First, I must proclaim that I am NOT an Attorney and in no way am I attempting to give legal advice.
My question is, "how SAFE is it to owner finance in Texas?" 
I received a call from a friend yesterday and she was asking me about the potential of OWNER FINANCING her Texas home. She explained that a couple had viewed it and said their credit was not up to par and would the Seller consider holding the note. This answer was a no-brainer. It was a big fat "NO". Their home is still mortgaged which caused the obvious problem. ARMS LENGTH MORTGAGES ARE ILLEGAL IN TEXAS. In fact, if you go into a contract stating you will finance the home for them and you consider it a sale, it is my understanding that your note holder will call your note due and payable immediately!!! If you've sold the house they want their money!
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! HOUSE FLIPPERS BECOMING A DYING BREED...
As Realtors, and Mortgage Pros and all of us that are involved with this business it seems we have to pay attention to LAWS OUTSIDE OF OUR PROFESSION to stay on top of things. Yes, yes, we all know this but with the changes being made every day it's tough to keep up.
Are you familiar with the 2010 "SAFE ACT" IN TEXAS HOUSE BILL 10?
“Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act”)
I was not familiar and came across it quite by accident. What an eye opener it is.
The bill states that, Under the current code, owner-financiers must have a Residential Mortgage Loan Originator license from the Texas Savings and Mortgage Lending Department.
Once upon a time we were allowed up to 5 transactions a year...kind of like flipping cars. This restriction is just unimaginable! It seems to me that if the sales took place at a legal Title Company with legal paperwork, the government shouldn't be able to tell us what we can or cannot sell!!!!!! Come on now! They are now saying not even ONE owner finance per year with a few exceptions.
EXCEPTIONS:
If you own the home free and clear and it is your homestead.
If you sell to a family member.
Or, use a Third Party Mortgage Originator...there goes the profit!
AND IF YOU DO IT ANYWAY ARE THERE REPERCUSSIONS?
Oh my, YES. If you are caught doing it anyway you are subject to a $25,000 fine, you may owe damages to the Buyer and well, isn't this all bad enough?
So, FLIPPERS BEWARE!
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Waterfront Real Estate Specialists
936-295-0005
Lake Conroe Real Estate, Lake Livingston Real Estate
Your Waterfront Realtor® Deb Brooks
Some photos attributed to FreeFoto.com 
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My advice. Accept change and go with the flow.
Thinking back a few years ago I remember the attitude of..."It's my listing...don't touch it!" I had progressed into the new millennium like a comet hitting earth for an old fart like me. It all seems to me to be a normal understandable thing to do! Zillow, Realtor.com and so many others scrape our listings anyway. Why not allow a competitor to show your listing on their web sites? 
Oh my, I just thought this would be a mountain that I couldn't climb. I remember my first 50,000 points that seemed like it was never going to happen. I quit worrying about the points and simply began voicing my thoughts, business views, listings and other important communications for my business and "voila" here I am! I am so grateful to Active Rain and the forum they have provided us. I am found in so many places on Google and I never dreamt I could actually get there. Anyone can. Each and every one of you can get to whatever goal you set. This is one of the best things of AR. We have no quotas or expectations or judgments. We are all just friends and are supporting each other in the best manner that we can. I am no one but a simple Realtor® working to develop my Market the best way I know how and yet, here I am at 400,000 points! 
ActiveRain, I want to thank you for that. I received a comment from a post I did back in 2008 that was found and reviewed today. I saved a worms life. I helped to save a life today! Okay, a moth. I saved a life and I am tickled about it! I have to tell you this story!
I stood with my arms extended and head laid back. His breath was cool to the touch yet he was coming with such anger. The boom of his voice and the darkness that set in was proof that he was on his way. He was on his way to revisit me. It has been a long time coming.
With my arms up and my head back, I felt his arrival with a vengeance. 
