Category Archives: Real Estate

Real Estate

U.S. Housing Market Predictions for 2021

UPDATED Leave a comment

First, the facts: According to NAR, July 2020 posted the highest monthly total of existing home sales since 2006, jumping 24.7% over June to hit 5.86 million (SAAR). And for the first time in U.S. history, the median existing-home price for all housing types broke a record with the median surpassing $300,000.

According to Zillow, the typical U.S. home sold in just 16 days in September, a typically slow-moving month for real estate.

Still, delinquencies and subsequent distressed property sales could put the brakes on home price growth in the future. If, for instance, CoreLogic Chief Economist Frank Nothaft’s forecast holds true, home price growth could slow to 0.6% in July 2021 with prices declining in 11 states, led by Louisiana, Illinois, Connecticut, Iowa and Arkansas.

Continue reading →
Real Estate

Retirement Real Estate

UPDATED Leave a comment

Retirement societies are in a continual state of change all over the world. Whether helping people who live alone, in need of assisted living or memory care, or advancing to competent care, there is regular turnover regardless of the clients they represent.

Many buyers are likely to sell their house before making the move, while helping seniors plan a move from their long-time home to a senior neighborhood. Therein lays one of the greatest challenges to be tackled by any senior group sales agent.

Being a realtor is a respected career, especially if you are able to have an appreciation for the needs of older clientele. Since many seniors have not sold a house in years, even decades, the real estate agent needs the skills to direct them through the process of home purchases, but also the ability to explain what to expect and how to overcome challenges along the way.

In comparison, if your agent already has a team of service providers who can provide their customers solutions, their relevance to the senior practitioners in the industry improves even further. One stop shop… that’s what a lot of good realtors have.

Continue reading →
Real Estate

The Right Real Estate investment for You

UPDATED Leave a comment

What is an investment? For most people, it’s buying stocks and shares. However, it’s quite intimidating, given the turbulent nature of current circumstances. So if you are looking to invest, real estate is always a smart choice. It’s a physical asset, a great passive income generator – overall, a reliable revenue source. You might not have known that there are several types of real estate investments, and you should think long and hard before you decide which is the best for you.

Passive real estate investments

As the word implies, this is the type of investment where you take a more passive role. There is no driving around in search of a suitable property. Instead, there are real estate investment platforms where you can browse through the options. These platforms often function as crowdfunding websites. You will find a specific project you want to invest in. The amount of money you will put in will depend on the project and the platform of your choice. Then, your money will be put together with other investors’ money, and you will receive dividends from the projects you have invested in. Dividends will, of course, be proportionate to the amount of money you have put in. 

Continue reading →
Real Estate

How is COVID-19 Affecting Urban Buyers

UPDATED Leave a comment

The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm this year, and it shows no signs of going away soon. It seems that, for the time being, we’ll have to get used to “the new normal”. But what does that look like for the real estate market? The virus and all attempts to stop it have already changed how we work, travel, even shop for groceries. Indeed, buying a house is going to look different in this new world too. It’s still hard to say precisely which changes are here to stay for good and which are just temporary. But one thing is for sure: the health crisis is affecting buyers in urban areas at the moment. In some ways, city dwellers looking for a real estate investment have an advantage because of this. In other ways, however, buying a home in the city right now is more challenging than ever.

There is less competition for urban properties at the moment

Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, experts predicted 2020 would be one of the best years for real estate in decades. While those predictions never quite came true, they also weren’t that far off: most real estate agents are reporting postponements rather than cancellations from potential buyers. This proves that people are still very much interested in investing in real estate even now.

Continue reading →
Real Estate

Calculating Your Rental Property Budget

UPDATED Leave a comment

Getting started with owning rental properties needs a lot of considerations before diving in. Possessing these real estate investments is one of the best choices any investor can make. Thus, rental property is among the top investment options in the real estate industry. 

Along with deferred income and tax benefits, investing with a rental property can produce good returns all year round and is not affected by the market’s changes. However, most people are not sure how to get started when it comes to budgeting and managing a rental.

How To Uncover Future Potential Expenses: 

  • Ask local real estate managers: Many property managers would happily provide you with this kind of knowledge. They will help you not just because it’s their expertise, but also because of the likelihood that you might use them as your real estate managers one day. 
Continue reading →
Real Estate

Pros and Cons of Owning Multiple Rental Properties

UPDATED Leave a comment

Being a rental property owner is something many strive for in their lives. This is because much of the time, owning a rental home is a great investment. The responsibility that goes along with it is great as well, though. Owning multiple rental properties only ups the stakes. As with anything else, there are a lot of disadvantages as well as advantages. Let’s go through some.

