Owner-Financed & Hard Money Transaction Closings

The Greater New Orleans area's most experienced title company for owner-financed and hard money real estate transactions.

This Is What Sets Us Apart

Southern Title closes more owner-financed and hard money transactions in Greater New Orleans than any other title company. We are not a conventional title company that occasionally handles these deals -- they are a core part of what we do every day.

That volume gives our team an unmatched ability to spot problems before they become expensive. We know what to look for in title searches for investment properties, we know the documentation requirements for non-traditional financing, and we know how to structure closings that protect both buyers and sellers.

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Why Southern Title for Owner-Financed & Hard Money Closings

We Catch Problems

Investment properties often have messier title histories than owner-occupied homes. Prior owner-financed sales that were never properly closed out, unreleased mortgages, code violations, tax liens, incomplete successions -- we have seen it all and we know where to look. Our title examiners are trained to identify the issues that are most common in these transactions.

Volume Means Experience

When you close hundreds of owner-financed and hard money deals, you develop an instinct for what can go wrong. Our team does not need to research how to handle these transactions -- they handle them every single day. That experience translates to faster closings, fewer surprises, and better-prepared documents.

Seamless Servicing Transition

After closing, the loan needs to be serviced. Our sister company, Southern Loan Servicing, takes over payment collection, escrow, and borrower communication from day one. Because we handle both closing and servicing, there is no gap, no lost paperwork, and no transition headaches.

Services for Owner-Financed Transactions

✓Title search and examination to verify clear title

✓Preparation of act of sale, mortgage, and promissory note

✓Compliance review for Louisiana lending and real estate law

✓Closing and notarization at any of our 5 locations

✓Recording of all documents with the parish clerk of court

✓Escrow services for earnest money and closing funds

✓Seamless handoff to Southern Loan Servicing for payment collection

Services for Hard Money Transactions

✓Title search with emphasis on investment property issues

✓Fast-track title commitments for time-sensitive deals

✓Preparation of loan documents per lender specifications

✓Coordination with private lenders and lending companies

✓Construction draw escrow for renovation projects

✓Closing at our offices or mobile closing at your convenience

✓Re-closing services when the investor sells or refinances

Analyze Your Owner-Financed Deal

Use our free Bond for Deed & Wrap Seller Analysis tool to see your monthly spread, cash flow, and a side-by-side amortization comparison between your underlying mortgage and the wrap.

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Who We Work With

Real Estate Investors

Buy-and-hold, fix-and-flip, and portfolio investors who buy and sell regularly.

Private Lenders

Hard money lenders, private lending companies, and individual note holders.

Wholesalers

Investors who assign contracts and need fast, reliable title and closing services.

Property Managers

Companies managing owner-financed portfolios who need consistent, reliable closings.

The Southern Family Advantage

Southern Title is part of a family of companies built to serve real estate investors and owner-financed transactions from start to finish.

Company	What They Do	How It Helps You
Southern Title	Title search, closing, title insurance	Clean title, compliant documents, smooth closing
Southern Loan Servicing	Payment collection, escrow, tax tracking	Seamless post-closing loan management
NOLA Hard Money	Private lending for real estate investors	Fast funding with a team that already knows your deal
Southern Exchange Services	1031 exchange qualified intermediary	Tax-deferred exchanges coordinated with your closing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is owner financing?+

Owner financing (also called seller financing) is a transaction where the seller of a property acts as the lender, allowing the buyer to make payments directly to the seller over time rather than obtaining a traditional bank mortgage. The seller holds a mortgage or vendor's lien on the property until the buyer completes all payments.

Why do investors choose Southern Title for owner-financed closings?+

Volume and experience. We close more owner-financed and hard money transactions than any other title company in the Greater New Orleans area. That volume means our team is deeply familiar with the specific documentation, compliance requirements, and common pitfalls of these transactions. We catch problems before they become expensive mistakes.

Can Southern Title service the loan after closing?+

Yes. Our sister company, Southern Loan Servicing, handles payment collection, escrow management, tax and insurance tracking, and borrower communication for owner-financed loans. Because we handle both the closing and the servicing, the transition is seamless -- no paperwork gaps, no lost files, no delays.

What if the buyer defaults on an owner-financed loan?+

Louisiana has specific legal procedures for handling defaults on owner-financed transactions. The process depends on whether the transaction was structured as an act of sale with mortgage, a bond for deed, or another arrangement. Southern Title and Southern Loan Servicing can guide you through the process and connect you with an attorney if needed.