Tag: real estate investment
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Dreaming of Homeownership: Is a Duplex Worth Considering?
Got homeownership dreams? A duplex could be a way to break into today’s housing market. A duplex, of course, is a home property made up of two units. Typically, the two units share a wall but have separate entrances. So a duplex is essentially a house, divided into two homes. With home prices as high…
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We All Deserve a Home, But Corporations Outbid Some of Our Friends.
Corporate buyers are snapping up residential properties in Massachusetts and pushing out long-time residents, according to a report by the news outlet 25 Investigates. These investment companies form a complex network, making it nearly impossible for individuals and towns to hold them accountable.
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Can Condo Buyers Freely Work in, Sell, and Rent Their Condos?
A condo for sale? That’s an opportunity for a buyer to acquire a deed, start building equity…and maybe even attain financial freedom. Some first-timer buyers who want a foothold on the ownership ladder jump on a condo listing for precisely that reason. To some, condo deeds represent long-term homes and investments. To others, condos are…
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I Inherited a Home. Should I Sell It, or Rent It Out?
Many heirs receive real estate because it’s a valuable asset — not necessarily because they need the homes to live in. So, for the heir who doesn’t want to live in the inherited home, what’s the best decision to make? Rent or sell the home? The answer is clear: It all depends! It’ll turn on…
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Is Buying a Home a Path to Financial Freedom? (Is the Answer Changing?)
For most U.S. deed holders, a home is at the core of their retirement wealth. So, does that make buying a home a path to financial independence? It certainly can be, although the calculus is changing.
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Ready, Set…Here Comes a Real Spring Home Buying Rush
Seasonal trends have an impact on home selling and buying success. Whether you’re receiving a real estate deed for the first time, or conveying your deed to a new buyer, having a sense of the market is helpful for planning. The housing market stalled in 2023. Can this new Spring season reactivate it? Anything can…
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Vacation Property Loans? What’s the Scoop?
Some people buy homes, and run vacation rental businesses through them. They might even run their businesses from afar, through apps. And they do it without having to qualify for a loan based on their incomes. These borrowers seek out an unconventional — yet popular — form of mortgage. Lenders approve these loans based…
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Buying a Home While Interest Rates Are Still High? The Case for “Yes”
For too many years, the U.S. housing market has been out of reach for too many people. But giving up might not be an option. Those able to get a foothold in this market often do it to attain a viable financial future. A homeowner’s wealth goes up along with home values. So, owners accumulate…
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Buy a Flipped Home, Get an FHA Loan. Like Oil and Water—Or Do They Mix?
Once upon a time, way back in 2003, the Federal Housing Administration instituted a 90-day wait for sales of homes by flippers. And to this day, only those who’ve owned for more than three months may sell to buyers who get FHA loans. Clearly, flippers need to keep this in mind. FHA-backed mortgages, of course,…
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Selling Your Property When a Renter Still Lives There: Why and How?
Can you sell a rental unit “out from under” your renter? A loaded question, of course. Look at it this way. If your renters love where they live, it could be a win for all involved. You have a few things to consider as you plan for positive outcomes, of course. This is true whether…
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What Is “Subject-To” Home Buying? AKA: Taking Over the Mortgage Payments
Ever heard someone say they got a “subject-to” offer on their home? Or maybe you or someone you know is contacted with a subject-to offer. Maybe you saw a sign saying “We buy homes!” and wondered what’s going on. Subject-to is a little-known strategy in the world of deed transactions. It comes in many forms.…
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Get in Early, Make a High Down Payment: The Case for Assertive Home Buying
Have you noticed the big home finance companies desperately touting their low-down-payment deals? You’d think no one wants to put 20% down anymore! But interest rates are high, so keeping your debt high is a pricey thing to do. Therefore, it can make sense, for those who can swing it, to: Let’s explore the case…
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Blockchain for Good: Can Smart Contracts Play a Community-Building Role?
Holding the deed to real estate is long associated with stability and financial security. What if some of that security could be shared by — and build up— communities? This article is a thought experiment. Let’s imagine how things could play out if local residents could invest small amounts in a building. How would this…
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Latest in House Hacking: The Influencer Edition
Back in 2020, it seemed to be everywhere. But we wondered just how persistent “house hacking” would be. Turns out the trend has stayed popular on real estate investment websites, in spite of (or maybe because of) a hard-to-crack housing market. House hacking is really just about buying and renting out real estate. Yet it…
