investment, the trustee earns interest from the lender. The interest rates earned on deed of trust investments are typically higher than other types of investments. Some investors earn as much as a 12% rate of return on their investment. As long as the borrower continues to pay his/her loan to the lender, the trustee earns money for the term of the investment with no further work.

Trust Deed Investing and Default

The most common question people have before investing in trust deeds, is what happens if the borrower defaults. The trustee has a few options at this point, depending on what state the property is located in.

One option is that the trustee can assume payments and takeover the property. Since the trustee owns the legal deed to the property, he/she can take over payments on behalf of the borrower and the real estate transfers entirely to the trustee. It can now be lived in, rented, or sold as the trustee sees fit.

A second option that is generally less work for the trustee is that the trustee can begin the process of non-judicial foreclosure on behalf of the lender. The lender provides the trustee with proof that the borrower has defaulted on the loan and since the trustee holds the legal deed to the property, he or she can begin the process of selling the property on behalf of the lender without a court order. This is less expensive for the lender than judicial foreclosure. Once the property is sold the lender recoups its funds from the sale proceeds. Once the lender’s debt has been paid, the trustee’s initial investment is also returned.

Once you have decided to invest in deeds of trust there are

several ways to reduce your risks and maximize your returns.

One key feature of a solid trust deed investment to keep in mind is to always hold the first deed of trust on a property. The first deed holder is the investor who is paid first in the event of a default. If you are the second or even third trust deed holder you are putting your investment at a higher risk than the first deed holder is. You can also help minimize your risk by investing in more credit worthy borrowers and modifying the length of your investments. There are lots of different options depending on what state the property is in. Talk with a broker to help navigate the various ins and outs of trust deed investing.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC
Hard Money Lender
Hard Money Loans
Hard Money Loan
Arizona Tel: (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel: (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com
Dennis Dahlberg Broker/RI/CEO

NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave | Austin | Texas | 78701
About: Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 43 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.
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