If you’re new to the house swapping game, you’ve probably debated whether or not to hire a handyman to help you with the manpower and expertise. You only have so much time, energy and money that the debate can be long and intense. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of hiring someone to help you move your homes.

First, of course, if you do the work yourself, you’ll be saving yourself that expense. However, if you have a regular job, that means working long nights and weekends to get the house ready to flip. It will also take much longer than if someone else worked on it full time, which means it will take longer for your earnings to come back to you. Another consideration is your hourly pay rate. If you earn more than a handyman salary, it could pay you to work overtime at your job. Also, the longer you own the property, the more payments and expenses you will have.

If you choose well, the experience of a handyman can be invaluable to you, because they will know much more about how to approach the various aspects of remodeling than you do, and their skills will generally be less expensive than outsourcing to several individual contractors.

However, finding someone with that kind of skill level can sometimes be difficult. If possible, try to hire someone who has worked for another investor on a similar project. Since there are so many people moving houses, you will find that there is a skilled workforce that you can access.

Ask for referrals from other investors. The more you know about a person’s skill level and work ethic, the fewer problems you will encounter. However, if you are forced to hire someone you don’t know, here’s a tip: always give them a small project to complete, just to see what kind of work they do, how timely it gets completed, and if the project got through. we budget. If you’re happy with the results of your test project, you can give them more work. If you’re not, send them packing.

Hiring a handyman can save you money, time, and headaches in the long run, if you choose wisely and stay on top of the remodeling project every day. On the other hand, we get a lot of personal satisfaction from the work we do ourselves (and I think I paint better and faster).

The important thing about fixing up and remodeling houses is having fun improving neighborhoods and helping people.

You’ve probably come across many articles, bloggers, and some internet marketers saying that you don’t need IDX on your real estate website. Their rationale is that the top 10 real estate websites led by Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com account for roughly half of all website traffic, and therefore it is “pointless” and “a waste of money” to attempt compete with them. to them.

The term IDX is thrown around a lot. When people hear IDX, they automatically think it’s just a search for your real estate website. While property search is the core component of IDX, many don’t realize how to make the most of it and the valuable lead generation tools it provides.

In addition to providing home searches on their website, I’m going to explain a few reasons why IDX is a must have for any real estate website.

“Product” of Your Business

When I talk to real estate professionals, I always make this analogy. As a real estate professional, you are a business. You can think of your real estate website as your “store”. The MLS listings on your website are your “inventory.” Listings are all the products that exist in your “store” where visitors can browse and purchase. What happens when someone visits your “store” but you don’t have any products to offer? That person would do exactly what you and I would do… leave and go somewhere else where there is a product to see and possibly buy.

These are valuable leads that you will lose if you don’t have IDX on your real estate website. Unless you are generating business solely from referrals, your website (store) must have IDX (product).

You can create listing pages

IDX gives you access to all of the hundreds to thousands of listings on your MLS. As I mentioned earlier, this is your inventory and it’s like having thousands of products on your website.

By having access to all listings, you can create listing pages that focus on specific search criteria. For example, you can create a listing page that displays all listings with a specific price. Or you can create a listing page that displays listings in a specific subdivision, area, community, or school district. These listing pages provide a better user experience by helping to direct your real estate website visitors to the listings they are looking for. Even more valuable is that these listing pages are search engine friendly, which is what I’ll talk about next.

Generate leads from Google search

All of your IDX pages that a platform provides are SEO friendly and indexed by Google, Bing and all other major search engines. This means that all listing pages within the IDX system are indexed by Google and is an excellent source of organic leads. For example, for one of our clients, we created an IDX page that shows homes for sale in the Squires Elementary School District.

See what happens when you search on Google

“Homes for Sale Squires Elementary School District”

Yes, our client using our IDX website is ranked #1 out of 1,640,000 Google search results above Zillow and Realtor.com!

With IDX you can create hundreds of these real estate listing pages and they will all show up in Google search results! Still think you can’t compete with Zillow?

Platform and Tools for Your Clients

IDX is much more than just a property search for your real estate website. Many overlook or are unaware of the valuable tools you will provide to your customers. IDX takes your real estate website to the next level by providing a platform for your clients. Your website visitors can create an account directly on your real estate website to use IDX tools, such as saving favorite listings and favorite searches. It’s an experience your customers look forward to and will keep coming back to.

Automatically email the latest listings to your potential customers

An IDX system will be able to send your potential customers the latest listings automatically via email based on their search criteria. You can think of this as lead nurturing with listings. The user can define searches directly on your website for which you want to receive the latest listings. This is a completely automated process that will keep you in touch with all of your potential customers. When they see a listing they’re interested in, they simply contact you.

A place for your existing customers to return

If you’ve built a relationship with your existing customers, they’ll use your real estate website when they’re looking to buy a home again. They already trust you and your website is familiar to them. They will already have an account within your IDX system where they can log in to conduct their searches and use the tools you provide. If you don’t provide home searches on your real estate website, where will all your customers go? Yes… elsewhere.

Landing Pages + IDX = Powerful Lead Generation

Using landing pages is a very popular method of generating leads, especially on Facebook. When you combine landing pages with IDX, you create a very effective and powerful lead generation system.

You can create listing pages within IDX and use those pages for your landing pages. For example, you can promote a landing page that gives users access to all homes under $600K in the city of Clairemont. When a potential customer fills out the form on your landing page, you can direct them to a listing page in your IDX system that displays these listings. Without IDX on your real estate website, a system like this would not be possible.

