News about properties and real estate
Why you should (and shouldn’t) pay off your mortgage The question comes to investment adviser Jim Miller in various guises, but it comes frequently and it boils down to this: Is money better used to pay down debts or to build an investment nest egg? Most often the inquiry involves a home mortgage. The other …
Continue reading “Why you should (and shouldn’t) pay off your mortgage”
Old loan, new interest Driven by capital-gains rules and soaring home appreciation, the appeal is growing for ‘owner- carry’ mortgages. Seller financing, once used to attract buyers forced out of the market by high interest rates on conventional loans, may be making a comeback thanks to California’s handsomely appreciated market and the ceiling on tax-free …
Buy now, pay later Mortgage lenders are offering all sorts of exotic mortgages that can help lower monthly payments, but might prove risky if home prices fall and interest rates rise. There’s probably a mortgage out there to meet the needs of anyone who is looking to buy a house. Want a low monthly payment? …
Why 50-year mortgages are a ‘Stupid Investment’ Take the worst problems of one stupid investment and mix it with the biggest concerns of another and you wind up with a Stupid Investment of the Week to the second power. And that’s precisely what you will get if you fall for a 50-year mortgage, a relatively …
Continue reading “Why 50-year mortgages are a ‘Stupid Investment’”
10 questions to ensure good condo purchase Finally, we get to the all-important 10 key questions smart condo buyers should ask (but condo sellers hope their buyers don’t ask): 1 – WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION (HOA)? If you are a buyer seriously considering purchasing a specific condo unit, it’s time …
Continue reading “10 questions to ensure good condo purchase”
Are commercial real estate loans going to hurt banks? Collman & Karsky Architects of Tampa has increased its staff by nearly a third since late 2004, trying to keep pace with surging demand for sleek new office, condo and retail buildings. “The vacancy rate for office space is in the 10% range (or lower). As …
Continue reading “Are commercial real estate loans going to hurt banks?”