Think-Realty-Magazine-January-2020

BUSINESS FUNDAMENTALS

SINGLE-PURPOSE ENTITIES

Your business doesn’t fit in a lending box.

Protecting Your Investment

WHY SETTING UP A SINGLE-PURPOSE ENTITY HELPS SECURE YOUR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS.

So we got rid of it. Customized funding solutions designed to scale with you.

by Alexis Austin, Fund That Flip

F or many investors, having an SPE (single-purpose entity) is the starting point for securing lending on their real estate transactions. This type of entity is set in place to protect the real estate investor, capital part- ner, and the asset. NO. 1 WHAT IS A SINGLE-PURPOSE ENTITY? Typically, lenders require their customers to place their assets into an SPE structure to further secure the inevitable risks involved with real estate investing. An SPE is a corporation or LLC that holds the title to a single real estate invest- ment property. A mortgage can then be placed on the property by the financing lender. NO. 2 HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT THE INVOLVED PARTIES? An SPE isolates the financed prop- erty from other potential creditors or lenders. This prevents others from seeking to use the subject property as a means to recover a loss or to satisfy debt claims. Not only does this structure protect the lender’s collateral from recovery claims made by other collectors, but it also

of other entities.

is used to limit the business activi- ties of the entity. The SPE protects the borrower’s portfolio by separat- ing the asset from the other proper- ties within the portfolio. NO. 3 WHAT DOES IT REQUIRE? For an SPE to own and operate an individual real estate asset, it must have a thoroughly outlined purpose clause and a set of covenants to op- erate. The purpose clause and a de- tailed set of covenants are important for the entity to be legally recognized to support this function. This can be presented in numerous formats, but should ideally be included in the formation documents with the Secretary of State. A set of covenants is used to frame and clarify the separation between the single purpose entity and other entities. Standard covenants for an SPE include:

• Requiring the SPE to maintain a separate tax identification number. SPEs help to limit the risk asso- ciated with each individual asset to an individual property rather than a portfolio. It is in place to function as an added layer of protection for your hard work. As your portfolio grows you’ll want to keep your assets as secure as possible. The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and ma- terials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Readers of this website should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or refrain from acting on the ba- sis of information on this site without first seeking legal advice from coun- sel in the relevant jurisdiction. The content on this posting is provided "as is;" no representations are made that the content is error-free. •

Single Family + Multi-Family | New Construction | Fix-and-Rent | Fix-and-Flip | Cash-out Refinance

• Maintaining separate finances and bank account.

• Anti-commingling of assets between other entities or indi- viduals

For experienced developers, Fund That Flip offers:

fundthatflip.com/thinkrealty deals@fundthatflip.com 646-895-6090

• Barring guaranteeing obligations

• Underwriting customized to your business • No pre-established lending limits

• Maximum LTV and LTV ratios • Rates starting at 7.99%

48 | think realty magazine :: january / february 2020

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