Thursday, July 10, 2014

Free and Clear Property

As a real estate investor, I like to look for properties that have the potential for owner financing. Typically, these are properties that are owned free and clear.

If I get owner financing, I am more likely to buy a house and keep it as a rental, rather than flipping it for quick cash. Owner financing gives me more options for an exit strategy.

I also like to look for properties that are right around the median home price in good neighborhoods, and not on a busy arterial. A three-bedroom, two-bath house is the ideal size. These properties are typically in the highest demand from both buyers and renters. Even better if it comes with owner financing.

So taking a quick look at my favorite Seattle zip code of 98115, the very first house I look at is owned free and clear by an owner who lives out of town in Bellingham, WA. It is a tear-down fixer in Ravenna that has been on the market for 43 days.

The next one in Ravenna, a small two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow is underwater on their mortgage. Maybe they will get the $339,000 that they are asking, but it will cost them at the closing table. I also like to make offers on underwater houses, but more so when they are off-market. That is another whole topic for another blog post.

Let's see if we can find any more free and clear properties. These searches take a bit more work and time, but they are worth it!

Yes, here is a sweet three-bedroom, one-bath Maple Leaf home for under $400,000, that was inherited by the current owner.

And here is a three-bedroom, one-bath home in Bryant, also for less than $400,000, free and clear with an out-of-state owner. He has another one in the same neighborhood listed at $535,000.

Here's one in Maple Leaf that was bought at auction for cash less than a year ago, but just over $400,000 in price.

Here's a 3/2 in Wedgwood that was just reduced in price to $470,000.

So six of the 24 properties for sale in 98115 priced under $700,000 are owned free and clear, making the prospect of seller-financing a possibility.

For a complete list of free and clear properties in your favorite Seattle zip code, please message me privately at HomeLandInvestment@gmail.com.

Happy Investing!


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