How does GDP impact housing? We make it easy to understand how the world works. And, we summarize what is going on in Western Washington today.
Continue reading “State of the Market—2nd Quarter 2018 by Jen Hudson”
This next sentence may be one of those “no, duh!” type statements, but just hear me out. Cities, towns and counties are usually made up of different Continue reading “Zoning. It doesn’t have to be the monster under your bed. By Jen Hudson”
Why Real Estate is Better than Stocks
The thing I love about real estate is that it allows you to leverage your money. Here’s what I mean. Let’s say that you have $40,000 to invest.
Option 1: Investing in Real Estate. You find an income producing property, maybe a little run down that is only $200,000. You put 15% down, or $30,000 and still have $2,000 for closing costs and $8,000 for upgrades.
Option 2: Investing in Stocks. Say $20,000 goes into mutual funds and $20,000 into an aggressive stock.
Now, move forward one month. Continue reading “Real Estate vs Stock Market”
There are a couple basic items to consider when looking at an investment property. Just like in real estate, rentals are about location, location, location!
If you are considering a full-time rental property, is it close to schools, shopping or allow for easy commuting? If you are looking at a vacation rental, what is the draw for that area and why do people visit? Is there a golf course, beach or another attraction that brings people to the neighborhood consistently? Even a retirement community? Find out what it is and utilize that. Continue reading “We live in a litigious society. Be cautious.”
If you are a new investor starting out, I recommend starting small.
Duplexes and Mother-in-Law apartments are a great beginning. They allow you to live on one side and keep an eye on the premises while generating income at the same time. Of course, there are drawbacks to this set-up. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investor (Part 1)”
There are a couple basic items to consider when looking at an investment property. Just like in real estate, rentals are about location, location, location!
If you are considering a full-time rental property, is it close to schools, shopping or allow for easy commuting? If you are looking at a vacation rental, what is the draw for that area and why do people visit? Is there a golf course, beach or another attraction that brings people to the neighborhood consistently? Even a retirement community? Find out what it is and utilize that. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investor: Good Rental (Part 2)”
As with any investment, part of planning is knowing how long you are going to keep it. If you plan on keeping a property for 20 years, chances are you’re going to have to replace the roof, water heater and other items with a limited lifespan. If you plan on keeping the property for only 5 years, then you’ll want to avoid those costly items if possible. Or, at least take them into account with your costs and purchase price. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investors: Long Term (Part 3)”
If you are just tuning in and are interested in investment properties, take a minute to browse through my previous articles before you get started. Part 1 – Tips for First Time Investors. Part 2 – Is it a Good Rental? Part 3 – How Long is Your Horizon?
So, you’ve found a couple properties that might be a good investment. How do you know if they are worth it? First, when looking at a potential investment property, use actual numbers, not future projected numbers. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investors: Value (Part 4)”
To wrap up this series on investment properties, let’s take a look at some final pieces to keep your investment an investment. If you haven’t read previous articles, start here for some worth while information on how to look at investing.
Investment-Income Producing Properties are a wonderful thing to have. While everyone else is waiting for the market to change, this is the ideal time to negotiate some fabulous deals. But it takes more than just purchasing a property to make it worth your while. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investors: Final Steps (Part 5)”
Here’s a great tidbit from the Washington Association of REALTORS® legal hotline regarding federal laws, tenants & foreclosures….
Question:
Are there state and/or federal laws affecting tenant occupancy of rental property after a foreclosure sale? Continue reading “Federal Laws, Tenant Occupancy & Foreclosures”