Mortgage Note Buyers

What Are Mortgage Note Buyers?

Mortgage note buyers are investors, brokers, businesses and institutions that purchase mortgage notes to provide the owner of the mortgage note with a lump sum instead of regular payments. Mortgage notes can be bought on the secondary market. 

When a mortgage note is set up, the initial lender is the owner of the note, and the person agreeing to the loan is the borrower. Once a note owner decides to sell to a note buyer, the buyer becomes the new owner.

When someone sells a mortgage note, the payments from the borrower do not increase or decrease in price. The payments stay level as they are sent to the new note owner. 

There are two main types of note buyers — private and traditional. While the sale process is typically the same, where your money goes is different. 

After securing a mortgage loan for my first home with a well-known financial institution, I felt both anxious and excited about making my initial payments to the lender. However, after a few months of making payments, I received a letter in the mail from my mortgage lender. The letter informed me that my mortgage loan had been transferred to a new lender, one that happened to be a smaller private institution unfamiliar to me. The letter also instructed me to begin sending payments to the address of this new lender.

Confused about the transfer, I called my original lender to inquire why my mortgage loan was being moved. They assured me that my mortgage payments would remain the same, and the only change was in the lender to whom I would be sending my payments. This new lender would now hold my mortgage note. On that day, I learned that mortgage notes can be bought and sold on the markets.

Ebony J. Howard, CPAAccounting, Personal Finance and Income Tax Consultant

Ebony J. Howard is a certified public accountant and freelance consultant based in Atlanta, Georgia. Ebony has a deep knowledge of the financial landscape and a background in accounting, personal finance and income tax planning and preparation.

Private Mortgage Note Buyers

Traditional and private mortgages both include a mortgage note, but private mortgage payments are paid to an individual entity. This differs from traditional mortgage payments, where the borrower pays a bank.

The owner of a private mortgage note can decide to keep the note and receive the monthly payments from the borrower or sell the note to a mortgage note buyer. 

If the owner of the private mortgage note decides to sell it, the amount of money they will receive varies on a few different factors.

Factors that affect your private mortgage note’s worth:

• Credit score of the borrower
• The property’s worth
• The amount and interest rate of the remaining payments
• The length of the mortgage term
• The down payment made on the note

Choosing the Best Mortgage Note Company

Sellers should explore their options to ensure they’re choosing the best mortgage note-buying company. Consider which type of buyer best fits your needs and confirm they’re reputable before starting the selling process. 

If you decide to work with a note broker versus a direct note buyer, the first thing you should do is verify that the note broker is licensed and legitimate. While some states don’t require a special license, many states do require these businesses to obtain certified real estate broker licenses.

Ways To Verify a Mortgage Note Broker’s Credibility 

• The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recommends calling your state securities regulator to confirm that the person or business is licensed. 
• Verify the license by checking your state’s Bureau of Real Estate website. 
• Check to see if the broker has had any disciplinary action taken against them.

Aside from verifying a note broker’s legitimacy through the Bureau of Real Estate, there are other signs of a trustworthy buyer to consider.

Criteria to look for in a mortgage note buying company include:

Trustworthiness

A trustworthy mortgage note buying company will provide you with a quote without asking you to sign something beforehand. If a company asks you to sign something beforehand, it should be seen as a red flag that they may not be trustworthy.

Experience

A mortgage note buyer that has more than a few years of experience purchasing mortgage notes will likely be more knowledgeable about the process and pricing than newer companies.

Accreditations

Although not all mortgage buying companies have accreditations, these can be helpful in identifying whether they have the necessary expertise in purchasing mortgage notes.

Reliability

A reliable company has accessible contact information.

Choosing a mortgage note buying company can be simple when you know what to look for. Look for a company that is responsive and can answer all your questions. 

If the company you’ve chosen to work with isn’t providing you with enough information, explore other options and shop around to find the best mortgage note buyer for your needs.

How Do I Sell My Mortgage Note?

The first step in selling your mortgage note is to determine if you want a full purchase buyout or a partial purchase. If you plan on a partial purchase, make sure the buyer you’re considering accepts partial purchases. 

Five steps can simplify the process and help guarantee you’re receiving a fair quote. 

5 Steps To Sell a Mortgage Note 

1. Gather the necessary information from your mortgage note and familiarize yourself with the details, such as the amount, length of time and interest rate.
2. Research multiple mortgage note buyers and verify their licenses to choose a company that best suits your needs.
3. Contact the mortgage note buying company and provide them with your mortgage note information to receive a quote. Your quote is based on the current market, the estimated cost of the property, the specified terms of the note and the rates of competitors.
4. Thoroughly read the fine print of the purchase once you receive your quote.
5. Accept the offer and the buying company will pay the decided amount.

Mortgage Note Buyers FAQs