Blog – Page 444 of 891 – Mike Pfefferman

04

Mar

Real Estate

5 Essential Questions Real Estate Investors Should Ask Before Making An Offer

5 Essential Questions Real Estate Investors Should Ask Before Making An Offer Real estate investing is not only a great way to diversify assets but can also be used to generate both income and capital appreciation. While this is a fantastic opportunity, it is also important to choose investment projects carefully. It is critical to ask the right questions before making an offer on an investment property.

Why Is The Building On The Market?

There is a reason why the property is on the market. It is important to know the answer to this question. Sometimes, the house is on the market purely because the owner is moving for job or family purposes.

On the other hand, there might be an issue with the integrity of the structure. Be sure to figure out the true nature of the building before making an offer.

What Are The Other Offers?

It is important to know the competition when purchasing an investment property. Those who are trying to get the best deal possible need to know what they are up against. Asking about whether a cash offer will sweeten the deal is a great way to garner some additional insights.

What Is The Recent Maintenance?

One of the most common hidden costs in the world of real estate comes in the form of deferred maintenance. If nothing has been done on the property recently, these maintenance costs are going to be passed on to the buyer, hurting any potential ROI. Be sure to ask about any recent repairs or replacements. It’s not unusual for someone to spend a third of the building’s value on repairs.

What Is The Seller Interested In?

Be straightforward and ask what is important to the seller. Some sellers want a quick close. Other sellers want to rent the property back. There are even some sellers who want to leave the furniture behind as well. Ask what the seller needs to offload the investment property.

How Long Has It Been On The Market?

Always check and see how long the building as been on the market. If the building has been on the market for a while, figure out why it hasn’t sold. On the other hand, if the building just landed on the market, there might be more room to negotiate.

If you are in the market for a real estate investment property, a trusted home mortgage professional can be one of your best assets. Be sure to make contact as soon as you are ready to start looking!

03

Mar

By First Rate Financial Group

Real Estate

How To Keep Records For Your Real Estate Business

How To Keep Records For Your Real Estate Business Anyone who is looking to build a successful real estate business needs to keep meticulous records. When buying and selling property, there are a lot of tax and legal responsibilities. While some people may not want to think about this issue, the IRS may audit a real estate business. In this case, it is critical to have documentation that demonstrates proof of income as well as any credits or deductions that might have been claimed.

Some of the most common deductions that are claimed in the real estate business include depreciation, mortgage interest, repairs, insurance premiums, administrative costs, and property taxes. In order to keep records for a real estate business, there are a few categories to consider.

Improvements That Have Been Made To Properties

There are two ways that someone can deduct the costs of improvements or repairs made to properties. First, someone can deduct the entire cost of the expense during the year that it was incurred. This means the cost of materials, labor, storage, and more.

The other way that someone can claim this deduction is to depreciate its cost over a predetermined period of time. This time period is going to depend on the nature of the repair. In this case, the depreciation period would begin on the date the repair or improvement is made.

The Cost Of Cars, Mileage, And Parking

Another key category is mileage and parking. There are plenty of people who use a car to get from place to place. If this car is used for work purposes, it can be claimed as a deduction. In order to keep proper records of mileage and parking, it is important to keep either a digital or paper log for the purposes of each trip.

Then, with the number of miles driven in hand, this can be multiplied by the suggested mileage rate provided by the IRS. The grand total can be deducted from someone’s gross taxable income that year. The alternative way to calculate this is to forgo the standard rate issued by the IRS and deduct the cost of gas, maintenance, and depreciation of the vehicle. Some people like to calculate the deduction both ways and use the larger total. Just be sure to have records to support this claim.

Remember that partenering with a trusted home mortgage professional can be a great asset for your clients and generate referral leads for your business.

02

Mar

By First Rate Financial Group

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week -March 2nd, 2020

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week -March 2nd, 2020 Economic readings released last week included Case-Shiller and FHFA Home Price Indices and reports on new and pending home sales. The week wrapped up with a report on consumer sentiment and weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.

Case-Shiller, FHFA Report Faster Home Price Growth

Home prices rose by 3.80 percent year-over-year in December according to Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index. Case-Shiller’s 20-City Home Price Index rose by 2.90 percent year-over-year in December as compared to November’s reading of a 3.50 percent gain over-over-year; Case-Shiller reported 0.40 percent growth in home prices from month-to-month.

The 20-City Home Price Index reported no change in the top three cities for year-over-year home price growth. Phoenix, Arizona reported 6.50 percent home price growth in December followed by Charlotte, North Carolina’s reading of 5.30 percent home price growth. Tampa, Florida reported 5.20 percent year-over-year home price growth.

The Federal HousingFinance Agency reported its 34^th consecutive quarter of home price growth in December. Home prices rose by 5.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 and were 0.60 percent higher month-to-month.

2019 saw home buyers leave pricey coastal metro areas in favor of less expensive markets in mountain states and in the South. Home prices in these areas rose as demand increased. Overall, real estate pros reported lingering shortages of homes for sale in many areas, but low mortgage rates prompted would-be buyers to enter the market. Increased demand for homes further boosted home prices in many areas.

Mortgage Rates Fall as New Jobless Claims Rise

Freddie Mac reported lower mortgage rates last week as 30-year fixed mortgage rates dropped four basis points to 3.45 percent. The average rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was also four basis points lower at 2.95 percent. Rates for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages averaged 3.20 percent and were five basis points lower.

Discount points averaged 0.70 percent for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages and 0.80 percent for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Discount points for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages averaged 0.20 percent.

First-time jobless claims rose last week; 219,000 new claims were filed and exceeded expectations of 214,000 claims and the prior week’s reading of 211,000 first-time claims filed.

New and Pending Home Sales Increase in January

764,000 new homes were sold in January on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis according to the Commerce Department. Analysts expected 722,000 new home sales based on December’s reading of 708,000 new homes sold. Low mortgage rates boosted sales as buyers turned to new home developments to take advantage of rock-bottom mortgage rates.

Pending home sales rose 5.20 percent in January as compared to a dip of -4.30 percent in December according to the National Association of Realtors®. Pending home sales were 8.70 percent higher in the South and 7.10 percent higher in the Midwest. Pending sales rose by 1.20 percent in the Northeast and fell 1.10 percent in the West.

The University of Michigan reported slight growth in consumer sentiment in February with an index reading of 101.0 as compared to January’s reading of 100.9. Analysts expected no change from January’s reading.

What’s Ahead

This week’s scheduled economic news includes readings on construction spending and labor sector reports on public and private-sector job growth and the national unemployment rate. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims will also be released.