There is this famous phrase that gets bandied about in the housing market called a “seller’s concession.” It is not a hot dog stand out in front of an open house. It’s also not the seller signing away his first born to a new home buyer. If you are in the home buying or selling market, you want to know exactly what a seller’s concession is and how it can help you.… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Real Estate
REITs: What they are and Should You Invest in Them?
Investors have two choices for investing in real estate. First, there are direct investments in investment real estate that you own and manage yourself. Secondly, there are products on Wall Street known as real estate investment trusts, that invest in diversified portfolios of real estate on behalf of all their investors.… Continue Reading
Anxious to Buy a Home
As many of you already know, my wife and I both recently took jobs that would allow us to move to a different city. They aren’t the highest paying jobs, but they are good jobs that will allow us to transition to a new place without job searching. This is definitely invaluable. When my wife and I moved out to New Jersey three years ago, we both had to take jobs that were out of our interest and low paying. It was a challenge to pay the bills, especially when you are also paying for grad school (without student loans).… Continue Reading
The Hidden Costs of Renting
There is no such thing as a hidden costs to homeownership. When you own a home, no repair, maintenance nor service is charged to you unless you give someone permission. Your name goes on the bill, the bill gets mailed to your house and then you pay the bill out of your bank account. Renting, on the other hand, comes with seemingly endless hidden costs. When charges mount, no bill is presented – and no permission is asked. You pay your rent and rent increases blindly, without reason or explanation.… Continue Reading
Fees and Hidden Costs in Home Loans
When people think of the costs related to a home loan they naturally consider mortgage rates and the fortnightly or monthly payments that they expect to make throughout the term of the loan. But there are other expenses related to assuming a mortgage that are often thought of as hidden fees and expenses—hidden because they are rarely advertised or displayed. While these costs are typically substantially less than the principle and interest on the loan and are ordinarily one-time expenses, they can add up to significant sums so it pays to understand what these fees are and what they cover.… Continue Reading
Investing in Real Estate vs. Stock Market
Retail investors often flock to two very different asset classes to reach their retirement goals. Two common investments seem to be real estate and publicly-traded stocks. Let’s look at these two different asset classes to compare their pros and cons.… Continue Reading
6 Expensive Things Every Homeowner Should Prepare For
Buying a home is an exciting time in your life, and it is a busy one as well. From getting every one of your worldly possessions moved in to signing mounds of paperwork, there is always something to be done. In this whirlwind of activity a few important things can slip through the cracks. This is unfortunate, since these things can cost thousands of dollars without even being considered a high priority.… Continue Reading
Homeowners and Renters (Infographic)
The past few months, I have found myself obsessing over buying a home. Part of it is due to the fact that we don’t have any debt and it’s one of my long-term financial goals. I also hate renting (and feeling like I am throwing money down the toilet instead of building up equity). I am sure there are many other factors that come into play (like how my parents always owned their own home instead of renting when we were growing up), but suffice it to say that it is on my mind. I am still a couple years away from being prepared to buy a home, but it won’t stop me from thinking about it. This is why I elected to share this infographic. It does a great job at illustrating the different trends, in respect to debt, that homeowners and renters face, which helps illustrate some of the other expenses that you don’t normally associate with home ownership. Enjoy!… Continue Reading
Budgeting for Extras when Buying a Home
So, you’re taking the plunge and have decided to get on the property ladder once and for all. Your about to join the first time home buyers’ club and the excitement is building. I have yet to buy my first home, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t think about it – often! Buying my first home is one of my goals in the near future. I am determined to make it happen.… Continue Reading
Passive Income Done Right
Do you often think about how you could create a passive income? Maybe you’re just itching to get out of your job and would love to create a real estate empire, or perhaps a franchise that is run completely by someone other than you. These dreams are all well and good, but you must first have your finances in order before you can pursue opportunities such as these.… Continue Reading
