Investors today are facing the toughest economy in decades and,
as a result, low returns on hedge funds. So, how is one supposed to make
the returns of yesterday in today's economy? What will be the next big
source of investment income? These are the questions that top
practitioners are asking. However, the answer may be right under their
noses.
Since one hundred-fifty years ago, this country's counties
and municipalities have been in the business of selling tax liens, which
provide high yields for interested, knowledgeable investors. This type
investment fits very well with the multi-strategy hedge funds, as well
as those focused on the credit and real estate markets.
Understanding the Process:
However,
before investors can make the plunge into this slightly unique market,
they must understand the concepts behind it. One of those is the tax
lien receivable, which is simply the right to collect taxes on a
property. The reason that this term is so important to this market is
because once a home owner falls into delinquency with property taxes,
after some time, the bank has the right to place a lien on the property
and sell that lien. The buyer is then able to collect back taxes from
the property owner.
Because so much of a government's ability to
allocate funds depends on the collection of property taxes, the failure
to pay by individuals is very harmful. Thus, governments must look for
quick solutions to alleviate the lost income. Otherwise, they must make
cuts to their spending or raise property taxes for those who do
continually meet their obligations. So, it is no surprise that many
governments take advantage of the opportunity to sell the debt, which
carries a collateral of the property itself.
So, why is this "a
good buy" for the investor? As always, the answer is the interest
earnings. As the property owner pays off the back debt, he or she must
also pay a penalty in the form of interest. That interest can range from
ten up to fifty percent. That spells tremendous gain for the holder of
the lien. Even if the property owner fails to pay, in most cases, after a
given amount of time the lien holder can foreclose on the house and
arrange a sale. Bought at the right price, this too can account for
tremendous income for the investor.
The Downfall:
At this
point, the tax lien market suffers one major drawback. That is the lack
of a secondary market or a uniform process for the resale of outstanding
liens. For now liens are sold only once and the buyer assumes
responsibility for collecting the debt due or following through with the
foreclosure process. However, if a secondary market was developed, this
could become a true source of investment and more would consider it as a
type of hedge fund. They could, should they do it correctly, buy low
and sell high and reap the rewards more quickly without having to bother
with the mess of collecting the taxes due.
This is not to say
that they do not offer a high return opportunity as is, but it is to say
that they are currently not ideal for hedge fund type investment.
Risk Versus Reward:
Regardless
of whether or not they work as a hedge fund at the moment, tax lien
investors speak highly of this type of investment. One that invests in
this market can expect an average of about ten percent gain on the
outlay and the average lien purchase will see a fifty percent repayment
in the first year. Not risk free, in that there is not a definite
maturity date and foreclosure can be a long undertaking, these are still
considered a favorable source of investment for many looking for lower
risk and moderate yields.
Who Should Make the Investment?
Despite
what was said above, included in the list of those that typically seek
these types of investments - such as corporations and regional lien
pools - are hedge funds and private equity firms. They are ideal for
those not seeking easy liquidity and those that are properly backed with
a knowledgeable legal team.
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Brent Crouch is the owner of Tax Lien Properties.net. He has dedicated this site to providing a free state tax lien list.
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