Have real estate questions? Here, you’ll find helpful articles and other resources that cover issues related to real estate, buying, selling, financing, refinancing, credit and debt, insurance, second homes, vacation homes, real estate investment, new construction, and renovation.
Renting A Home With Option To Buy
Leasing out a rental property is often a good idea. However, you may want to rent your property with an option to buy. Doing a lease/option allows the buyer to live in the home for a year and pay a non-refundable option for the right to purchase the property in the future at a price that's negotiated today.
Structuring Real Estate Investment Properties
A real estate investors have created an LLC to separate their personal and business properties. They are having trouble financing due to an increase debt to income ratio. If a large part of your income is from your real estate business or you have enough buildings to affect your income, many residential lenders will have difficulty giving you financing. You should try to find a commercial lender or a residential lender that has extensive experience with people that own many rental properties to help you out in your future deals.
Cash Out Refinance To Purchase Investment Property
Can you use home equity to purchase investment property? Or should you do a cash-out refinance? Current tax law allows you to borrow up to $1 million on a first mortgage and up to $100,000 on a home equity loan and still deduct the interest paid. But when it comes to investment real estate, the real bonus is being able to write off your expenses against income that the property generates.
Real Estate Commission And Protected Buyer List
When you're looking to buy a property you may end up on a "protected buyer" list. When a listing contract ends, the listing real estate broker wants to make sure the seller does not contact any of the people the listing real estate broker showed the property to and deprive him of a commission. If the seller and the real estate agent can't agree on the protected buyer list or the commission it could delay the sale.
Refinancing A Home For Repair And Estate Planning
Refinancing a home for repair and estate planning purposes can be a challenge for a person who is doing this for an elderly loved one. If the property is in the elderly person it's best to speak with a mortgage lender who specializes in loans to senior citizens, in order to refinance and repair the home. Speaking to an expert in this field can help the person decide whether to refinance and repair the home, or whether selling the home now would be the better option.
Reverse Mortgage Or HECM May Be Good For Elderly
Older Americans who own their homes outright may benefit from a reverse mortgage or HECM, where they'll receive monthly payments from the equity in their homes. Reverse mortgage or HECM lenders can advise on how much a reverse mortgage will cost in fees and the issues inheritance issues involved.
Understanding Exclusive Buyer Agents
A buyer wonders how to assure that his agent is really looking out for your best interest. The nice thing about an exclusive buyer's agent is that you never have to worry about the agent ever representing the seller. Exclusive buyer's agents never represent sellers, just buyers.
Using Home Equity Loan Or Cash To Purchase New House
A recent retiree is planning on moving to a less expensive area and is thinking about using a home equity line of credit or use the proceeds from the sale of his condo to pay cash for his new home. There are advantages of buying with cash versus financing the new purchase. However, prior home sale contingencies make buyers nervous. He needs to go over all options for home equity loans and cash purchases with a mortgage broker before making a decision.
1031 Helps Save On Taxes
With an estimated 15 million Americans owning investment property, more people are using 1031 tax-free exchanges in order to defer capital gains. A 1031 exchange is a provision in the Internal Revenue Code that permits an owner of investment property to sell the property and buy a new property without having to pay any taxes on the sale of the old property. To use a 1031 exchange, an investor must comply with strict rules relating to the use of the proceeds from the sale.