Real Estate Deeds Made Easy Since 1997
Corporate buyers are snapping up residential properties in Massachusetts and pushing out long-time residents, according to a report by the news outlet 25 Investigates. These investment companies form a complex network, making it nearly impossible for individuals and towns to hold them accountable.
Continue reading “We All Deserve a Home, But Corporations Outbid Some of Our Friends.”
A condo for sale? That’s an opportunity for a buyer to acquire a deed, start building equity…and maybe even attain financial freedom. Some first-timer buyers who want a foothold on the ownership ladder jump on a condo listing for precisely that reason.
To some, condo deeds represent long-term homes and investments. To others, condos are perfect for downsizing. In any case, questions arise for the condo shopper. Questions like: Can I use the condo itself to earn income?
Here, we break down this and related condo queries.
Continue reading “Can Condo Buyers Freely Work in, Sell, and Rent Their Condos?”
Many heirs receive real estate because it’s a valuable asset — not necessarily because they need the homes to live in. So, for the heir who doesn’t want to live in the inherited home, what’s the best decision to make? Rent or sell the home?
The answer is clear: It all depends! It’ll turn on the precise blend of the heir’s circumstances and the real estate market.
While we have no blanket best answer for all readers and all markets, we can certainly go over the factors an heir would want to consider.
Continue reading “I Inherited a Home. Should I Sell It, or Rent It Out?”
For most U.S. deed holders, a home is at the core of their retirement wealth. So, does that make buying a home a path to financial independence?
It certainly can be, although the calculus is changing.
Continue reading “Is Buying a Home a Path to Financial Freedom? (Is the Answer Changing?)”
Seasonal trends have an impact on home selling and buying success. Whether you’re receiving a real estate deed for the first time, or conveying your deed to a new buyer, having a sense of the market is helpful for planning.
The housing market stalled in 2023. Can this new Spring season reactivate it? Anything can happen. But one thing is already clear. Home buyers are back. And sellers are there to meet them.
Continue reading “Ready, Set…Here Comes a Real Spring Home Buying Rush”
Some people buy homes, and run vacation rental businesses through them. They might even run their businesses from afar, through apps. And they do it without having to qualify for a loan based on their incomes.
These borrowers seek out an unconventional — yet popular — form of mortgage. Lenders approve these loans based on expected future income from particular investment properties.
Let’s take a look at these loans.
Continue reading “Vacation Property Loans? What’s the Scoop?”
For too many years, the U.S. housing market has been out of reach for too many people. But giving up might not be an option.
Those able to get a foothold in this market often do it to attain a viable financial future. A homeowner’s wealth goes up along with home values. So, owners accumulate home equity month by month. And property inflation helps them do it.
In this context, a recent NBC News segment featured financial advisers who urge people to become homeowners — in spite of the current high interest rates. From their perspective, not owning is unaffordable.
After all, the gap between the haves and have-nots of real estate widens with inflation. Fear of missing out, a.k.a. FOMO, is a totally reasonable response to this reality.
Or you can…
Continue reading “Buying a Home While Interest Rates Are Still High? The Case for “Yes””
Once upon a time, way back in 2003, the Federal Housing Administration instituted a 90-day wait for sales of homes by flippers. And to this day, only those who’ve owned for more than three months may sell to buyers who get FHA loans.
Clearly, flippers need to keep this in mind. FHA-backed mortgages, of course, are popular options for all kinds of buyers. Quite a few are first-timers striving to establish their credit profiles. People with credit scores of 580 can be eligible to put as little as 3.5% down, if they meet all other criteria. So that’s a wide pool of potential buyers. And these buyers sometimes do find homes listed by sellers aiming to make quick resales.
Continue reading “Buy a Flipped Home, Get an FHA Loan. Like Oil and Water—Or Do They Mix?”
Can you sell a rental unit “out from under” your renter? A loaded question, of course. Look at it this way. If your renters love where they live, it could be a win for all involved.
You have a few things to consider as you plan for positive outcomes, of course. This is true whether you ultimately sell with the occupant in the unit, or wait instead until the unit is empty.
Here are some scenarios — and how you might handle them with style and grace.
Continue reading “Selling Your Property When a Renter Still Lives There: Why and How?”
Ever heard someone say they got a “subject-to” offer on their home? Or maybe you or someone you know is contacted with a subject-to offer. Maybe you saw a sign saying “We buy homes!” and wondered what’s going on.
Subject-to is a little-known strategy in the world of deed transactions. It comes in many forms. But the gist of it is this. If the seller does a “subject-to” sale, a buyer agrees to take ownership without having to sign mortgage documents. The purchase is “subject to” the current loan terms. And the buyer takes over the monthly payments.
So, now you’re wondering: Is this offer a good deal or a bad deal?
Let’s take a closer look.
Continue reading “What Is “Subject-To” Home Buying? AKA: Taking Over the Mortgage Payments”