Sell My Note – Selling Mortgage Notes Online

Selling a mortgage note is a streamlined and straightforward process. A person or entity collecting loan payments has the ability to sell a mortgage note for a lump sum of cash today, instead of holding the loan long-term over many years. You can choose to sell all, or just a portion of your note, depending on your capital needs. We will take a deep dive into the sale process as well as fully explore all options and pricing factors below.

A mortgage note is a legal instrument that typically outlines a promise to pay, or a loan, by one party to another. This instrument is usually secured by real estate and will contain information describing: loan amount, interest rate, payback period among other relevant items.

Learn more about the different types of mortgages here.

Here are the simple steps to selling a mortgage note

1. Gather all of the details on the mortgage note you want to sell
2. Provide the details to the buying entity for a free quote
3. Decide if the amount offered is right for you and proceed with the sale
4. The buying company will perform the diligence and underwriting process
5. The buying entity will fund the transaction the note seller will receive their cash

I want to sell my mortgage note but where do I start? The process is actually very simple for the note seller. Before you begin the note sale process, make sure you have all of the necessary information to receive a mortgage note quote. This will include the property address, the loan amount, the interest rate, the payback period, and the name of the property owner. If you are not sure, or you are missing any information pertaining to the note for sale, please feel free to contact us and speak to a live person to answer your questions directly.

This entire process of selling a mortgage note will take anywhere from 15 days to 30 days depending on the state/property location, the availability of the local appraisers, the availability of the title companies providing the title search, etc. We pay for ALL costs associated with the purchase of your mortgage asset, including appraisal, BPO, and title fees.

Many lenders have various reasons to sell a mortgage they own on the secondary market. Their motivations are certainly different but the end result is one in the same.

For a private corporation or individual lender that holds a mortgage note, the reasons for selling usually fall under one or more of these categories:

• To alleviate an imminent financial necessity
• To recycle capital into a new investment with a higher rate of return
• To relieve collection concerns and chasing payments from borrowers
• Receive Medicaid approval for a senior living facility 
• Lifestyle changes such as a new home or luxury purchase
• To mitigate against bankruptcy or foreclosure concerns that may arise
• To exit a capital partner out of a business relationship

How is market value determined on a real estate receivable being sold to a note investor on the secondary mortgage market? This is a question that comes up many times daily in this industry. There are many primary and secondary variables that come into play when determining the value of a real estate receivable for sale.

Below is a list of items that sellers should be aware of when taking their asset(s) to market:

1. Down Payment (primary variable): This piece of information is at the top of the list for investors when calculating the present-day value of a promissory note for sale. Not only does this variable determine how much money one would receive, but also it identifies if the seller-financed loan can even be sold at all. The more money you collect as a down payment when you sell a property and create a promissory note, the more likely you will see interest in selling said asset down the road – plain and simple. The down payment determines how much equity the borrower has in the property (referred to as Loan to Value or LTV), thus determining how secure that loan would be as an investment in an investor’s portfolio.
2. Credit Score of Borrower (primary variable): Ninety percent of the time, credit score comes into play when pricing a note out for purchase. The higher the credit score of the borrower making payments, the higher the chances the seller will have, pertaining to many offers, when selling said asset to an investor. It would be wise to review the credit of the person purchasing a property from you, if you plan on creating a mortgage loan to sell to an investor. Many sellers make the mistake of not pulling credit up front. Months or even years after the loan is created, they found out that the person making payments has credit so bad that the note cannot even be sold at all.
3. Loan Terms and Amortization (primary variable): The loan terms and the amortization are also key factors in figuring out what your asset will sell for when taken to market. The long and short of it is as follows:
   • Interest Rate – Interest rate is a key mechanism of determining how much money one would receive if/when they sell a real estate note to an investor. The interest rate should reflect the risk that a seller is taking by seller-financing the property in the first place. The higher the interest rate, the higher the lump sum payment will be when the asset is sold.
   • Amortization / Pay-Back Period – This is another MAJOR factor when determining the amount of money one would receive when selling notes to an investor. The longer you stretch the payments over time, the less money you will receive when selling a seller-financed loan. The shorter the payback period, the more money you will receive. Just to clarify, a 30-year payback period (with no balloon) is not great for note offers. It is actually the worst thing you can do if you are trying to get top dollar for your asset. A 10-year payback period (with no balloon) is the best thing you can do if you are planning on selling the note you create to an investor. It is always recommended that you try to stay between a 10-year and 15-year payback period (or amortization) in order to receive top dollar for the asset you are selling.
   • Balloon Payments – When selling real estate notes balloon payments are viewed by some investors as a good thing and by others as too risky to buy. With the new regulation that affects balloon payments in seller-financed notes (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act), it is suggested that balloon payments be avoided altogether. If you want to include a balloon payment, you will have to hire a licensed mortgage originator within the state where the property is located. We do not mind balloon payments, as they do not make a huge difference in pricing when we buy mortgage notes.
4. Personal Guarantees (primary variable ONLY if the borrower is a corporation): A personal guarantee only comes into play if you are selling your property (and creating a note) to a corporation that is not publicly traded on the stock market. If the corporation is a private S-Corp, C-Corp, LLC, LP or Trust, it is recommended to get a written personal guarantee from one of the officers of the company to ensure that payments will continually be made if the corporation is no longer able to make the payment. Not getting a personal guarantee when selling to a corporation borrower can cause you to receive tens of thousands of dollars less in the offer you receive. It is that important! Again, this is ONLY if you are going to collect payments from a private corporation. A personal guarantee is not needed if the borrower is a private individual.
5. Payment History and Seasoning of Loan (primary variable): In order to receive top dollar for your mortgage loan, at least 6-12 payments must have been collected. We can still buy the loan if there are less than 6 months of payments made, but you may not receive absolute top dollar. It is also suggested that you collect all payments from the borrower by check, direct deposit or money order. If you plan on not depositing checks or money orders into your bank account, always, always make photocopies for your records. Payment history is usually the backbone to a loan sale due to poor borrower credit or lack of equity (or both). Always make copies. It is a good habit to get into if you are acting as a lender on a real estate receivable.
6. Record Keeping (secondary variable): Always treat your original mortgage documents as cash. The reason why is that they are exactly that – an IOU. If you lose or misplace your original promissory note, you may risk not being able to sell the note at all, as most states do not include them in the recorded databases. The document is equivalent to the pink slip of an automobile. If you are trying to sell a car with no pink slip, the new owner cannot legally take possession of it. The same rings true to mortgage note assignments. The cleaner the records you keep, the easier your sale will go when selling your loan on the open market.
7. Using a Title Company to Close Your Property Sale (secondary variable): When selling your property and creating a note, it is always wise to use a title company or an attorney’s office to ensure the proper protocol is taken when transferring real estate to a borrower. The title company can insure a clear title via a title insurance policy, which is very important. The title company can also take care of the language in the promissory note and security instrument according to the laws of your specific state. Trying to save a buck by cutting this corner will ALWAYS bite you in the end. It is NOT worth it and it makes for a sloppy loan sale down the road. Also, when cash exchanges hands surrounding the down payment, everything can be tallied and viewed on a HUD-1 or Settlement Statement, which proves that you collected money on the down payment.

