When you invest in real estate, you have to have a long term vision and patience. Unlike buying stock which can be readily purchased and sold, investing in real estate does not afford a quick sale. While it is true that in years past, people were able to flip properties and make fast money in real estate, for most real estate investors the idea is to buy and hold real estate. Some investors in real estate will benefit from federal income tax breaks and other investors in real estate can hold a piece of property and later sell it and buy other property while deferring the payment of any federal income taxes until the real estate is cashed out. Real estate is not a liquid investment and you may need to consider a long term strategy or option even if you are considering a shorter term investment in real estate. Read our articles on investing in real estate and learn about problem tenants and how to handle them. Learn about finding the right team to help you navigate the world of real estate investing. And, finally, learn about how to structure your investments, insure your real estate investments and minimize your federal income taxes.
Real Estate Outlook for 2013: Are We at the Tipping Point?
The real estate outlook for 2013 continues to look muddled: While new home sales increased in 2012, the economy still struggles. Each week, pundits step forward to proffer yet another prediction about where the housing market is going. Since 2006, when the housing market began its descent into madness, all we’ve heard that the residential [...]
1031 Exchange: Investment Property Tax Exchange Questions
A 1031 exchange is an investment property exchange process that can assist in deferring taxes. We answer a question here. Q: I currently own two rental properties. The first house is paid off. The second property still has 14 years on the mortgage. I am considering selling the first house because it's not earning all [...]
Contract for Deed for Underwater Real Estate Investors
A contract for deed is another option for underwater real estate investors when trying to sell their homes. Q: I recently read your article "Not a lot of help forthcoming to underwater investors." I want to add another option for that real estate investor to consider. Having been in the real estate business for about [...]
Problems with Transferring Trust Property
Transferring trust property with a 1031 tax exchange must be done carefully, or the beneficiaries could lose their inheritance. Q: My father recently passed away. He had a trust and in that trust he listed a property for me and my brothers to inherit. The property was a commercial building in Southern California. Two years ago, he [...]
Finding Great Investment Properties
Trying to find great investment properties requires careful planning and research. The location and amenities of your home are important in deciding whether or not it will be an asset. Q: First off, I love all of your greatly informative articles and blogs. Thank you for providing the public with such useful information. I was curious to [...]
Tips for Investing in Real Estate
Ilyce Glink offers tips and advice for investing in real estate: plan extensively and be flexible. Q: I just wanted to say thank you, Ilyce. Your over the air advice encourages me and moves me forward in my real estate pursuits. I am a dairy farmer in the Atlanta metropolitan area, milking goats and making [...]
Using Retirement Money for Real Estate Investments
With the recession dragging into its fifth year, many people are seeing little to smile about when it comes to their retirement savings. Year after year, the money they invested in the hope that it would grow into a nice nest egg has remained stagnant—or even dropped in value. As a result, some investors are [...]
More Facts and Fictions About Real Estate Investing
Did you catch yesterday’s post on facts and fictions of investing in real estate? If you’re thinking of buying a home now, you’re going to have to compete with real estate investors. Good news: There’s plenty of room for you in the real estate investing market. Let’s look at some more myths that persist when [...]
Buying a Home: Facts and Fictions about Investing
Think no one is buying a home? In fact, the numbers are astounding. Investors bought one of every four homes sold in America last year. Moreover, investment-home sales surged from 64.5 percent to 1.23 million last year, up from 749,000 in 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Investing in real estate is [...]
Using An LLC To Buy Rental Property
You may want to use an LLC to buy rental properties, it may be more cost effective to own in your own name with good insurance in your name. Q: I recently purchased a rental property in Illinois. The title is held jointly by my wife and me. We got an investment mortgage for 80 [...]