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Ranking the key factors in a RE Investment
- Sunday, December 21, 2008
What is your ranking of the key factors in making a real estate investment?
My ranking is as follows:
1.) Excellent location
2.) Great climate
3.) Strong median household income
4.) Growing population
5.) Solid median home value appreciation
6.) Variety of activities and attractions
7.) Strong performance against financial metricsLabels: investments, key factors, real estate
Does geography limit professional and personal opportunities?
- Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The geographical boundaries that traditionally limit where we live and work are being reduced. With laptops and smart phones more and more people are seeking a higher quality of life, while maintaining/improving their professional opportunities.
I think there will be more people moving to areas they wish to live in because their concern for being close to work is lessening. Frankly the job cuts from big companies may begin to accelerate this trend. Companies and communities are not well prepared for this.
There is a first mover advantage for people, companies and communities that consider this and prepare for it.Labels: geography, professional opportunities
Buyer Safety Tips for Visiting Properties
- Sunday, December 7, 2008
Nearly one third of all buyers today are single and in some instances spouses visit a home without their partner on the first time through. So being careful and practing some simple tips can make your house hunting safer, more enjoyable and allow you to focus on the properties with much more confidence.
Listed below are some buyer safety tips when visiting real estate showing's and/or open houses:
1.) Whenever possible invite a friend to join you on your house hunting adventure. This can make your trip more exciting and allows you to gain the idea's and feedback of a trusted friend.
2.) Phone screening your Realtor for experience and references prior to meeting him/her is a great safety tool up front. Have them send you an email with their contact information before meeting them in person.
3.) Meet your Realtor in a public location or at his/her office prior to visiting any properties.
4.) Ask to see a copy of the Realtors license when you first meet them.
5.) Alway's keep your cell phone with you and turned on.
6.) Alway's tell a friend family member which Realtor you are meeting with, the company they work for and the phone number the Realtor can be reached at.
7.) Stay with your Realtor throughout the open house and/or showing.
These simple tips can make your experience safer and more enjoyable.
5 Year Home Values Show Growth
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Very good article from Kenneth Harney in today's Naples Daily News Real Estate section titled "Home values showing signs of growth". His basic point was that there is no question that home values across the country have experienced some deep declines over the past two years. But the statistical fact based upon the third quarter survey by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, released on November 25, 2008, is that the values in the overwhelming majority of markets across the US are positive over a five year timeline.
You can check out your local markets performance in the complete 85 page survey at www.fhfa.gov.Labels: 5 years, growth trends, local markets, real estate
Island Eats Tip
- Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Good place for lunch is the Italian Deli & Market at 247 North Collier Blvd on Marco Island. They have very good soup and sandwiches. During the evening you can get excellent pizza too (Friday afternoon special as well). Enjoy!Labels: lunch, pizza, sandwiches, soup
WSJ Article on The Future of Home Prices
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Recent article from the Wall Street Journal regarding the Future of Home Prices. Basically the author and several economists say you should be careful about viewing your home or any real estate as an investment. Just look at it as where you live.
Interestingly the article sites three different homeowner surveys which clearly indicate that the majority of people do look at the homes as an investment and do believe they will increase in value over the longer term.
Real Estate is local in nature. The value is market driven as an investment. When we consider our assets real estate very often will contribute a sizable portion for the vast majority of people. Not considering the value of it as an asset/investment seems like a very limited choice in my view.
Checkout the article for yourself and decide:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122764977315457619.htmlLabels: future value, home prices, real estate
Key Investment Advantages Of Real Estate
- Monday, December 1, 2008
Leverage is often noted as the primary advantage of Real Estate when compared to other investment options. Tax advantages are highlighted as well.
The two advantages of real estate investments frequently over-looked are: 1.) Greater Control which is a unique advantage because the owner maintains the ability to influence beyond the decision to buy or sell. There is an opportunity to change the operation of your investment and respond to market conditions. 2.) Insurance can be purchased to legally protect a real estate investment.
These two factors are advantages to real estate investments which are often over-looked when comparing different types of investment options (mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc...) to real estate.Labels: advantages, investments, real estate
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