The library

Creative finance, in plain English.

Seller financing, DSCR loans, balloon notes, and the tax rules behind them. Short, specific, and written by the people who structure and paper these deals every week.

What is seller financing?

Seller financing explained: how owner-carried notes work, why free-and-clear sellers can offer them, typical terms, and the legal rules that apply.

Seller financing vs subject-to: what's the difference?

Seller financing and subject-to are opposite halves of creative finance. Compare equity profile, due-on-sale risk, legality, and when each structure fits.

What is a DSCR loan?

DSCR loans qualify rental properties on their rent, not the borrower's income. How the debt service coverage ratio works, what lenders look for, and when to use one.

What is a balloon payment?

A balloon payment is the lump-sum payoff due when a note matures before it fully amortizes. Why seller-financed notes use balloons and how buyers plan the exit.

Installment sale taxes: how Section 453 helps sellers who carry

How an installment sale under IRS Section 453 spreads capital gains across years of payments, and why it makes seller financing attractive to long-time owners.

Dodd-Frank seller financing rules: when you need a licensed originator

When a seller-financed buyer will live in the property, Dodd-Frank generally requires a licensed loan originator and ability-to-repay compliance. What that means in practice.

How to sell a rental property without a realtor

A step-by-step path to selling a tenant-occupied rental direct to another investor: pricing on rent, finding buyers, closing through title, and when to offer terms.

What is a seller-carried second mortgage?

A seller-carried second sits behind an institutional first mortgage and covers part of the price, cutting the buyer's cash to close. How the hybrid structure works.