investment: Why Should You Invest In Real Estate?
- 04/30/18 10:07 AM
With the stock market experiencing increased unpredictability, many investors are turning to alternative ways to balance their portfolios. A survey by Bankrate recently found that 28% of investors prefer real estate, as opposed to only 17% who chose stocks. So, what makes real estate an attractive investment? There are 4 main reasons:
Cash flow- A rental property brings postitive cash flow in the form of monthly income. A rental property can also include vacation homes such as a beach house, or even using Airbnb to rent out extra rooms or separate buildings on the property. Tax breaks- Deductions and depreciation are … (2 comments)
investment: Why Rent When You Can Own?
- 03/28/18 12:31 PM
The average cost of an apartment in Richmond as of February 2018 was $1171 a month, a 6.5% increase from 2017, according to RentJungle. With the average rent in the Richmond area rising, many renters are looking towards owning their own home instead. It can be a daunting idea at first, but there are many advantages of home ownership. The most obvious perks of owning a home are the monetary benefits. Real estate is an investment in yourself. Each time you pay your mortgage payments, you are earning equity in your home. Equity is the difference between the market value of your … (0 comments)
Whether you are thinking of buying a foreclosed home as an investment or as a place to call your home, here are some things to keep in mind when buying this type of property: 1. Placing An Offer You might think that the seller or bank will take any offer that you present. That may not be the case, most of the time these homes that are about to be foreclosed have heavily discounted prices, but there is a reason for this. They want to get rid of the property quickly and want to get some revenue in … (0 comments)
investment: Steps to becoming a first-time homebuyers
- 02/09/14 08:39 AM
Whether you’re a student, young professional, newlywed couple, or it’s just taken you some time to dip your toe in the real estate market, buying your first home is an exciting time! No more asking landlords if you can paint the walls magenta or making do with a kitchen that doesn’t fit your lifestyle. You get to carefully choose a home that fits your tastes or one you’re excited to tailor to your needs.
Though there are some hoops to jump through and some can get easily overwhelmed with the paperwork, there is no reason to get discouraged. Here we’ll … (1 comments)
investment: Trend Report: Who’s Buying and Selling
- 01/05/14 03:14 AM
It’s important to know who your target audience is in any market and real estate is no exception. The National Association of Realtors recently released their profile of buyers and sellers from 2013. We’ll take a look at who’s selling, who’s buying and what this means for the market in 2014. Seller Profile Typical sellers have been in their house for about 9 years, some are those who delayed selling for the last few years due to their mortgages being greater than their home was worth. Just over a third of sellers offered incentives such as help with closing costs and … (0 comments)
investment: Preparing for Tax Season as a Homeowner
- 01/05/14 03:11 AM
It’s hard to believe that it is time to start thinking about taxes already. Though there’s still a bit of a buffer between now and April 15th, it’s a good idea to begin preparing well ahead of time to avoid unnecessary stress. Today we’ll go through some preparation steps for several situations.
Those who bought a home in 2013 Hopefully you’ve saved your documents from your purchase. The handiest form to have available for tax purposes is the Settlement Statement, known as aHUD form. This itemizes all the fees and services you paid for during the home buying process, some … (0 comments)
investment: 2014- Where we are going: My predictions
- 12/30/13 08:46 PM
As the new year approaches I want to take some time to share my predictions for the housing market in 2014. Now I don’t have a crystal ball, but based on expert opinions, research, and trends I’ve observed at the close of 2013, I have formed the following thoughts on what we can expect next year. Interest Rates As the economy improves and Federal Reserve policies change, 30-year mortgage interest rates will be rising throughout 2014, likely hitting 5 percent for the first time since early 2010. While rising interest rates will make homes more expensive to finance -- the … (1 comments)
investment: Moving during the holidays
- 12/16/13 10:57 AM
This time of the year might not be one’s first choice as a time to move, but sometimes life throws curve balls and next thing you know you are juggling Christmas shopping, holiday events and packing up your entire life. Today I’ve got a few tips on how to make it through a holiday move without losing your sanity.
Line up moving help early To the extent possible, start planning the move as soon as you can. Movers may have more limited staff and availability since less people move during the holidays and staff are more likely to take off. … (0 comments)
investment: 7 tips for a safe home this holiday season
- 12/02/13 04:45 AM
It’s a season of cheer, merriment and wonder, to be sure. So I hate to be a Debby Downer here, but it’s also a season where incidents of household accidents increase in frequency and severity. Almost a third of all fires for the year will happen in the next few months, which will also see the most fatalities for fires as well. Here are a few tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season: Keep lighted candles separate. Candles should never be placed near curtains, Christmas trees, or anything that burns. Candles should have at least 12 … (0 comments)
investment: RVA for the Holidays
- 11/21/13 10:21 PM
Thanksgiving and the first full day of Hanukkah are just 7 days away (coinciding for the first time in 125 years and the last time for over 70,000 years) and Christmas is a mere 34 days away! Don’t let those numbers scare you—even if you’re shopping list is still a million miles long. Be sure to take some time out to enjoy all that Richmond has to offer during this beautiful holiday season. Here are a few not-to-miss area events and attractions: Parades By land or by sea, you can have a wonderful parade experience! The 30th Annual Richmond Christmas parade … (0 comments)
investment: Designing to Create Space
- 11/19/13 04:07 AM
Space: The final frontier. Ok, we’re not talking about that kind of space, but it can be a pretty dramatic topic. Sometimes there’s just not enough of it. Sometimes there’s too many people for a particular space—or too much stuff. Whatever your situation and whether you’re in a small space by necessity or choice, there are some easy ways to make your humble abode appear larger and more spacious. Paint: Choose light colors. This brightens up the room and makes it appear larger. This is because light colors such as whites, creams, light blues and greys reflect light and make the … (0 comments)
investment: Creating a Guest Oasis for the Holidays
- 11/03/13 11:01 PM
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Ok, we may still be a few weeks away from being able to properly proclaim this, but as November begins, it is certainly time to start thinking about all things holiday-related. As families gather, more often than not, holidays mean houseguests. Whether they are just dropping by for a meal or perhaps staying for several days, we are going to look at a few ways you can plan ahead to ensure their visit is comfortable and relaxing for everyone. Where better to start your preparation than in your entryway? Make sure guests are … (0 comments)
investment: Prepare for Colder Weather with Gutters and Chimney Cleaning
- 10/25/13 03:13 AM
In our previous post, we discussed the importance of preparing your home for colder months. This month, you can take the time to clean your gutters and chimney to avoid future burdens both on you and your wallet. Cleaning your gutters is one project that is probably the most important, yet most overlooked chore to do prior to getting too late into the fall season. By breaking down the task to a couple times a year (Fall and Spring), it makes each task much, much easier. In terms of cost efficiency, you also benefit. By cleaning, you avoid breakage, which can … (0 comments)
Updates on real estate market in Richmond, Virginia and surrounding counties such as Chesterfield, Bon Air, Chester, Midlothian, Hanover, Glen Allen, Henrico, Richmond, Virginia. Also thoughts on market changes in 2010, Information on housing for sale at Virginia Commonwealth University,
With the stock market experiencing increased unpredictability, many investors are turning to alternative ways to balance their portfolios. A survey by Bankrate recently found that 28% of investors prefer real estate, as opposed to only 17% who chose stocks. So, what makes real estate an attractive investment? There are 4 main reasons:
;)
;)
