There are many different challenges in the world of banking and mortgages. Deposits have slowed down, interest earnings are lower, costs are up, and so on. All of those are threats to lenders. When a property is foreclosed on, they do not usually end up being retained by banks, however. Rather, they go to professionals such as David M Giunta, who is a specialist in hedge fund management.
Hedge funds are buying a huge amount of mortgage assets. This is a reasonably new development, as hedge funds have traditionally stayed away from mortgages. However, because lenders and banks are struggling, a lucrative opportunity developed for the hedge funds. Today, they are seen as the saviors of the mortgage industry, in fact.
Since the financial crisis, hedge funds have bought lots of distressed loans and foreclosed properties. Ultimately, the goal of the fund is to earn a profit, which means they are benefiting from the difficulties banks, mortgages, and mortgage holders are having. Yet, at the same time, the funds taking these types of risks has saved the economy.
According to Giunta, hedge funds that entered the mortgage fields have been doing a much better job than investors and lenders. This is because their focus isn’t on the interest rates. Rather, they work with borrowers to modify their mortgage. In so doing, they ensure they can retain ownership.
For individuals, hedge funds are much easier to work with than banks and mortgage lenders. This is in part because the funds are still new to the world of mortgage. For them, a mortgage is a reasonably small transaction, as they usually deal in millions. As a result, they are quite open to making alternative deals and compromises with borrowers. Unsurprisingly, distressed mortgage payers are turning to hedge funds for help.
That said, hedge funds are still about the profit. Hence, the vast majority of mortgage loans that they take on are sold almost instantly. This gives the fund the opportunity to earn some very quick cash. They are, at the end of the day, about making a profit not about helping people. Yet, for many, hedge funds have gained a more human face. They look at ways of restructuring financial agreements and, in so doing, they help to avoid court hearings and their associated risks. They are more open to negotiations and restructuring, which means that borrowers can continue to make payments towards their mortgage, and some interest, which hedge funds are happy to listen to.
If you currently have a mortgage and you are finding yourself in difficulties, being taken over by a hedge fund many be beneficial to you. However, you do have to remember that the fund will likely be more interested in selling the property quickly and at a profit to see a return. Hence, you must try to make a special arrangement straight away, or you will find that your property ends up fully foreclosed, with you effectively losing it all.