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Commercial Mortgage Lenders and Commercial Mortgage Brokers, a Partnership
In today’s economic environment its difficult for commercial mortgage lenders to find a good commercial mortgage broker. Given the economic recession and the reduced commercial mortgage activity in the real estate capital markets, commercial mortgage brokers are under pressure to generate commission income and may not be advising their client as objectively as in the go-go days. Furthermore, it is typically taking 3 to 4 times as long to close a transaction as compared to before the recession began. These characteristics of today’s commercial loan market make it important for a borrower to do their homework prior to engaging a broker.Commercial lenders rely on skilled brokers to carefully analyzes the transaction and surveys the capital markets for a mortgage or financing that best meets the client’s needs, and processes and closes the deal. Both commercial mortgage lenders as well as business owners can have a mortgage broker identify which lenders are active in the market, and desired loan product, and negotiate on the lenders and borrowers behalf.It’s important to the capital providers for all their finance brokers they work with to maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethics in their business practices and maintain a steady analytical approach and keen market observation. Experience and relationships in the lending market are important aspects of a solid partnership between commercial loan brokers and lenders. A competent loan broker is well skilled to handle the needs of the real estate borrowers and commercial lenders, and begins by carefully analyzing the client’s needs and the characteristics of each transaction. They underwrites and package a financing request for the lender and confer with the borrower regarding its content and financing request. Strong commercial brokers are often able to structure a creative solution derived from their extensive knowledge of the capital markets. Oftentimes a commercial loan lender is used to structuring a loan in a certain way. A proficient finance broker is able to help both parties arrive at a structure which works best for both the borrower and commercial mortgage lender.Capital providers offer cutting edge terms to skilled brokers with a prove track record of success and assign senior level professionals, oftentimes the decision-maker, to work with the broker because of their large business flow and technical expertise. Some brokers can work quickly and place a transaction within hours if necessary, and can close institutionally priced loans in little as eight business days and ‘hard money’ loans in two days.
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Tagged Commercial Loans, Credit, Credit Tips, Currency Trading, Finance, Leases Leasing, Loans, Personal Finance, Personal Loans, Student Loans
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Small Commercial Mortgages – Current Options
Borrowers with small commercial mortgage requests have limited options as many banks, lenders and commercial mortgage brokers will not consider working on or reviewing these smaller deals. The primary issue is that there just isn’t enough money in them to make it worthwhile for these professionals. Also, many smaller commercial mortgages turn out to be more difficult to get done and can be more work than larger commercial loan request, with the bigger pay day.So if you’re a borrower with a loan amount less than $500,000 what are your options? Number one, is get ready to play “ball”. Most banks, if they’re going to compete over a $300,000 commercial mortgage, for example, will want spin off business. For example they will certainly want deposits both in the form of checking and saving accounts. It’s not uncommon for them to ask for personal checking and savings as well. And the bank will be very interested in providing benefits to your employees, like insurance and 401k plans among other spin offs type products.You may have other options however besides just the local bank. And, their commercial mortgage options maybe undesirable as they often only offer 5 year fixed with 20 year amortization type loan structures. For example, there are still banks and lenders out there with non depository set ups that are only interested in writing your commercial mortgage. Again most of these groups only look at deals greater than $500,000 but there are roughly 10, maybe 20 national banks that want your smaller commercial mortgage. Some will go down to $200,000 a few even lower.The key here is to know where to look and where to find these banks that are actively marketing towards these lower loan amounts. And you want to make sure the contact person you’re working with is interested in doing the deal as well. If not, the process will be dragged out as your request will be ignored and neglected at the bottom of the “pile.”It’s interesting to note though that there are still some creative options out there for these smaller loan requests. For example we work with a bank that has a program geared towards loans under $500,000 and that they pay for all of the third party reports to do the loan.
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Tagged Commercial Loans, Credit, Credit Tips, Currency Trading, Finance, Leases Leasing, Loans, Personal Finance, Personal Loans, Student Loans
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Health Reform Changes Affecting Small Business
“Don’t tax him. Don’t tax me. Tax the guy behind the tree”- attributed to Former Congressmen RostenkowskiOwners of small businesses and their workers could be severely impacted by the recently enacted health reform legislation. Some key provisions related to tax credits, new excise taxes, penalties, and some higher taxes, all of which depend on a number of factors such as number of full time employees in the business, average incomes of the employees etc. This article will provide you an overview of its significance to self employed taxpayers who have less than ten full time employees.Generally, the present Obama administration and Congress have noted that the new health reform proposals will provide better insurance for small businesses at a lower cost, which will create more jobs. However, there is also a lot of strongly negative feelings among the business community. Let me present some of the provisions so that you can judge for yourself and plan accordingly.Benefits to small businesses: Despite the negative press about the law, there really are some positive changes that will affect small businesses.
Small Business Exchanges: Small business will be able to pool their resources in state exchanges called “Shop exchanges” in order to buy insurance. Normally these exchanges apply to companies who have less than 100 employees by 2014;however, states have the option to limit access to these exchanges for companies of under 50 full time employees. Premium expectations are expected to reduce overall insurance costs by 1-4% per year for each employee, which is a very good provision under this plan.
Tax Credits for certain small employers who provide insurance. Generally, if you have fewer than 50 full-time employees, you don’t have to provide health insurance for your workers. However, if you do provide insurance, you might be eligible for a yummy tax credit, which is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your taxes.
