Lots of people just don’t have the time that it takes to place a house on the market, organize an open house, interview several different potential buyers, and sort through several different competing offers in order to find the most cost-effective option. Some homeowners have to sell their houses quickly or some might even owe more than the house is worth.
Well, Whats A Good Options For This Group of Sellers
The ‘Subject to’ method of selling a house can be the answer for a lot of homeowners who are short on time. As a homeowner, you’re already going to be making monthly mortgage payments. As part of the ‘Subject to’ method of real estate, your buyer will agree to take on those payments. It’s like passing the torch to a new family, allowing them to pick up where you left off and reducing the involvement of time-consuming middle men.
In some cases, homeowners just aren’t going to have enough buyers in the first place. It makes sense to just transfer over the mortgage payments to the first available buyer, since there aren’t any other options available. Buyers using this strategy see the benefit of fixing up a property or maybe even over paying for the property because they don't have to qualify for their own mortgage.
When to Use the ‘Subject To’ Method
Pursuing the ‘Subject to’ method should not necessarily be any homeowner’s first choice when it comes to making a sale. However, homeowners who might need to sell quickly, or their house might need a fair amount of work before you can put it on the market or even owe more than the house is worth should consider it.
Contrary to popular belief, the ‘Subject to’ method is perfectly legal. This is a method that allows people to get around many of the obstacles in their way, so it’s understandable that people would be suspicious of it. However, real estate agents and experts will actively recommend the ‘Subject to’ method to clients who are in situations where they have very little time and a lot to lose. In every sale of a home in the United State there is a HUD form each party has to sign. This is where the transaction is laid out in detail by the closing attorney. There's actually a line for Subject to on this document - Line 203 - Existing loans taken subject to will be filled in the payoff amount of the current loan.
The ‘Subject to’ method differs from owner financing. In owner financing, it is literally the owner who finances the property instead of the bank. Owner financing is a good option for owners who do own the property but who do not pay mortgages. If both parties have more equity and large loans to deal with, owner financing might also be a better option. However, in cases where the owner doesn’t have a lot of equity, the ‘Subject to’ method is still going to be better.
Why Buyers Choose the ‘Subject to’ Method
For the most part, the ‘Subject to’ method tends to get discussed in terms of how it is going to benefit the seller. Indeed, the seller is the person who is instigating the transaction while the buyer reacts, so it makes sense to see it that way. However, the ‘Subject to’ method does have plenty of clear benefits for the buyer as well.
With the ‘Subject to’ method, it’s like someone just handed them a house with the mortgage payments already in place. The buyer can pay the property off gradually in the manner of all other seasoned homeowners. When you use the ‘Subject to’ method, you’re giving the buyer a shortcut on the road to becoming an experienced and settled homeowner.
The process of buying a home is nearly as stressful as the process of selling a home. When the ‘Subject to’ method works out for both parties, buyers are just able to quickly get the homes that they’ve always wanted. Still, the partnership between the buyer and seller isn’t over when the ‘Subject to’ method is complete. If buyers don’t make the payments just like any other transaction the person on deed of trust will be able to foreclose on the property. Buyers should qualified to handle the mortgage and in most cases investors are a great choice because they own many cash flow properties to be able to afford several of these transactions