Saving and Investing Your Money - Best Real Estate Option
None of us have a crystal ball that can predict what the future will bring. We all know that it is wise to put away some money in case of emergencies and to invest for our children's' college education and our retirement. However, despite this wisdom, all too often money is tight and it's hard to come up with it to invest in anything at all.
Home Sellers - Make More Money by Staging Your Home
We've all seen those television shows where someone comes in, moves a couple pieces of furniture around, and suddenly the seller's home is worth thousands more. Well, it's not as easy as it may look on TV.
There are, however, certain things you can do to stage your home that will bring a better return. Here are 10 easy changes you can make to bring in higher offers from potential home b... Read real estate article
How to Buy Investment Properties For Retirement
What is the difference between rich and wealthy? The difference could be described as either working for a living or your money working for your living. In other words, when you are wealthy, your money works for you such as real estate property providing a cash flow so you do not have to work an 8 to 5 job. That is being wealthy.
It stands to reason that the purchase of a rental property today can make your retirement comfortable because the added income is a positive cash flow. Achieving financial wealth through real estate investments is long term, and can be risky if you don't do your homework.
There are so many get rich quick scams out there, and some of them are get rich quick using real estate investments. Some of those infomercials are really so much hot air. They have the right idea but the wrong way to achieve it. That is why it is crucial to work with your tax advisor and a knowledgeable real estate professional rather than taking advice from an infomercial at one o'clock in the morning.
The problem most people face at retirement is that the cost of living has gone up faster than the increase in their 401K. Investment property can make a huge difference at not only what you can do when retired but also when you can retire. Working an 8 to 5 job generally does not allow you to save enough out of each pay check to acquire real wealth. Even those high paid executives can fall into a security trap thinking their income is assured, so therefore their retirement is assured. We don't have to look any further than Enron or Worldcom to know that nothing is totally assured in this life; which is why you need to take control of your life and your retirement.
If you were to take $50,000 and use it as a 10% down payment on a $500,000 investment property, assuming: a breakeven cash flow and not including any tax credits or tax breaks, the value of the property appreciating over 20 years, the value of the property would be three times as much as when first purchased. That means that your initial investment of $50,000 has equity of over $1,400,000.
Take that same investment of $50,000 to a market fund or other bond-type, non-risk investment, and you can expect an 8% to 10% increase on average. After 20 years, you would realize $266,000 to $366,000.
When you put it into perspective in a real life type of comparison like this, you can see that real estate investment can provide a very lucrative retirement with little or no risk to you. The added benefit is that you are able to leave a nice legacy to your loved ones which is priceless.
Buying your first home is an exciting yet daunting experience. Here are several easy steps you can follow to simplify the process and get you on the way to finding your perfect dream home.
Inside the Home - Start by making a list of items within the home that are most important to you. Examples include number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, kitchen features and other required amenities. This list should be things that you cannot compromise on due to your lifestyle. Second, make a list of items that things are "nice-to-have". This list should be other desirable features within the home that you may compromise on later if necessary. As you view homes on the market, compare each home with your two lists. Using this approach, you will soon find a starter dream home that fits your lifestyle and family.
Outside the Home - When looking at a home, looking outside the home is equally as important as looking inside the home. If you have children, be sure to assess the school system of the neighborhood. Visit the school and talk with the teachers and principal. Research crime rates in the area as this may affect your lifestyle and the resale value of your home. Assess development work and future city plans to ensure you understand what will happen to the surrounding neighborhood and the extended area over the next several years. If the city plans to construct a water tower in the neighborhood, you need to evaluate the impact this tower will have on the resell value of the home before you consider making an offer. If you find a beautiful starter home sitting on a nice cul-de-sac that will be flanked by a new four lane street in five years, you probably want to look elsewhere. Further, if there is a nearby company that will be closing a significant office nearby in two years, home values could trend downward as people leave to find new jobs.
Consider Comparables - It's also imperative that you look at recent home sales in the neighborhood. Evaluate the cost per square foot of each recent home sale in the area and compare this to the cost per square foot of any home you are considering. You should also consider supply and demand in the neighborhood or suburb. Supply is the number of homes that are for sale in the neighborhood you are considering. Demand is the number of people looking for homes in that area. Supply is relatively easy to determine, but demand is more difficult to assess. As supply increases and demand decreases, prices in the area trend downward. Conversely, as demand increases and supply decreases, home prices trend upward. Location is one of the most important factors to consider as you think about the future value of your home. Great locations are in high demand, but you can find affordable homes with good future resale value if you are patient, understand comparables in the area, and consider supply and demand within the neighborhoods.
Get Expert Advice - It is highly recommended that a first time home buyer use a real estate agent. An agent has the professional knowledge and experience to find your dream home. They have access to market and home comparable data that is otherwise difficult to obtain. A good real estate agent can help you assess both supply and demand for homes in the areas you are considering. They also will have developed contacts over the years that they can share with you. Whether you need a plumber, inspector or appraiser they will be able to put you into contact with individuals they trust. As your agent, they are acting on your behalf and will protect your interests.
Use a Mortgage Broker - Many couples and individuals rent because they do not think they can qualify for a mortgage or come up with a sufficient down payment. In most cases this is a myth. Most lenders have loan programs tailored specifically for first time home buyers, those with little cash down and those with less than perfect credit histories. Seek out a good mortgage broker. They will have access to mortgage programs from multiple competing lenders. While you may have a great relationship with your local bank mortgage lender, working solely with him or her may limit your capabilities and the loan programs offered to you. Your real estate agent should be able to recommend a good mortgage broker. You can also search online.
Knowing your home requirements, properly assessing home market comparables and assembling a great team of helpers will ensure your success and reduce your stress as you search for your first home.
2. Truth About Equity And Repossession
These questions are to be asked and need thorough explanations with many legal concepts that are beyond the nature of this article. However, we can clarify some concepts and explain the basics about e... Read real estate article
3. Commercial Real Estate Services
While commercial real estate can be an excellent investment, it's all but impossible to succeed in this competitive environment without some sort of game plan. The most successful professional real es... Read real estate article
Here in Southern California many home buyers are going the traditional route of visiting open houses to find out what is on... Read real estate article
5. Section 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges
The 1031 tax deferred exchange is not always the right or best solution. Investors should consider whether other tax deferral or tax exclusion strategies might be more appropriate and should always co... Read real estate article
6. Types Of Government Foreclosure Homes
A lot of people want to buy a house but they cannot afford to have one. So, they usually borrow money to some government agency especially in government housing offices. It is because the amount they ... Read real estate article
7. Commercial Real Estate Market
There are many important factors that effect the price of commercial real estate, but perhaps few are as important as that of the local job market. Without a strong and growing job market, it's nearly... Read real estate article
9. Selling Your Home
Like fine wine, your home has probably aged nicely while you have lived in it. While you may feel this way, it is important to understand buyers may look at it a bit differently.
How to Buy Investment Properties For Retirement
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