Green Residential
The average family moves every few years. Sometimes there’s a functional need for the move – such as moving into a new school district, adding a bedroom, or downsizing. Other times, people move because they want something fresh or new. But moving for purely aesthetic purposes is expensive. What if you could totally change the look and feel of your current home for $10,000 or less? Believe it or not, it’s possible!
If you want to build wealth, real estate is by far one of the best investment strategies around. Not only can the right real estate produce steady monthly income, but the underlying asset also appreciates in value over time.
Unfortunately, many people don’t think they have the financial resources to get involved in real estate investing – so they don’t pursue it. But who says you need $500,000 or $1 million in cash to buy a rental property? There’s cheap real estate in almost every market – you just have to find it!
Real estate investing isn’t a narrow field. If you want to get involved in real estate, you have plenty of options and strategies at your disposal. And if you aren’t sure where to begin, perhaps a real estate investment trust (REIT) could be the right choice.
Decorating a home is a very personal endeavor. Every individual has unique tastes and the right to decorate their home in any way that they see fit. But as much as interior design is a creative expression – a form of art, per se – there are also certain principles that work better than others. And if you walk into a dozen random homes, chances are, they all violate at least a few interior design best practices.
In November 2017, Hurricane Harvey tore through the Houston area, leaving devastation in its wake, killing 68 residents and causing $125 billion in damages. Despite all this damage, though, a year later the housing market is largely stabilized, particularly the multifamily market.
Occupancy rates are up and multifamily rents are up 4.5% – but that doesn’t mean everything has returned to normal. In fact, if you’re a property owner looking to sell, you’ll have to make a few adjustments. The majority of buyers right now are home flippers seeking to make a profit, and as a seller, you need to adjust to what these investors are seeking.
Whether you own a few single family homes or focus on apartment buildings, the fact is, we’re living in the age of “amenity creep” – and it’s only going to get worse. According to Curbed, today’s property owners are overwhelmed by efforts to add new features to their rentals, from traditional offerings like dog runs and gyms to communal gardens, movie theaters, and even co-working spaces. But are these amenities worth the investment? With a shift towards a buyers market coming in the next few years, added amenities might be necessary, but property owners need to choose wisely to maximize ROI.
One of the most crucial factors for success as a landlord is finding good tenants to occupy your property. But what, exactly, counts as a “good” tenant?
Good tenants are those that make your life easier and/or maximize your profitability. They pay the rent on time, consistently. They’re unlikely to move out, leaving you with a vacancy that compromises your cash flow. And they don’t cause many problems for your property or your neighbors—they inform you when something’s wrong, keep the property in good repair, and don’t make too much noise.