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8 Reasons Real Estate is the Best Investment

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8 Reasons Why Real Estate is the Best Investment Real estate has long been considered a solid investment for many reasons. It is a relatively safe and easy way for people to build wealth beginning with a small amount of money. If you are interested in investing in real estate, I’d be happy to help you find the right properties. Here are some of the ways investing in property can help you build an investment portfolio. 1. Real estate investments can provide you with a reliable and steady cash flow. Investing in rental properties is relatively easy as expenses are predictable and if your properties remain occupied you know what to expect in terms of profit margin. 2. Real estate appreciates in value. Real estate consistently appreciates, even during economic downturns, making it one of the more reliable investments. On average, real estate in the US appreciates between 3-5% annually. 3. Real estate investments help you retire. If you have been paying on your mortgage throughout your work...
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12 Tips for an Easier Move

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12 Tips for an Easier Move As exciting as it is to move into a new home, not many people look forward to the actual moving day. Whether you are moving across town or across the country, moving is stressful. Here are some helpful hints from expert movers to make the big day a little more bearable. 1. Schedule your move well ahead of time. Moving companies get booked up weeks in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your move. Make sure they know ahead of time if you have any very large or heavy items to move. The last thing you want is for the movers to show up with a truck that isn’t big enough or without enough people to move your belongings safely. 2. Consider letting the moving company pack your items. If it’s within your budget to hire packers, it may be money well spent. Packers are usually very efficient and take time to wrap fragile items securely. Packers will usually pack you the day before your move, so you don’t have to pack items away that you may need up...
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Upsize or Downsize? What's Your Best Move?

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  Upsize or Downsize: Which is Your Best Move? Deciding if it is time for your family to upsize or downsize is not always a clear choice. There are factors to consider that might push you to take the leap or stay put for a while longer. Whether you are thinking about upsizing so your family can spread out or purging possessions so you can downsize, here are some questions to ponder. 1. How are you using your current space? Do your family members feel like they don’t have adequate privacy or space to do their own thing?  Are you tired of working at the dining table and really need an office or workshop? Is having the kids share bedrooms just not working out? Maybe an upsize is warranted. On the other hand, do you have rooms that aren’t being used, or are you tired of paying property taxes on more house than you need? Check for the downsize column! 2. Have you considered the maintenance costs? If upsizing is on your mind, consider the added costs for maintaining a larger home an...
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Is It Smart to Refinance?

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  Your home mortgage is an important investment in your future, and a mortgage refinance can be a smart move to help you manage your investments when used under the right circumstances. Here are some things to consider about refinancing your mortgage.   Simply put, when you refinance your mortgage, you are taking out a new loan to pay off your original mortgage, so the first question to ask yourself may be is there a better product available to you than what you started with?    Refinancing allows you to borrow against the equity you have built up in your home and take out cash you can use to pay off other debt, make home improvements, or invest in your retirement. For example, let’s say you have $70,000 of equity in your home, but still owe $175,000 on your mortgage. You may take out a new mortgage for $200,000 that is used to pay off the first mortgage, and then pays you $25,000 in cash. If you have made regular payments on your initial mortgage for at least five y...
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Home Renovations Q & A

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Renovating Your Home? Check Our FAQ’s! How do I pick a contractor? Ideally, you want to build the same kind of relationship with your contractor as you do with your real estate agent: one built on trust that makes you want to go back to that person for any future needs. Your contractor should be a very good listener and communicator. You want them to “get” your vision for your home, and to keep you in the loop every step of the way. Do your due diligence by checking out contractors’ reputations, talking with other clients, and looking at work they have done previously before you make your selection. How much will my project cost? Of course, the answer depends upon the scope of your project, but in order to get the best estimate from your contractor, take time to write down each detail of your plan so that the contractor can include everything in their estimate. Renovations are famous for taking longer and costing more than originally planned, but this is often because the homeowner mak...
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What to Check on Your Final Walk-Through

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What to Check on Your Final Walk-Through   The final walk-through on your new home is an exciting event. It means you have successfully maneuvered through negotiations, inspections, and financing approval, and are on the verge of signing your closing papers. Most buyers attend the final walk-through with thoughts of furniture placement and paint colors in their heads. But the walk-through is about more than just making sure your favorite chair will fit by the fireplace. Be sure to do your due diligence to make sure there are no issues that should be resolved before you reach the closing table.    The purpose of the final walk-through is to ascertain that the home is being conveyed to you in the same condition it was when you agreed to purchase it. Here are a few of the things you should check:   1) Make sure no damage has occurred to the home that the sellers are responsible for repairing. Weather conditions or careless movers can cause accidental damage, and old and...
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A Guide to Buying your First Home in 2022

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Hello future homebuyer!  Are you ready to buy your first home? Myself, along with Sotheby's International Brokerage, specialize in helping first-time home buyers like you find their dream property in Southern California!  Before you start searching for homes online, it's important to take the first step to house shopping: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Your pre-approval will tell you what you can afford and what your monthly payment will be, so it's important to determine this before you start searching for your new home. Pre-approval is good for about 30-90 days, so once you're ready, take these first 3 steps to get it done.  Contact me, and I will send over a list of lenders I know and trust.  Look over the list, check out online reviews, and ask friends and family for referrals.  Email 2-3 lenders you like or let me introduce you over email. Once you've got your pre-approval letter in hand, it's time to start the search! Before we hop into the...
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