Renting a home can be easier than owning a home, but it requires its own special set of circumstances. Whether you’re the renter or the landlord, look at the articles, columns, blog posts, radio shows and videos for more information about renting a home.
Sell and Rent Back: Good idea for seniors?
Sell and Rent Back: Is this a good idea for seniors? Q: I have owned a condominium in Sarasota, Florida since 1978 and it's been my permanent residence since 2004. The character of it has changed and my costs have gone up. However, at 90, I don't wish to move. I've been thinking of selling [...]
Renting a Home Without Seeing It
Are you thinking about renting a home without seeing it? Covid has changed the way people buy and rent their homes. But when you buy or rent a home sight unseen, it can turn out to be far different than you expect. We don't advise renting or buying a home without seeing it in person. [...]
Paying Property Taxes on an Abandoned Home
Paying property taxes on an abandoned home. This renter can’t locate the owner and wants to know if they can pay back taxes before it goes to auction. Q: I rented a house from a person who turned out not to be the owner of the home. I contacted the authorities and the scammer disappeared. [...]
Buying vs Renting a Home in 2020
Buying vs renting a home in 2020. Insights from Rick Sharga answer whether it is better to rent or buy a home in 50 U.S. metropolitan areas. This article has been updated to clarify that median home prices and median home payments listed are for homes in the 25th quartile. More than 80 percent of [...]
Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live in 2019
Top 10 most expensive cities to live in 2019. Setup costs and living expenses rank the most in-demand cities around the world from most to least costly. What are the top 10 most expensive cities to live in 2019? Research by Movinga ranks each of the most in-demand cities from around the world from most [...]
Renting an Apartment on a Budget
Finding the right apartment to rent is tough enough. Renting an apartment on a budget is even tougher. Between the application fees, moving fees and stress of finding the right apartment (in the right neighborhood and at the right price), the best thing you can do is carefully figure out how much you can afford [...]
Consider Renting If You Can’t Sell Home
If you're trying to sell your old home to buy a new one but can't, you may want to rent a second home until the real estate market improves. Instead of struggling to pay two mortgages on a primary residence and second home, consider renting the second home. Save up money for a new home purchase while keeping your credit score intact and avoiding foreclosure or a short sale.
Taxes Affect Manufactured Home Refinance Decision
The owner of a manufactured home asks whether to pay off the mortgage loan or invest extra money. Since the manufactured home is a second home or investment property, the home owner should consider how his taxes will be affected. Tax software or a tax preparer before can help sort this out before deciding to refinance this manufactured home.
1031 Exchange: Deadlines, Type Of Property Impact Eligibility
A 1031 exchange allows you to buy and sell investment property within a specified time period and defer paying taxes to the IRS. Primary residences, second homes and vacation homes are generally not eligible for 1031 exchanges. Real estate market conditions may make it harder to sell a property and potentially prevent a successful 1031 exchange. Talk to a 1031 exchange company about doing a reverse exchange instead.
Owner Occupied Status Affects Mortgage Refinancing
A renter asks about an owner-occupied requirement with regard to mortgage refinancing. The renter says his landlord has refinanced the property twice, each time claiming he lives there. The renter wonders if the landlord breaks the law by claiming the property is owner-occupied during a mortgage refinance. Circumstances may change after the mortgage refinance occurs and that lenders don't have time to follow up.