Today's Real Estate: You say tomato, I say tomato...

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

You say tomato, I say tomato...

A recent email from a client.

Hi Chris,

I'm thinking of buying a rental property, but I'm confused as to what's the difference between rental property and investment property.

Thanks,

Jeff M.

Jeff,

I've heard both terms used interchangeably for the same thing. Although, each term may have slightly different characteristics, in the end it should produce income.

It's real estate that currently produces income or income at a future date. It may be a condo that you rent out or raw land that you may sell later for a profit.

I personally prefer the term Income Property. This term reminds me that my goal is to find and to have income producing real estate.

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Owners in Default Stay in Homes Anyway

An increasing number of home owners in foreclosure continue to live in their homes, mostly ignoring the foreclosure action and refusing to pay anything.

The average borrower in foreclosure is unlikely to be evicted for 438 days, says LPS Applied Analytics. LPS says more than 650,000 households haven’t paid their mortgage in 18 months, and in the case of 19 percent of those households, the lender hasn’t made any effort to repossess the property.

In some states like California and Texas, lenders can foreclose without a say-so from the courts. In those states, the action is likely to be quick. But in 19 states, including Florida and New York, the court must approve the foreclosure and resulting eviction and the process is slow.

Source: The New York Times, David Streitfeld (05/31/2010)

5 Costly Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make

Buying a first home can be a daunting experience. Here are five common and costly mistakes that novice home buyers make: 1. Ignoring the costs of having a low credit score. Lower-score borrowers pay thousands of dollars in increased interest rates over the life of the loan. 2. Muddying the waters by shopping for other things before closing. Lenders continue to check credit scores right up until the time of closing. Too much shopping could cause the lender to take back the loan. 3. Scrimping on an inspection. Being surprised by the need for expensive repairs can be financially devastating. 4. Buying without contingencies. Buyers should give themselves an out if the inspection turns up problems or the bank raises the interest rates. 5. No money for insurance. Insurance can be surprisingly pricey. Buyers who don’t budget for it can face a nasty surprise. Source: CNNMoney.com, Les Christie (04/19/2010)

Buyers Often Overlook Insurance Costs

Insurance is usually the last thing people worry about when they are buying a new home. According to the Insurance Information Institute, that's a mistake, because it will be an expense a buyer will have as long as they own the property. Here are some key issues that the institute urges every buyer to consider: • How far is the home from the fire department? A location close to the station usually means lower insurance costs. • What is the condition of the plumbing and electrical systems? Older and poorly maintained systems cost more to insure. • Does the property meet current building codes? Up-to-date properties are safer and also cheaper to insure. • What about wind damage? If insurance against windstorms is required, is private insurance available or will the buyer have to rely on a state-run program? If there a windstorm deductible, how high is it? • Is the home vulnerable to flooding? Floods aren’t covered under a standard homeowner policy, although most major insurers will provide it through the National Flood Insurance program. How much the insurance costs depends on where the property is. More information is available at FloodSmart.gov. • Is there earthquake risk? Earthquake insurance requires an endorsement or a separate policy. Source: Insurance Information Institute (05/06/2010)

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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

You say tomato, I say tomato...

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