The advantages of owning multiple rental properties

Having multiple rental properties has plenty of upsides. Looking at the positive side of things first will hopefully make you see that the flaws aren’t that bad.

It’s always good to have a passive income

If you own multiple rental properties and are able to keep them occupied, not only will you have a steady and secure amount in your bank account, but you’ll also have a passive income. This is certainly always welcome.

A possible business opportunity

A great thing about owning multiple rental properties is that you don’t have to sell only to tenants who are looking for housing. If your property is in a desirable location, you could always rent it out to business owners. This could be a great investment opportunity.

Continue reading →
Real Estate

14 Frequently Forgotten Items When Moving and How to Leave Nothing Behind

UPDATED Leave a comment

There’s no getting around it. Moving is a physical and mental challenge. It’s disrupting. Home is supposed to be our sanctuary from all the craziness out there, so when that’s in a state of flux we feel vulnerable and unsettled.

And in the midst of preparing, packing and loading, it’s inevitable that something is forgotten and left behind.

But instead of losing sleep by worrying about it all, you can take control.

To Forget is Human. To Use a Moving Checklist is Divine.

Relax, take a deep breath and start making a list. “If that sounds like a simple solution, that’s because it really is,” says Jeffrey Phillip, a New York-based organizer and designer. “But sometimes, life gets in the way and we get too busy to do the thing that will make everything easier.”

So roll up your sleeves and get your priorities in order.

It doesn’t have to be as structured as an Excel spreadsheet, which is a favorite go-to for uber organizers like Phillip. It could be a Notes entry on your smartphone or tablet, or as simple as an old-fashioned notebook.

Continue reading →
Real Estate

Pro and Cons of Buying a Fixer Upper

UPDATED Leave a comment

Buying a home can seem long and at times, tedious, but you want to make sure you make the right choice when it comes to your new home! With so many options on the market, you may want to decide a few big decisions first, before diving into smaller and vast options for homes. One of the “big-picture” choices you can make is whether to buy a place in need of remodeling because it may be more affordable. With that in mind, there are also some cons to purchasing a fixer upper rather than a move-in ready place. Let’s go through the pros and cons so that you can make the best decision for you!

Pros of buying a fixer upper

Before we get into any details, let’s explain the definition of a fixer upper. In simple words, it is a cheaper apartment, condo or home, requires some or a lot of remodeling. This option is not appealing to everyone, as spending your money on a property that does not promise much does not sound very appealing. However, there are some advantages to choosing this option.

Continue reading →
Real Estate

A Guide to Property Managers Going virtual

UPDATED Leave a comment

There are many ways for property managers to try to mitigate the dangers of COVID-19 for residents, staff members and themselves. It is seriously important to keep up to date on public health guidelines, and below are seven tips to help steer you and help you thrive through these challenging times.

Prioritize Maintenance

Your duties as a property manager vary. During COVID-19 you will need to limit physical contact between maintenance staff and residents. When maintenance issues arise consider whether the problem is life-threatening or if it is an immediate threat to the property before dispatching employees. If the issue can be resolved virtually use that option. Routine maintenance on building mechanicals should continue to be done to avoid larger problems that may require more physical contact.

Cleaning 

Be aware of health department guidelines about cleaning product efficacy. Disinfectants must be applied using a strategy that minimizes your employees contact with the chemicals. Provide protective gear like masks, gloves, eye coverings and for some products full body disposable suits. These measures may not be physically comfortable but are necessary to the health of your employees. Clean common areas often, especially elevators, railings, and pulls on trash chutes and doorknobs. Touch-less entry systems may be a good investment at this time.

Continue reading →
Real Estate

Tips for Buying Your First Condo

UPDATED Leave a comment

Have you decided to buy a condo but not sure if there are differences between purchasing a condo or a home? Or maybe you don’t know what you should be looking for? Well, you don’t have to worry because this article is here to help you make sure you are financially geared up before you rush into a decision.

Strategies to Make Sure You Are Financially Ready

Buying a condo for the first time can be tricky, and all you need are essential tips from experts and consultants to help you in this world of real estate. The following are six crucial strategies to help you become successful in owning a home. They include: 

Budgeting Your Finances 

It advisable you jot down the critical points to help you in handpicking the best home. A condo has a lot of specifications and in getting it, requires proper planning of finances to make sure all the amenities and stocking of the house is well budgeted for. 

Continue reading →