| When you pool money from private lenders, | | | | file your paperwork. |
| you're putting funds together from two or more | | | | One of the things I've taught my students and |
| different private lenders. | | | | continue to stress is that you shouldn't be pooling |
| You obviously need to look at doing something | | | | money from private lenders unless you make |
| different where your state's paperwork is | | | | sure you're in compliance. |
| concerned. This means you will need to file | | | | In order to be in compliance with your home |
| paperwork with your state and provide a | | | | state's securities laws, you'll need to find the |
| disclosure document to your potential private | | | | proper exemption, filing or registration option and |
| lenders. | | | | comply with its requirements. |
| In Ohio, for example, we have what is known as | | | | The following is some general information on |
| 6(A)1 filing. This filing allow for pooling private | | | | staying in compliance with your state's |
| lenders' money in running your real-estate | | | | requirements. |
| investment business. | | | | When you use an exemption to bring in private |
| This filing also allows advertising and unlimited | | | | lenders, you are making an offer and sale of a |
| private lenders. | | | | security. It's important to understand that an |
| Remember, securities laws and regulations vary | | | | offer to sell is usually treated the same as a sale |
| from state to state and the Federal SEC has its | | | | when it comes to securities compliance. |
| own set of laws and regulations. | | | | Two key concepts to understand when you sell |
| Pooling money occurs when you combine funds | | | | securities are that there are exempt securities |
| from two or more different private lenders. | | | | and there are exempt transactions. Whether |
| You should use or form a new business entity. | | | | you're selling stock, equities, borrowing money, or |
| You should choose a corporation which could be | | | | debt, these are treated as securities. An exempt |
| an S-corporation or an LLC. Some states have | | | | security usually means a security issued by a |
| different filings available depending upon whether | | | | governmental agency or authority. |
| you have a corporation or an LLC, and LLC's are | | | | An exempt transaction refers to the sale of a |
| sometimes treated as partnerships. Most states | | | | security not issued by a government agency that |
| won't allow you to pool money when you're | | | | has been given an exemption under state law (or |
| operating as a sole proprietorship or DBA. | | | | federal law) because of the nature of the security |
| You cannot use your state's exemption for | | | | and how it's sold. |
| real-estate transactions, similar to Ohio's 3(H) | | | | Many of my students are basing their compliance |
| exemption, when you pool lenders together. You | | | | on the exemptions in their states that are similar |
| can not use this particular exemption because | | | | to the one in Ohio found under 3(H): |
| there is no paperwork involved. In Ohio, you must | | | | Ohio Revised Code, Chapter XVII, Title 1707.03(H) |
| "upgrade" to the 6(A)1 form, which allows pooling. | | | | The sale of notes, bonds, or other evidences of |
| All states have similar paperwork levels. | | | | indebtedness that are secured by a mortgage lien |
| You should use one of your state's filings that | | | | upon real estate, leasehold estate other than oil, |
| allow for pooling money. As an example, Ohio has | | | | gas, or mining leasehold, or tangible personal |
| a number of these filings available, such as a | | | | property, or which evidence of indebtedness is |
| 6(A)1. | | | | due under or based upon a conditional-sale |
| These filings require you to fill out paperwork, | | | | contract, if all such notes, bonds, or other |
| informing the state regulator about your business | | | | evidences of indebtedness are sold to a single |
| and what you're doing. It usually requires you to | | | | purchaser at a single sale, is exempt. |
| disclose information to your potential private | | | | Remember, these are still securities, and the sale |
| lenders, which is for your benefit as well as your | | | | of these securities can be exempt under |
| private lenders' benefit. | | | | securities laws in Ohio. Compliance with the offer |
| You'll pay a fee to your state regulator when you | | | | and sale of these securities is still required. |