Help with terms on "owner carry" or "owner financing"

Help with terms on "owner carry" or "owner financing"

Rental Property Investor · Stoner, CO · Member since 2016 · 13 posts · 9 votes

I'm about to make an offer on a raw land purchase, which the owner will carry. What would you suggest for terms? 

Some context: There is a buyer's agent, and a seller's agent. The owner purchased the property in the early 2000s for ~$200,000 without the help of an agent and then learned a few "prohibitive details" about improvements that would need to be made to the property (cost to run power, drill a well, road work, etc.) They backed off their plan to short plat it into 3 parcels; meanwhile, their kids moved out of the area and suddenly they didn't have a compelling reason to keep/develop the property. They aren't in a hurry to sell, don't need the money, yet want to make as much of their money back as possible. The land has been on the market for 2 years, with no known offers. Asking price= $139,000. 

Here's my starting point: $125,000 at 5% interest, 10% down, 20-year note, no balloon payment, and no pre-payment penalties.

I realize that location, market, size of the property, improvements, monthly payment limitations, etc. all play into the offer and that is too much detail for here, so perhaps I could use the most coaching on what principles to follow and whether my starting point seems reasonable, insultingly low, or if I should get more aggressive.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks in advance!

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Denver, CO · Member since 2015 · 251 posts · 123 votes
9y

Well.....what is your exit strategy? What do you plan to do with the property once you have acquired it and how will you make a profit?

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  • Denver, CO · Member since 2015 · 251 posts · 123 votes
    9y

    Well.....what is your exit strategy? What do you plan to do with the property once you have acquired it and how will you make a profit?

  • Rental Property Investor · Stoner, CO · Member since 2016 · 13 posts · 9 votes
    9y

    It's a buy and hold, with a twist on the BRRR strategy: instead of rehab-ing (because it's raw land)-infrastructure first, then two tiny houses are going on the property for rental income. The goal is to add 1-2 small cabins or yurts per year for a mix of short- and long-term rentals, with potential to develop a small RV park or tiny house village. If things go awry, it can always remain my principal residence.

  • Real Estate Professional · Romeoville, IL · Member since 2016 · 19 posts · 2 votes
    9y

    Hi, Erica I have a couple questions how much would the property taxes be? Are you sure that the land is not overvalued? If you looked up lots of land in that same are with a similar size How much are they selling for? Did they overpay for the property? Thanks for posting. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Stoner, CO · Member since 2016 · 13 posts · 9 votes
    9y

    And thanks for your help and valuable questions! The land price is consistent with comps in the area, and yes, the current owner did overpay for the property and they freely admit this. Sounds like it was an emotional, not well-thought-out purchase.

    Taxes would be under $1000/year, but I expect them to rise if permanent structures are built. Part of the flexibility in all this is I view PITI + improvements to the property as cost of living for my partner and myself, so all income generated will be bonus.

  • Real Estate Investor · Burlington, VT · Member since 2010 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Erica France Yes, as long as you're comfortable with owning the land and the work involved, I think those are good terms ($125,000 at 5% interest, 10% down, 20-year note, no balloon payment, and no pre-payment penalties).

     Last quote I got for raw land from a local bank was 50% down and 8% interest, 15 year term.

    Make sure you use a good attorney to draw everything up.

    Good luck!

    - Tom

  • Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    9y

    Has the seller offer to finance the purchase.

  • Rental Property Investor · Stoner, CO · Member since 2016 · 13 posts · 9 votes
    9y

    @Tom S. Thanks, and let's see if I can do better than what the local bank offered you!

    @Thomas S. Yes, those details are in my original post in this thread.

  • Investor · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Member since 2016 · 551 posts · 218 votes
    9y

    I don't think that offer is insulting at all. I'd start there and see where it goes from there.

    Me personally would start with an even lower price, but thats just me. 

  • Investor · Corpus Christi, TX · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Erica France

    Have you confirmed your intended use is permitted by zoning or deed restrictions?  Have you confirmed costs of add utilities for multiple units, etc?  

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