Real Estate May Be a Safe Haven in a Bear Market
Rental properties can help level out the peaks and valleys in your portfolio. Is a bear market on the way? That’s the question experts and investors alike have been debating for months. Given the cyclical nature of the market, it’s unrealistic to expect the current bull market to continue its run forever. What’s uncertain is…
When Does It Pay to Rent, Even When the Numbers Say It’s Cheaper to Buy?
Buying a home may not be wise if your life is in flux or dealing with repairs frightens you. If you’re wondering whether you’re better off financially renting or buying a home, you can easily find an app for that. Calculators at Bankrate.com, The New York Times, Zillow and Realtor.com all let you input the…
There’s No Better Time to Be a Real Estate Investor
Real estate investors may have never had it so good. A classic alternative investment in a volatile stock market, real estate also just got a boost from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with landlords among the biggest winners. The law’s new provisions especially favor rental properties. “Real estate investors have historically been given preferential…
5 Tips for Buyers to Have a Successful Home Inspection
How to get the right information in an inspection and use it in negotiations for your home purchase. Throughout the homebuying process, you will encounter a number of expenses including, but certainly not limited to, an appraisal, transaction fees and a survey – but none is more important than the home inspection. Dollar for dollar,…
Home Sales Surge to 10-Year High
Sales of new and existing homes unexpectedly spiked to their highest levels in years last month. America’s housing market appears poised to go out like a lion this year, as a pair of real estate reports this week showed home sales climbed to their highest level in a decade. Sales of new houses clocked in…
How to Save Enough for a Down Payment
For most first-time homebuyers, securing a down payment is the biggest hurdle. There comes a point for many first-time homebuyers when nearly everything you do becomes focused on saving for that purchase. Even when you’ve been putting money away regularly for years, you find yourself willing to cut out that beach vacation you had been…
Should You Factor Solar Power Potential Into Your Home Purchase?
Weigh the pros and cons before adding a future upgrade to your list of must-dos for your next house. Whether you’re aiming to reduce your home’s energy usage throughout the day or you’re simply looking to see a little less of your paycheck go to utility bills, installing solar panels on your roof has likely…