Learn The Easy Way To Buy Commercial Properties...Become A Commercial Mortgage Broker

What is the easiest way to learn how to buy commercial properties? By becoming a Commercial Mortgage Broker! Most people ask me what should I do, so that I can buy my first commercial property? It seems so simple to me…learn the rules of the game!

So you ask, what benefit do I gain by becoming a commercial mortgage broker?

Benefit #1 – Develop Relationships With Lenders

Unless you have a ton of money, you will have to borrow money in order to buy commercial properties. Well what if you have a good working relationship with a lender? Do you think you will have a better chance of getting your loan approved? Yes! And not because you’re breaking some rule or getting special treatment. It is because you would have worked with that lender. You will know exactly what property types they will lend on and at what terms. You will know what criteria they are looking for and what will “kill a deal”. Because your clients will have different needs, you will need to know different programs. For instance, I have a lender that specializes in loans for apartments. I know that this lender has a program that will loan 90% LTV for borrowers with good credit on loan amounts less than $1,000,000. This same program allows unlimited cash out apartment refinances. Now I learned about this program to help a client obtain a Dallas apartment building. But do you think I could use this same program for my personal acquisitions? Do you think I have a good idea of the time involved in closing a loan with this particular lender?

Also, as a result of working with borrowers, you will learn what properties you DON’T want to own! You are learning through the school of hard knocks but you aren’t the one getting knocked!

Benefit #2 – Develop Relationships With Other Professionals

Just imagine if you have contacts in the commercial appraisal industry, contacts with commercial realtors and contacts with commercial property managers. Do you think this will help or hurt you when acquiring your own portfolio? If you don’t know the answer, then let me tell you, that it will help you tremendously. It helps you learn how to judge the good ones from the bad ones. And these relationships are not restricted to your home town! You will develop a network across the country. The real “players” in the game of commercial property ownership (think Donald Trump) own properties across the U.S. Why? Because you go where the income property is…not waiting for the property to come to your home town.

Benefit #3 – Earn The Money To Buy Commercial Properties

Of course, nobody works for free. If you’re providing a valuable service to clients by getting the best financing for their projects, then you deserve a fee. Commercial Mortgage Brokers can earn anywhere from 0.5 points to 3 points. Your fee is based on the complexity of the loan and the level of services you are providing. As an example, let’s say you are helping a client obtain a loan for $1,000,000 for a 20 unit Atlanta apartment building. With your help, your client is able to get 90% financing. Your fee for this service is 2 points. At closing, you will be paid $20,000. Not bad. Now let’s raise the bar. You have a client that wants to purchase a Phoenix shopping center for $10,000,000. He has poor credit but you’re able to overcome this with your lender. Your fee for your services is 2 points. At closing, you will be paid $200,000! That is a nice payday! Now you’re able to build your own portfolio of commercial properties with your earnings!

So How Do You Become A Commercial Mortgage Broker

Your first task is to receive TRAINING as a commercial mortgage broker. This field is completely different from that of a residential mortgage broker. The best training I’ve found and that I’ve personally used is the Virtual Money Broker Commercial Financing System. This system provides training material, audios, tutorial videos...even lenders!

After you have your training, it is time to NETWORK AND ADVERTISE your services. Join your local REIA and other organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, to let people know that you are a commercial mortgage broker. Pass out your business cards and investigate other forms of advertising. One segment that you don’t want to overlook is your ONLINE market. How else can someone who wants to buy a Walgreens in Raleigh, North Carolina find you if you live in St. Louis, Missouri? They find you on the internet, of course. In this day and age, it is quite simple and inexpensive to have your own website. The purpose of your website is to tell the whole world what your services are and to generate business. The absolute best web hosting service for small businesses is Ken Evoy’s Site Build It! Site Build It definitely OVERdelivers as far as any web hosting service.

What to do if you're having a hard time closing a loan or you have a loan that you haven't done before? Consider CO-BROKERING with another a broker. These relationships are truely a win-win! You bring the borrower and the other broker brings the lender. Are you interested in co-brokering with another broker? Learn more here.

You are now on your way to building a successful Commercial Mortgage business, as well as increasing your own portfolio of properties!

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