Most people start investing real estate by buying their personal residence. Yet the majority of Americans will stop there in terms of building their real estate portfolio. This is because when people are motivated to buy their first investment property, they are often told they will need a 20- or 25-percent down payment. Finding it […]
Buying college housing starts now – Part 1
A college property purchase can prove to be an astute financial investment as well as a superb learning experience for the student. In college towns across the country every August, college students start returning for the fall semester, generating a torrent of real estate activity. Because the rental housing market tends to be tight in […]
Removing Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) from your mortgage
PMI is usually required on conventional home loans for which the down payment is less than 20 percent. When one thinks of “mortgage insurance” some will think of a type of life insurance that if you die, the mortgage on your house is paid off for the benefit of the survivors. Private Mortgage Insurance, known […]
Coronavirus and Buying a College Condo – Part 2
In my last article, Part 1 of “Coronavirus and Buying a College Condo” I discussed how buying a condo or house for your child to live in when going to college can be a worthwhile investment and can also have financial as well as other benefits for your college student. As you evaluate this decision, […]
Analyzing residential real estate investments
My last article I discussed investing in real estate during the coronavirus pandemic. Even with all the uncertainty in our life today, through good times and bad, there are some things that remain constant – that is the way you analyze real estate investment properties. There are several rules of thumb that help you compare […]
Coronavirus and Investing in Real Estate
I have been asked many times, “Is now a good time to invest in real estate with the uncertainty of our current coronavirus environment?” There is always some risk in any sort of investment, anytime, anywhere. For purposes of this article, we will take a look at residential real estate and analyze the factors […]
Coronavirus and 1031 Exchanges
A 1031 Exchange is a tax-deferred real estate transaction that “swaps” one investment property with another investment property under very strict IRS rules for the timeline and deadlines that structure the transaction. Recently, stay-at-home orders suspended in-person showings of properties, making it tough to identify a replacement property in a timely manner. This adds pressure […]
Why Invest in Real Estate?
Most people consider their single-family home they live in as an investment in real estate. In fact, when they fill out a financial statement, it is even listed as an asset. It’s true that the home will likely go up in value over the years, and as the loan is paid off, it could represent […]