Airbnb has revolutionized the real estate game. With more real estate investment opportunities than ever, capitalizing on them is an excellent way to secure your financial future. Still, determining whether or not a property is a good investment is challenging without the right training, experience, and tools. Fortunately,…

Investing in a rental property is investing in your financial future and security, but maximizing profits requires understanding the perfect price point. Charge too much, and you will lose and deter renters; charge too little, and you will leave money on the table. Ultimately, evaluating all the pertinent…

Until recently, not many people thought housing was in a bubble. But new data has Dallas Fed researchers noting “abnormal US housing market behavior,” “reasons for concern,” and calling housing prices “unhinged from fundamentals.”  One possible reason for price increases, the Fed blog said, is a sense of…

Despite interest hikes and talk of a real estate slowdown, housing inventory is still low, and the market remains intensely competitive. But there are steps buyers can take to put themselves ahead of the pack and make an offer a seller can’t refuse.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCTAGW1LYfw The very first step…

In addition to our worries about how the ongoing crisis in Ukraine is resulting in mounting loss of lives and stoking fears of a broader conflict, we have worries closer to home, about how the situation is impacting our economy. The Ukraine crisis began just as the U.S.…

Lucrative income comes from referral and repeat clients. For real estate agents, repeat business is few and far between unless the buyers and sellers do so for part or all of their income. These real estate investors aren’t just another client – they’re the cream of the crop…

Whether your own personal domicile, a vacation home, or an investment property, a home loan is a significant commitment. It comes with legal obligations and contracts, not to mention a years-long agreement to make payments on the property. However, not all lenders are alike, especially when your income…

Do you have a tried-and-true destination where you default for every holiday weekend or week out of the office? Short-term rentals and resort stays get expensive quickly. If you feel as comfortable in your adopted city as you do at home, it might be time to consider purchasing…

For nearly seven in ten people, being self-employed is the ultimate dream for their working life. Currently, around 30% of Americans actually work for themselves with less than 10% making a go of it full-time. Although it’s an achievement worthy of celebrating, certain challenges come up when you…

According to the latest Realtor.com survey, nearly 50% of American homeowners would entertain renting out extra space in their house. Almost one-third of homeowners have already tried generating rental income from their property, and around one-quarter would prefer to have long-term renters rather than transient occupants. As many…

Unlike the traditional 9-to-5 job with a paycheck every two weeks, more Americans than ever are in a unique financial position. A startup founder that sells off the company for six to eight figures, an entrepreneur who takes dividends but no salary, and a newly retired CEO find…

As the anomaly that is 2021 goes deeper into the second half, demand for mortgages has once again picked up. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that applications for home purchases increased in August, and in an area that might be a bit of a surprise with the inflated…

Interior of modern living room with shelf unit and sofa For some homeowners, the long-term goal is to be free and clear of monthly mortgage payments as soon as possible. It’s a trend that Baby Boomers and Gen Xers have tended to pursue, especially since interest rates were…

Every home buyer is faced with a question, whether it’s a first home loan or a mortgage on a luxury property: “Which mortgage product is right for me?” For traditional and jumbo loans alike, a 30-year fixed rate is one of the most popular options, paying down the…

What is a DSCR loan? A debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) mortgage loan allows you to finance an investment property. While a traditional residential mortgage is based on your ability to personally cover the monthly payments with verifiable income like pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, and bank statements,…

It’s the time of year when mortgage applications begin to slow down and everyone takes a collective breath for a moment. The economy is also in a time when anything could happen, especially after the unprecedented housing boom that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The last year saw…

It’s absolutely true that 90% of millionaires are involved in real estate in some way. It’s always been a great source of monthly income, and a great way to get started with investment properties is to buy a single-family home for its rental income potential.  The benefits are…

Homeowners who have done well for themselves financially might be thinking about finding a larger or more luxurious home, and it’s definitely earned. But for many business-focused or investing-savvy individuals, making payments on both principal and interest limits their available cash flow and can restrict their ability to…

Mortgage interest rates are in a constant state of flux – weekly, daily, and even hourly. When you apply for a mortgage whether you buy a home or refinance, you’re typically afforded a grace period where you’re guaranteed the rate you’ve been pre-approved at. It’s great since mortgage…

Buying a home has its challenges, from hoping your offer is the winning bid and arranging a move to selling your current home. An area where it doesn’t have to be complicated is securing a mortgage. Whether you’re a business owner, an investor, an independent contractor, or you…

As a realtor, the main goal is often to find a home buyer a long-term home that fits their needs. The other equally important component is selling their home for them. It’s a worthy career that helps people with their goals of owning or selling a house, and…

A new generation – Millennials – have arrived on the real estate market and are actively buying and selling properties, both for income-earning reasons and for personal residences. With high six-figure or seven-figure-plus incomes, luxury real estate is steadily attracting a more youthful selection of home buyers.  However,…

