Evaluating Owner Financing Situation

Evaluating Owner Financing Situation

Member since 2022 · 4 posts · 0 votes

Hi all - my business partner and I have found a nice property we are interested in and are trying to decide between a conventional 30 year through our lender, or the owner financing offered by the owner, which is as follows: Price is $280k, would need to put 30% down and it would be amortized over 15 years at 1% below market rate. My realtor suggested offering it amortized over 30 years with a 15 year balloon, as that what she sees her other investors doing: focus on the cash flow, then when the 15 years is up, do a cash out refi, exchange, or sell to move into something bigger or better. We hadn’t considered the idea of a balloon when starting our investing journey and we’re happy to buy, hold, rent, and let it appreciate while we pay down the 30 year mortgage. My question is what are your experiences with any similar situations, are there any other points we should consider about the balloon vs the conventional, and what would you do if it was you? Appreciate any feedback or thoughts you might have!

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Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
Moderator
Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Conor Neville:

Hi all - my business partner and I have found a nice property we are interested in and are trying to decide between a conventional 30 year through our lender, or the owner financing offered by the owner, which is as follows: Price is $280k, would need to put 30% down and it would be amortized over 15 years at 1% below market rate. My realtor suggested offering it amortized over 30 years with a 15 year balloon, as that what she sees her other investors doing: focus on the cash flow, then when the 15 years is up, do a cash out refi, exchange, or sell to move into something bigger or better. We hadn’t considered the idea of a balloon when starting our investing journey and we’re happy to buy, hold, rent, and let it appreciate while we pay down the 30 year mortgage. My question is what are your experiences with any similar situations, are there any other points we should consider about the balloon vs the conventional, and what would you do if it was you? Appreciate any feedback or thoughts you might have!


If you can get conventional financing that is 100% the way to go almost everytime. People will talk about getting seller financing and better rates etc., but most sellers have no clue how to manage being a lender. What are you going to do when your tax forms are late at the end of the year, what happens if the lender dies, disappears etc. You may think its great because payments are getting returned - but then you realize you cannot get the mortgage off title and satisfy it if you ever go to refinance.

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  • Nicholas L.Pro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    2y

    @Conor Neville

    the whole point in an owner financing situation is to put less down than conventional

    30% would make no sense

    good luck

  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    2y
    Quote from @Conor Neville:

    Hi all - my business partner and I have found a nice property we are interested in and are trying to decide between a conventional 30 year through our lender, or the owner financing offered by the owner, which is as follows: Price is $280k, would need to put 30% down and it would be amortized over 15 years at 1% below market rate. My realtor suggested offering it amortized over 30 years with a 15 year balloon, as that what she sees her other investors doing: focus on the cash flow, then when the 15 years is up, do a cash out refi, exchange, or sell to move into something bigger or better. We hadn’t considered the idea of a balloon when starting our investing journey and we’re happy to buy, hold, rent, and let it appreciate while we pay down the 30 year mortgage. My question is what are your experiences with any similar situations, are there any other points we should consider about the balloon vs the conventional, and what would you do if it was you? Appreciate any feedback or thoughts you might have!


    If you can get conventional financing that is 100% the way to go almost everytime. People will talk about getting seller financing and better rates etc., but most sellers have no clue how to manage being a lender. What are you going to do when your tax forms are late at the end of the year, what happens if the lender dies, disappears etc. You may think its great because payments are getting returned - but then you realize you cannot get the mortgage off title and satisfy it if you ever go to refinance.

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  • Member since 2022 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Chris Seveney:
    Quote from @Conor Neville:

    Hi all - my business partner and I have found a nice property we are interested in and are trying to decide between a conventional 30 year through our lender, or the owner financing offered by the owner, which is as follows: Price is $280k, would need to put 30% down and it would be amortized over 15 years at 1% below market rate. My realtor suggested offering it amortized over 30 years with a 15 year balloon, as that what she sees her other investors doing: focus on the cash flow, then when the 15 years is up, do a cash out refi, exchange, or sell to move into something bigger or better. We hadn’t considered the idea of a balloon when starting our investing journey and we’re happy to buy, hold, rent, and let it appreciate while we pay down the 30 year mortgage. My question is what are your experiences with any similar situations, are there any other points we should consider about the balloon vs the conventional, and what would you do if it was you? Appreciate any feedback or thoughts you might have!


    If you can get conventional financing that is 100% the way to go almost everytime. People will talk about getting seller financing and better rates etc., but most sellers have no clue how to manage being a lender. What are you going to do when your tax forms are late at the end of the year, what happens if the lender dies, disappears etc. You may think its great because payments are getting returned - but then you realize you cannot get the mortgage off title and satisfy it if you ever go to refinance.

    Thanks Chris! So the current owner is a large investment group that bought a lot of property last year and has decided to diversify now, so while I absolutely get your hesitancy about the possible lender issues, I am not as worried about that as wondering about the terms of the loan itself. 
  • Benjamin AakerPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Brandon, SD · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    Don't let the balloon deter you. 15 years is a long time and many loans I have are 5 year balloons. This is more typical in the commercial loan world I'm in. As you grow, more banks will want this from you. 

  • New to Real Estate · Miami, FL · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 473 votes
    2y

    Hi Conor,

    In your situation, owner financing with a 1% lower interest rate and a 30-year amortization with a 15-year balloon could offer better cash flow now. This is appealing for short-to-medium term gains, especially if you’re confident in your ability to refinance or sell in 15 years. However, this comes with the risk that market conditions or interest rates could change, making refinancing or selling more challenging at that time.

    On the other hand, a conventional 30-year mortgage offers long-term stability and predictability. While the interest rate might be higher, you eliminate the risk of needing to refinance or sell later, making it a safer option if your goal is to hold the property long-term without any financial uncertainty.

    If maximizing cash flow now is a priority and you're comfortable managing the future refinancing risk, owner financing with a balloon could be the better choice. But if you prefer stability and want to minimize future risk, the conventional loan provides more certainty.

    Ultimately, the decision depends on your cash flow needs, risk tolerance, and long-term strategy. 

    Let me know if you’d like help analyzing the financing options or structuring the deal!

    Best,

    Drago

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