The Note Brokering blog

Articles on selling, buying and brokering private notes, written over ten years in the business.

10 Questions to Ask Before You Invest in a Real Estate DealMay 2017
Ten questions that show how a note seller, broker or fund manager thinks, what they assume and what happens to your money if the deal goes wrong.
How to Read an Appraisal Report When You Hold a NoteNovember 2016
The property is your safety net. How to read an appraisal report, what to check, and the red flags that matter for a note.
The Foreclosure Process: What a Note Holder Needs to KnowNovember 2016
How foreclosure works when you hold the note: judicial vs non-judicial, the general steps, and what to do first.
What Actually Drives the Yield on a Note You BuyJanuary 2016
The yield on a note comes from the price you pay for its payments. A worked example of the levers that move it, and the risks that work…
How to Structure a Seller-Financed Note So It Holds Its ValueAugust 2015
Structure a seller-financed note as if a stranger will buy it one day. Seven rules that protect its value, plus a quick checklist.
The Advantages of Seller Financing, and the DownsidesJune 2015
Seller financing can bring more buyers, a stronger price and interest income. Here is the trade-off, with a worked example.
Where to Learn Note Investing: Five Kinds of ResourcesApril 2015
Books, forums, webinars, mentors and a careful first deal each teach something different. Here is what each is good for and where it falls short.
When a Seller-Financed Deal Goes Wrong: Fixing It With a New NoteJanuary 2015
A sale-leaseback unravels when an unrecorded contract for deed turns up. How a new, properly recorded note repaired it, and what to check so it does not happen…
How Mobile Home Notes Work for InvestorsJanuary 2015
Mobile home notes have small balances and higher rates, but weaker collateral. How they are secured, how they are priced and what to check before you buy.
Brokering Notes vs Holding Them: Two Different PathsJanuary 2015
Brokering pays for your time and stops when you stop. Holding notes can keep paying, but only with capital at risk. How the two paths compare.