Reality TV shows have inspired people to flip houses for profit. They make it look fun, easy and the type of business anyone with some capital can get into. Every once in a while, house-flipping episodes show an underperforming sale and a financial loss. That is why people in the flipping business need a cushion in case things don’t pan out. This brings us to a slightly different approach. Some speculators start out flipping land. Yes, that’s right. Land. Flipping Land Can Be Less Risky Than Homes Rough land can be far less expensive to invest in than blighted homes. There are also … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, new and existing home sales and weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims. Case-Shiller: Home Prices Rise to Near Four-Year High February home prices rose 6.30 percent year-over-year and 0.50 percent month-to-month. Home prices rose just shy of a record set in 2014. The 20-City Home Price Index reported home prices were 6.80 percent higher year-over-year and rose 0.80 percent month-to-month in February. The year-over-year reading surpassed the peak reading in 2006. Home prices … [Read More...]
Choosing the perfect home to settle in can be a tough decision. You have to weigh in on many factors including price, size, features and amenities, number of bedrooms and baths, design, and so on. However, all these factors are not enough to give you a great home ownership experience if you fall into the wrong neighborhood. Picking the right neighborhood not only guarantees you happiness and comfort, but also helps with home appreciation for the sake of future re-sale value. In most cases, though, it can be tougher to find the perfect neighborhood than it is to find the right house. Here are … [Read More...]
As a potential home buyer, you are probably familiar with what a typical sale looks like. You probably also have a basic understanding of what a foreclosure is and how it works. Another type of sale that may be less understood is called a short sale. These sales are not as popular in the market, but you may come across a few. You may even fall in love with a home that is listed as a short sale. What does this mean for you as the buyer? These are the basic facts that you need to know about these homes and the process for purchase. What Is A Short Sale? A short sale is negotiated when the … [Read More...]
One of the challenges you will face when deciding how much money to put down on your new home is whether to put down a larger down payment or to take a bit of money from your down payment and use it to buy "discount points" to lower your interest rate. There are pros and cons to doing both and each borrowers situation will be different so it's important to understand which option is best for your individual situation. Some factors you should consider include: Cost of borrowing - generally speaking, to lower your interest rate will mean you pay a premium. Most lenders will charge as much as … [Read More...]
If your financial situation is limited, yet you're handy with a hammer and nails, then purchasing a fixer-upper home can be an attractive option. Fixer-uppers typically require a bevy of updates and repairs to bring the home up to current market conditions. Because of this, the listing price is often considerably less than a move-in ready home. Your trusted real estate professional can help you find the best projects to buy and sell. Getting Started Fixer-uppers aren't for everyone, but there are plenty of resources available if you plan to do most of the repair and upgrades yourself. … [Read More...]
