Also known as seller financing, owner financing is growing in popularity in today’s economy. With the credit markets slowing down and people finding it harder and harder to borrow, owner financing is looking better and better as an alternative to traditional financing. Owner financing is when the seller of the property basically agrees to take payments rather than a lump sum. Here are a few things that need to happen in order for the owner to be able to finance your deal:

The owner needs to have considerable equity in the property. The owner will usually have their own mortgage they will need to pay back in full when they sell the property to you. If they don’t have a whole lot of equity, they usually can’t offer to finance a whole lot of the deal. The best scenario is an older owner that is close to retirement. Odds are that they have a good amount of equity or even own the property free and clear. They are looking to retire and just want a steady cash flow rather than a lump sum when they sell the place. The owner should have a desire to accept owner financing. If the seller wants to roll the funds over into another property or needs the lump sum of cash for one reason or another, they probably won’t want to take on very much seller financing. The terms need to be right for both parties. The interest rate, duration and repayment structure need to be acceptable for both parties. This usually requires a good deal of negotiation.

If you have all your ducks in a row and seller financing seems like it might be a possibility, here are some of the benefits to consider if you are thinking about locking in owner financing:

You might not have to get traditional financing. This depends on how much the owner is willing to finance. If they are willing to finance just a little bit, this might help you lower your down payment or help you qualify for traditional financing, but won’t completely eliminate traditional financing unless you pay the remaining amount due as a down payment. You could get more flexible terms than you would on a standard mortgage. You have the power of negotiating so that both the buyer and the seller walk away with a fair deal. You typically can’t do this with a traditional bank. The seller is still somewhat on the hook for the property. You know that you aren’t getting totally ripped off, because the seller still hasn’t received all their money. There is a possibility that you could pay a little bit of a premium for the deal. If they end up totally screwing you, and the property completely falls apart in a few years and you let it fall into foreclosure, the seller only stands to get the property back. The seller isn’t going to want to lend to you using a bum property as collateral.

If owner financing seems like it would work for you, there is no reason to start looking for properties for sale with owner financing. Even if a property isn’t advertised as offering owner financing, you may be able to talk with any seller and see if they are willing to negotiate on terms.

For a variety reasons, including economic, social, and technological, starting a home business is more popular than ever with entrepreneurs in the USA. Along with the traditional flexibility and lower costs a home business can offer, the rise of the personal computer and the Internet in particular have made a running a successful small business from home more viable and profitable than ever. 

In this article you will find a list of some the top reasons to consider starting a small home based business or franchise opportunity. This includes info about some of the advantages that a home business can offer an entrepreneur such as low overhead, tax deductions, a better lifestyle, and more. 

Low Overhead: One of the greatest advantages of starting a home business is you have no expensive monthly rent or lease expense potentially saving you tens of thousands of dollars every year. Also with no commute to deal with everyday, you can also save money on gas and travel expenses. With these reduced expenses, operating a business from home can provide a less expensive and more profitable way to start and run a small business and should ultimately help increase your chances of success. 

Enviable Lifestyle: A home business can give you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy your life more fully. This includes being able to spend more time with your loved ones, pursue other interests, and the ability to set your own schedule. Working form home also removes the hassle and anxiety of having to commute to an office or job site everyday. 

Take Control: The ability to control your own destiny and eliminate the daily stress and hassles of dealing with a boss or co-workers can be a liberating experience for many fledgling entrepreneurs. Many people who start a home business also invariably report that their productively level has soared because of the flexibility working from home can offer. Not to mention the extra benefit of the elimination of the typical time wasting distractions commonly found at the average workplace.

 Mobility: One of the most unique and attractive advantages a home business can offer an individual is the ability to live and work in the geographical area of their choice. As long as your business and services aren’t tied to a specific market that requires you’re personal and physical presence, you can live and work anywhere your heart desires. And if you decide to retire or start a new venture someday, established home based businesses are also fairly easy to sell for the very same reasons. 

Tax Advantages: There are a number of legitimate tax deductions available to home based business owners that can potentially save you thousands of dollars a year on your tax bill. This provides the obvious benefit of being able to put more money in your pocket. Note: Always consult with an accountant or financial adviser for more details and advice about the tax advantages of starting a home business. 

Personal Satisfaction: Starting and operating a business from home can be not only more profitable income wise, but it can also provide you with a sense of personal accomplishment and freedom to control your own destiny that working for a company or corporation just cant offer these days.