Selling homes to the rich and famous might’ve been what attracted you to real estate in your market, particularly if it’s a tourist destination like Hawaii, Florida, or SoCal.  Although vacation homes, luxury rentals, and investment properties may be where the money is, it’s an elusive part of…

As June drew to a close, low rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgagees crept up to the highest level of the month. The economy has been recovering well as the effects of the pandemic give way to strong sentiment among shoppers. Combined with one of the best times of…

Location, location, location. Regardless of what type of real estate you’re buying, its proximity to services, distance from the beach or slopes, and the neighborhood it’s in are always a priority. When it comes to luxury real estate, there are more factors to consider than just if you…

Currently, there are more than 45 million foreign-born people living in the United States. While many have official resident status with a green card, millions are here as non-permanent residents on a work or student visa or as foreign nationals with a primary residence outside of the US.…

As many as 80% of real estate agents fail or quit within their first year. Although the potential income is very attractive, the fact is that being a realtor is a challenging profession that requires long hours, plenty of sacrifices, hard work, and intelligent partnerships.  What sets the…

Joining the ranks of real estate investors can add a healthy cash flow to your portfolio. New to the game or seasoned in investing in real estate, being a landlord is often seen as an incredibly reliable source of wealth as rental income is largely passive. However, buying…

Investors and property owners alike may be having flashbacks to 2008. That’s when the real estate industry saw record highs of foreclosures and plummeting home prices as the Federal Reserve bumped the federal funds rate. While some of the scenarios may seem eerily similar, analysts aren’t worried. They…

For anyone that’s entertained the option to build your own home, the prices have been climbing substantially over the past several months. CNBC is reporting that lumber prices are adding around $36,000 in lumber costs alone to the build price of an average single family home.  The rapid…

Miami Beach to San Marino, Aspen to Beacon Hill and Orange County. Stunning luxury homes permeate the market in these and other neighborhoods in the US. It’s where influential and successful people call home. For realtors, it represents an incredible opportunity to grow your business and develop wealthy…

The hot real estate market might have you thinking about getting in on the action. With prices steadily climbing and interest rates extremely low, it’s a great time for investing in real estate to become part of your investment strategy. What opportunities are there that can get you…

Whether because of the pandemic’s workforce shift to WFH or if your career trajectory has taken you there in other more intentional ways, the gig economy has exploded. Freelancing is a $1.2 trillion-dollar economy in the United States, and freelance jobs are becoming more widely accepted as a…

In the US, there are more than 22 million rental properties and the bulk of them are occupied. Real estate rentals are big business, and it’s an area that can significantly increase your gross monthly income. But when it comes time to upgrade your primary residence or add…

You’re used to providing advice to clients on how to achieve their financial goals. Devising strategies to optimize retirement savings, establishing budgets for high-value clients, estate planning, reviewing insurance, and recommending options for mortgage loans or refinancing – it’s all in a day’s work for a financial advisor.…

A defining moment for a hard-working individual arrives when you’ve decided to purchase a second home. It may be seeking out an investment property to diversify your portfolio or it could simply be a vacation home in a subtropical destination. Fewer than 5% of Americans achieve this dream,…

You’re your own boss. The sky’s the limit for earning potential. You can attend your kids’ sporting events and rehearsals with a flexible schedule, and it’s an opportunity to showcase your expertise and skills. Regardless of which industry you’re in, being an independent contractor comes with the perk…

What You Will Learn How to determine interior home valueHow to look for potential home expensesWhere to look for foundational issues in the home In the real estate market, a home inspection is the best way to determine if a property is a good investment. But before a…

Whether you have a flawed credit history, you’re an aggressive investor, or you don’t have the backing of an employer-issued paystub, you could have issues getting approved for a traditional mortgage or loan. It can be disheartening, but there are ways available to finance a real estate purchase…

The mortgage solution you selected months or years ago could’ve been your best choice back then, but what if the market, your situation, or your goals have changed? A more competitive mortgage product may be the answer. Refinancing could be changing the rate and term on your current…

It might be the most expensive purchase you’ve made to date. Whether it’s for the first time as a self-employed individual, an investor, or a business owner, or if it’s another stepping stone on your journey to achieving your dream, buying a home is a process that takes…

Beginning a career, starting a family, buying a first home – these are a few of the most anxiety-inducing yet exciting times in anyone’s life. The highest costs are waiting for those who are striking out into the real estate market, though. If you’re thinking about buying a…

More than 44 million Americans are considered self-employed, and that figure continues growing. Whether you’re engaged in the gig economy or a dividend-receiving business owner, being self-employed can create financial challenges even when you collect a healthy income from your work. One of the major hurdles is in…