How to sell mortgages? There is a wide range of options available to sellers who decide to take their debt instrument to market:

1. Full Purchase Buy-Out: A full purchase buy-out is when a seller of a mortgage asset sells the entire note, receives the most money possible up-front 
2. Partial Purchase Option: A partial purchase option is the purchase of a portion of the note with regards to the payment stream or possibly the balloon payment (if any).
3. Split Buy-Out: A Split Buy-Out is the entire purchase of the note in 2 or more lump sum stages. It usually consists of a lump sum at the closing of the sale and then scheduled lump sum payments at future dates until the sale is complete.
4. Reverse Partial Buy-Out: A reverse partial buy-out is the purchase of a portion of a note, although the investor does not start collecting until a later date.

Now you know the steps of selling your mortgage note, but you may still be left wondering how to sell my real estate note for cash and find the best buyer.

It’s enormously important to gauge different buyers’ offers for your note. After all, the value of a mortgage isn’t static; it can change from day to day alongside fluctuating national interest rates.

On top of that, you should ensure the mortgage note-buying company you work with has certain qualities that will make you feel at ease offloading your note.

1. The first and perhaps most important quality should be trustworthiness. No one wants to become involved with an organization that seems to be trying to scam them out of something, be it money or an opportunity. A good mortgage note-buying company should offer you a quote for your note without trying to get you to sign something first. In this same vein, remember that a reputable mortgage note company will examine the mortgage note itself to determine its value; if a company begins looking at you, the seller, and your own credit history to judge the value of your note, that company is probably not reliable. The buyer’s credit score informed the terms of the note. Your own background should be irrelevant.
2. Another point to keep in mind is that note buyers typically do not buy mortgage notes at full price, or 100 cents on the dollar. Companies incur their own costs in purchasing your note, such as appraising your property and searching its title. They will want to recoup these costs somewhere, and the easiest way is by discounting the price of your mortgage note. However, beware of companies that attempt to lowball you on your note.

