In our last post we went through some definitions and other preliminaries about Options, who the players were, etc. To better understand the power of Options let’s discuss some case histories. Now in a previous series of posts (see the Eddie Nivens story) we talked about doing Lease Options with Shared Future Appreciation between the Optionee and the Optionor. This is one of my favorite programs because it is so easy to do. You are working with highly motivated sellers (Optionors) and you don’t need much money to make it work. If you missed this series I suggest you pull it up from our post archives in the “Investor Corner” section. Just look for the Eddie Nivens story.
Now, meanwhile back at the ranch, let’s get into some examples of using pure Options. You probably have heard about “Flipping” houses or other properties wherein a party (Buyer, Flipper) enters into a Sale & Purchase Agreement with a seller, puts up some earnest money, then goes out and finds another party that they can contract to “Sell” the property to before they have actually closed on buying the property. Then they either assign the Sale & Purchase Agreement to the third party or do a “Double” escrow wherein they close on the purchase with the first party, turn right around and close on the sale to the third party.
This is really nothing but a form of an Option. In my opinion it is much cleaner, better, less paperwork, etc., to just buy an Option on the property than it is to go out and find another party who would like to buy the property and sell the Option to them. By buying and selling the Option it also saves time and money for both the eventual Optionee (buyer) and the Optionor (seller). Less closing costs, etc.
I’ve been promising a case history, so let’s do one.
Mr. Adams is a Land Developer, Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor, etc. Mrs. Walters is a widow who owns several Real Estate properties. Mr. Walters had been the one who handled and managed the Real Estate. His passing has left Mrs. Walters owning the Real Estate with little experience or interest in trying to continue to manage these properties. Therefore, she has most of these properties up for sale. Also, Mrs. Walters’ cash flow situation is not good. She really needs to sell off some of those properties.
One of the properties is a 40 acre piece of land located fairly close, but outside the city limits. Mrs. Walters has the land listed for sale at $1,000 per acre or $40,000. Mr. Adams knows that there is a shortage of lots with restrictions allowing Manufactured Homes (mobile homes, but God forbid, NOT trailers). After spotting the 40 acres for sale, Mr. Adams visits several Manufactured Home dealers located on the same side of town where the land is.
In checking with the County Tax Office Mr. Adams discovers that there is the previous year’s taxes owed on the property, in an amount of $450.00. Mr. Adams makes the following offer to Mrs. Walters.
1. Mr. Adams will pay the back taxes on the land as consideration for the Option to buy the land for a price of
$40,000. The Option is for a period of one year.
2. Mrs. Walters accepts the offer and they enter into an Option Agreement which Mr. Adams has recorded at the
County Courthouse.
BENEFITS TO THE PARTIES:
1. Mr. Adams has total control over the land for only $450.00 . If he does exercise the Option, he will get the $450.00
back as the taxes will be paid. He knows if the land were developed into Lots allowing mobile homes, it would
sell quickly.
2. Mrs. Walters is hard pressed for cash flow. The Option pays the taxes and stops the penalties. Even if Mr. Adams
does not exercise the Option, her taxes are paid.
We have seen the beginning of an interesting deal. – What comes next? As Paul Harvey would say, see the next post for the “Rest of the Story.”
These posts are the opinion of the author who is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or investment advice. If such advice is required or desired, the services of competent professional persons should be sought.
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