I have never liked or favored the estate tax, and yet I am very much of two minds about actually abolishing it. I’m glad of the benefits to the individuals involved, and yet it is only one of the issues involved in planning for what happens to all of us eventually, and abolishing it removes …
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The Prerequisites of Investing
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that there are things you should do before you make your first investment. The SEC, NASD and all of the various other financial planning organizations all explicitly list three things that should be in place in most cases prior to making your first investment in anything. The first of these is …
The Mechanics of Inheriting Real Estate
How do you transfer house ownership after someone dies and leaves you the house in a will? The will must be probated. Once all debts of the estate are paid and the court agrees to a final disposition of assets, the executor will then create a deed giving whoever it is title to the property. …
The Consequences of Not Shopping Multiple Lenders
Minorities get higher rates. They add that the fact minorities are more likely to borrow from institutions specializing in high-priced loans could mean they are being steered to such lenders or that some lenders are unwilling or unable to serve minority neighborhoods. What they describe is called redlining. It is illegal. HUD (correctly!) really gets …
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Why There Is Money in Fixer Properties
I am an adamant believer in the Non-exclusive Buyer’s Agency Agreement. In practical terms, as opposed to the Exclusive Buyer’s Agency Agreement, it is so much to the advantage of the consumer that it isn’t funny, and it doesn’t usually hurt good agents. On the other hand, the proponents have one argument going for them …
When You Should Not Buy Real Estate
Okay, I did an article called Why Renting Really Is For Suckers (And What To Do About It). Fairness demands that I do a companion article on situations where buying is not a good idea. There actually are some. First off, the math just plain works against it for less than about three years. If …
What is the Best Way To Save For A Down Payment?
I just moved into a rental house with an option to buy. I figure I can probably save up around $40-45k for a down payment in three years. how should i save? The Roth IRA tax loophole for first time home buyers maxes out at $10k and takes 5 years anyway. It sounds dumb, but …
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The Lender’s Rule of Mortgage Payments
Every so often, someone who thinks they’re a wit sends me a copy of The Rules For Relationships According To Women. Unlike those rules, which might have been funny around the time Nefertiti was a debutante, these rules are real and they are not based upon caprice. Very recently, I was walking through a grocery …
Issues with Multiple Mortgages
We have several rental properties that we own (more than 10). When we were younger, before we got married, we both moved around a lot and bought houses, moved, stayed a year or so and did it again. I of course don’t have to mention why we did this (no money down, low fixed rates, …
Do Furnishings Convey With The Property?
If a home for sale has a refrigerator included on the listing report, and the buyer’s agent does not write that it goes to the seller in a contract, is the buyer actually entitled to the refrigerator. I am actually going through this right now. The listing does not matter. What does the purchase contract …