In order to maximize value when creating a mortgage note that you plan to sell it would be wise to follow all or most of the following suggestions:

1. Down payment (primary variable): Get a decent down payment at the time of sale. Ten percent is NOT a decent down payment. Get 20% cash down or higher if you plan on selling the note. 
2. Get a Lender’s Title Insurance Policy at the time of sale (do not cut corners here)
3. Record keeping: Make sure you do not take payments in cash. Only accept payments that can be recorded and tracked for payment history purposes during the note sale process. This is a big one when selling a note. 
4. Payment History and Seasoning of Loan (primary variable): In order to receive top dollar for your mortgage loan, at least 6-12 payments must have been collected. We can still buy the loan if there are less than 6 months of payments made, but you may not receive absolute top dollar.
5. Get a personal guarantee (a.k.a. recourse) if the borrower is an entity and not an individual. Getting payments from an individual will pay a higher premium than a corporation or land/family trust.
6. Loan terms and amortization (primary variable)
   1. Interest rate: Keep the rate 2%-4% higher than what banks are charging. If the borrower wants a low bank-type rate, with all due respect, they need to go to a bank.
   2. Amortization/Pay-back period: stretch the payments over time, the less money you will receive when selling a seller-financed loan
   3. Balloon payments: When selling real estate notes, balloon payments are viewed by some investors as a good thing and by others as too risky to buy. With the new regulation that affects balloon payments in seller-financed notes (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act), it is suggested that balloon payments be avoided altogether. If you want to include a balloon payment, you will have to hire a licensed mortgage originator within the state where the property is located. We do not mind balloon payments, as they do not make a huge difference in pricing when we buy mortgage notes.

All mortgage buyers have their own investment appetite, which is decided by the investor’s risk tolerance. The secondary mortgage market does not have a set note purchase criteria that all note investors follow.

Depending on if you are buying performing mortgage notes or non-performing mortgage notes will decide what a mortgage note buyer will consider when buying a real estate note for their portfolio.

On performing notes, most mortgage note buyers are interested in three major items:

1. Down Payment/Equity
2. Credit Score
3. Loan Structure

On non-performing notes, most buyers look for:

1. Current Property (Market) Value
2. Foreclosure Procedures within Property State
3. Borrower’s Last Payment Received/Applied

It all comes down to one major thing for a note buyer – RISK! This is something that a seller should keep in mind when they decide to sell mortgage loans. Risk of non-payment, risk of borrower default, risk, risk, risk. 

Here at AX, our note purchase criteria will also include but not be limited to: the loan’s seasoning (payments received, payments owed), property location/ RE market trends, loan payment records, relationship between borrower and seller, loan’s performance, etc. To begin the note buying process online, click here for a free quote.

When selling a note, the collateral or property must be evaluated for approval. The primary purpose of this evaluation is to get clear on the condition and occupancy of the property in question. The secondary purpose is to get a true Loan to Value ratio percentage which is paramount in determining the security of the note as far as equity in the property. The evaluation is conducted by a licensed appraiser and is usually just an exterior valuation. The appraiser does not need to go on or into the property to complete the report.

Amerinote process is straightforward and simple:

1. Request a free quote 
2. Accept the offer
3. Provide the items needed to complete the sale (only about 5 to 7 items)
4. We underwrite and approve (about 1.5 to 2 weeks)
5. Fund your transaction via a title company or attorney of your choice

When selling a note on the secondary market there two are perspectives that need to be addressed. The first is the perspective of the borrower, or the party making the mortgage payment. The second is the perspective of the new lender that is going to be receiving the monthly payments. Just to be clear, the borrower owns the property, and the lender owns the mortgage debt. 

Let’s explore both.

The Loan Sale
First things first. A lender loans money to a borrower to finance a property. Then the borrower has to make mortgage payments to the lender. The original lender decides to sell the loan to another lender for cash. The loan is sold from one lender to another. A mortgage or deed of trust assignment (depending on the state) is filed within public records and money exchanges hands between the original lender and new lender. The loan sale is complete, and the original lender is out of the picture. The new lender takes over.

The New Lender’s Perspective
The new lender will typically send an “Introduction Letter” in the mail to the borrower letting them know that their debt has been sold. It will address that the borrower should start making payments to the new lender (where, when, and how). 

The Borrower’s Perspective
The borrower receives the “Introduction Letter” from the new lender. Now the borrower may be panicking, and they are saying to themselves “the lender is selling my mortgage and the terms are going to drastically change”. 

When a loan is sold from one lender to another, nothing changes for the borrower whatsoever other than where and how the borrower makes the mortgage payment. The new lender must adhere to the same exact terms and language in the original mortgage contract that was agreed upon. No lender can come in and change anything without all parties agreeing to the change. Nor, is that desired by the new lender. A lender usually buys a mortgage note because they typically are looking to simply collect the monthly payment as-is, because they like the loan structure. 

If you have sold your residential or commercial property and you or your client owner-financed the mortgage and you’re wondering how to sell mortgage notes, AX can offer a sound and painless exit strategy if you’re tired of acting as the bank.

AX is the fastest growing residential and commercial mortgage note buyer in the country today. We can fund the purchase of your mortgage note in as little as 15 business days. When it comes to selling a mortgage note on the secondary mortgage market, the chances of successfully reaching your financial goals and securing the highest payout become greatly increased when using the right direct mortgage note buyers and funding source. As one of the fastest-growing mortgage note buying companies, we pride ourselves on the absolute fastest turnaround to receiving cash for your mortgage note and the most aggressive offers on your asset.

If you have an existing promissory mortgage note that you want to sell now, simply contact us to get started today:

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