To be eligible for this credit, you have to have less than 25 full-time employees whose annual average earnings (not counting the owner) of no more than $50,000. For companies of 10 or fewer employees, you would be eligible for a 35% tax credit (which goes up to 50% after 2013) in later years, if your average full time equivalent wages are less than $25,000 per year. This credit begins in 2010 and goes till 2014. There is a second phase of the credit that small business would get up to 2016. Thus, qualifying small businesses can get this credit for up to six years.Sandy’s elaboration: This credit sounds great, but having it apply to small businesses (of no more than 10 full-time workers) and who average under $25,000 of wages will substantially reduce its applicability to most businesses. Estimates are that this will benefit about 7% of self employed businesses.
No more lifetime caps: For most health insurance, there is a $2,000,000 lifetime cap for usage. Starting immediately, these caps are to be removed. This could allow coverage for a number of small business folks who might have exceeded the cap.
No pre-existing conditions: starting in 2014, there will not be any pre-existing conditions. Thus, even if you have a major medical problem, you will be guaranteed to get health insurance. This is a great provision that will allow coverage for those small business folks and their employees who might not have been able to get insurance coverage.
Dependent children can be kept on parent’s insurance through age 26: Normally, kids who turn age 21 have to get their own insurance and can’t be kept on their parent’s insurance. This will be changed so that dependent children who are under age 27 can be kept on the parent’s insurance. This becomes effective on March 30, 2010. I should note that although dependents under age 27 can be added to the parent’s insurance e policy, there is no requirement that an employer add them to the policy.
Small Businesses are exempt from penalties for failing to provide health insurance: Generally only companies that have 50 or more full-time employees need to provide health insurance coverage or face penalties. However, since small businesses of under 50 full-time employees don’t need to provide any coverage, they are exempt from these “Pay or Play” penalties.
Sandy’s elaboration: If you have a business with 50 more more full-time employees, you are indeed required to provide health insurance.As you can see, there are some good provisions for both the business owner and for small businesses. Thus, why the strongly, negative comments from the business community? The reason is that there are a lot of congressional “gotchas” that affect everyone.Problems with the healh reform legislation
New taxes: There are a number of new taxes and costs that will beef up the overall insurance costs for small businesses. For example, there is an income tax increase starting in 2010 of between 5%-10% for those who make over $200,000 of adjusted gross income. In addition, Medicare has been increased for everyone by.9% for all employees and for the owner who make over $200,000 of adjusted gross income and is single. Married taxpayers filing joint returns have to make of $250,000 of adjusted gross earnings in order for this.9% Medicare surcharge to kick in. This may not sound like a lot, but, for someone earning $300,000 in salary, this could result in a $900 increase in Medicare taxes for each employee in that income bracket regardless of profitability of the business! In addition, if the adjusted gross income of the worker or the owner is over $200,000 ( for single taxpayers) or over $25,,000 (for married filing joint taxpayers), there will be a 3.8% Medicare surcharge on all of their interest, dividends, rents and royalties. This will also apply to dividends from S Corporations. So much for saving costs!
New excise taxes: In order to help pay for this new law, there are some additional excise taxes on many medical devices that ordinarily aren’t purchased by most people. Thus, there will be no excise taxes on glasses, hearing aids, and contact lenses. Most other devices, however, will probably have the excise taxes apply to them. In addition, there will be additional taxes on the health insurance companies, some insurance plans and pharmaceutical companies. You might wonder how these additional taxes apply to self employed taxpayers. The reason is that these additional costs will be passed through to everyone including the self employed.
Additional 40% excise tax on Cadillac health insurance: The new law places a whopping 40% excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health coverage, often referred to as “Cadillac” health plans. This tax applies to premiums that exceed $10,200 for single coverage and those that exceed $27,500 for family coverage. There are some increased thresholds for retired taxpayers who are age 55 and older and for those engaged in “high risk occupations.” Thus, if you want top notch expensive insurance coverage, you will pay a lot more to get it. This even assumes that an insurance company will even offer it at all.
Increased paperwork: Generally those who do provide insurance through the exchange for their workers will need to fill out some potentially new paperwork showing the name of the employee, the amount of premium paid the contribution by the employee, notification to the employee about the coverage etc.
Midsize to large companies much provide health insurance: If you have a company consisting of 50 or more full- time employees (part time will be counted on a fractional basis depending on their hours), you are required to provide medical insurance or face big penalties. However, this is required regardless of profitability. Think about this. This could result in a number of unprofitable or marginally profitable companies going broke, which could actually substantially reduce jobs. In addition, this would spur either the hiring of more part time at the cost of reducing the number of full time employees or increase the sucking sound of companies going to places like China or India. The result of all this would mean a lot less jobs.
Bottom Line: Although there are some great provisions in the new law such as waiving pre-existing conditions and lifetime benefit caps, the increased taxes and costs incurred for most small businesses will probably exceed the decrease in health premiums resulting in an overall increase in total health costs and taxes to self employed businesses. Thus, I don’t see any job creation resulting from this law. In fact, it may well cost a lot of jobs.P.S. Check out my free lesson on “How to write off all your medical expenses!” Free Lesson http://www.PocketbookProfessor.comBy Sandy Botkin CPA. Esq