Offering to hold either a second mortgage or a primary mortgage in either a residential or a commercial sale can be a good deal for the seller.

The primary advantage is deferral of taxes due. Sellers are normally taxed as the principal is received, spreading the tax bill over several years, explains Richard Schank, a financial planner with PTS Brokerage in Mt. Laurel, N.J.

Other advantages can include:

• Support for a higher-than-average price.
• An interest rate that provides a relatively high return on investment.

The safest arrangement includes obtaining a deed in lieu of foreclosure from the buyer, which allows the seller to take back the property if the note isn’t paid in a timely fashion.

Source: Investor’s Business Daily, Jeff Schnepper