Buy Real Estate With Zero Down

How do you buy real estate with zero down? Offer a high enough price and make sure the seller gets some cash at closing (not yours, of course). Repeat this process enough and someone will say yes to your offer eventually. But just getting real estate without spending your own cash isn't all you want to accomplish. It's also important to have a deal that makes sense.

That part is often glossed over by many who promote zero-down ways to buy real estate. For example, if you are buying a home for yourself, who cares if you get in with zero down if you pay too much or can't afford the payments? And when investing in real estate, you want something with cash flow or that can be sold for a profit soon. Now, with those criteria in mind, here are a few ways to buy real estate without using your own cash.

Zero Down - Starting With Land

The easiest type of real estate to buy with none of your own cash is small lots or raw land. It's common for sellers to sell these properties with a small down payment, which you can borrow, making these zero-down deals. However, be aware that one of the reasons they sell this way is to get more for the land. For example, I once bought a piece of land for cash and resold it in weeks for 30% more, because many buyers could afford my terms: $250 down and $100 per month. Be sure that you're not paying too much for the property.

On the other hand, "too much" isn't necessarily determined by market value. What you will do with the property is what matters. Suppose, for example, you have no other way to buy a small lot, and as a result of the easy terms offered by the seller you pay $13,000 for a lot worth just $10,000. Is it too much? It isn't if you'll later put a modular on it and make a $22,000 profit selling the home and land.

Sellers usually want something at closing, even if it's only $2,000 down on that $13,000 lot. As mentioned above, you can still make these zero-down deals by borrowing for the down payment. You can also borrow the whole amount. Suppose in the deal above you got the lot for $10,000 by paying cash, which you borrowed on your credit cards. You would own the lot without a lien, so you might be able to finance 100% of the other costs. Even if you paid 18% on the cards and it took a year to complete the deal, the extra interest ($1,800) would still only reduce your profit to $20,200.

100% Financing

With a good credit score, you might still be able to get a 100% mortgage loan. Although they're getting less common now (late 2007), I still see them occasionally advertised. Otherwise, you might find a lender who will loan 90% and still let the seller finance the other 10% on a second mortgage, again meaning none of your own cash is needed.

When investing in real estate, you can get 100% financing from a "hard money" lender. They charge high fees and high interest, but the idea is that you use them for high-profit deals that make it worthwhile. You can find other investors to put up the money for the down payment and repair costs on a fixer upper project, if you have a deal that makes sense. Pay them a high interest rate or a share of the profits.

Buy Real Estate From Motivated Sellers

Stick to properties that have highly motivated sellers, and you can get more creative. A seller might sell his $90,000 house for only $3,000 down if you offer him $95,000 and a good interest rate, for example. Borrow the $3,000 - or even a little more to cover closing costs - to make this a zero-down deal.

Owners have taken cars or other pieces of property as a down payment on their properties. Some may let you buy with two mortgage notes, one for 20% and the other for 80%, one of which they'll immediately sell to get the cash they want. (This technique is not as complicated as it might sound.) The bottom line is that to buy real estate with zero down, you have to find a way to get the seller (and possibly the lender) what he needs - without using your own money. Get creative!

Houses Under Fifty Thousand | Buy Real Estate With Zero Down