Offering a much more personal experience

Big real estate websites like Zillow and realtor.com are very commercialized and can be intimidating to a user. Your website is much more personal and offers trust and a level of comfort. Since your website will be focused on one area, this will also be much more familiar to your website visitors as they will know that you are an expert on real estate in the area they are looking to buy.

Do you need IDX on your real estate website? YES. IDX is a must for your website for all the reasons mentioned above. The cost of having IDX on your website is very small compared to all the benefits you will get from it. Closing just one deal generated from your website with IDX can pay for your IDX and website service for 5-10 years!

All you have to do is look at the websites of the most successful real estate agents. Do you have IDX on your real estate website?

Successful grief leads to healing, hope, and a sense of well-being. For grief to succeed, it needs to be approached deliberately, because grief is not just something you feel; the complaint is a process, an effort, and it is work.

Let’s look at some definitions to clarify what we mean. First of all, there are different definitions of a complaint. Some say it is an emotional response to the loss of a loved one. It has been called “holding on emotionally to someone who is physically gone.” It is also a trauma caused by death and loss, and causes emotional, mental and physical shock. It assaults our entire being, including the wounds of the soul. Grief is the process by which the grievance is dealt with, restoring health and balance. If you don’t acknowledge the wrong, you can’t cry. Grief is the time frame in which the grieving process occurs. There are no set parameters, although there are guidelines.

What is the difference between passive and active grief? It’s exactly how it sounds. Passive is inactivity. He is sitting still, waiting for the bad feelings to go away. The consequences of death and loss are so debilitating that not only is it a common response, but it is sometimes necessary: ​​to stand still to get your bearings. Energy levels drop and the bread is too big to handle. Total rest is good for the body, mind and soul, but recovery requires action, an initiative from the deepest that yearns and strives for wholeness and well-being. One can sit quietly in a darkened room and wait for the mist to dissipate, but that will not result in a complete cure. When pain goes unexpressed, it burrows deep and causes problems.

The love that exists between two people generates hope and a sense of self-worth in each. There’s an ongoing respect for each other, a “I wish you well” that says, “You’re great,” “You matter,” “I respect and honor you.” Within a good relationship, people want what is best for the relationship and for each other. And, perhaps, whether expressed or not, they want the survivor to heal and embrace new life when one of them dies.

When I lost my husband I still had children living at home. We were confused and shocked, but I quickly realized that he needed to bind up the wounds and stabilize the family. Other responsibilities I faced competed with the time and energy I needed to grieve and help my children work through the loss of their father. I was not only exhausted, I was angry.

The grieving process may be compromised as you deal with practical issues. Finances and legal issues take a huge toll on survivors’ time and energy. I was surprised by their demands. Why didn’t anyone tell me about this before? Why didn’t you know the details of our money matters, the legal procedures required, the back-breaking work that goes into establishing an estate? Also, I had to go to probate court because my husband had no will and we had minor children living at home. Full and active grief takes time, energy, and persistence. A simple plan may look like this:

Time – A significant period of time should be set aside each day to comfort yourself, reflect on your loved one, your loss, and the deep pain and anguish you feel. Validating the tragedy of your loss allows you to express your feelings, rather than repress them, and gives you significant space to explore exactly what happened, how it affects every aspect of your life, and how you will deal with it.

Prioritize this period every day. This is the key. You can break it into two or more periods, but allow enough time in the segment to do valuable grievance work. Remember, it’s work – something active. A general routine that is flexible is a good option. Remember, cognitive skills are compromised during the grievance and it can be difficult to focus and concentrate. Choose a space that is warm and inviting, surround yourself with comforting things like music, reading material, tea, a small blanket, and don’t allow interruptions. Cry, write, read and think, letting your mind take you wherever it wants. Or just stay. Journaling is a positive and beneficial way to grieve. You can write in paragraphs, incomplete sentences, poetry, draw pictures, do whatever is comfortable for you. There is a study that says that healing takes place faster and more thoroughly when someone writes in a journal. It engages the brain and also gives you a journal to keep track of your progress.

Energy: Even when you’re not consciously thinking about your loss, your subconscious mind and body are dealing with the blow you’ve taken. Energy levels will be low for some time, and it is essential to conserve them for the really important things. Decide for yourself what is essential, write it down, and review your list frequently. Rule out problems that cannot be changed. Consider what you can’t handle on your own. Your own needs should be at the top of the list. Try to get help to care for younger children, even for an hour. If managing finances is difficult, seek advice from your bank or financial advisor. A short talk can lead to surprising shortcuts or methods to better and easier money management. Daily responsibilities can drain all your energy and motivation. Even if money is tight, remember to have fun. Don’t miss the opportunity to laugh and relax with friends.

Persistence: This is the quality that keeps us going despite adversity, setbacks, and difficulties. Despite the loss, persistence motivates us to push ourselves, to start over, and to resist. For persistence to take effect, a deliberate choice is needed. It requires putting yourself on the path to wholeness and balance in life and working through your grievance. Put inspirational and motivational messages for yourself on cards and place them around the house. Buy a good book on overcoming adversity and read a chapter every day. Rebuilding your life, by accident or by design, is the revelation I had when faced with this daunting task. I knew I had to move on. I had a family to raise, I needed to make a living, and I wanted to be an example to my children. I realized that a magical plan was not going to fall into my lap. I had to figure out what I needed and wanted and how to make it happen. And I knew it started inside.

A wonderful and positive gift that you can give yourself is to start setting aside time now, today. Those things we talked about earlier, taking time for yourself, is essential for balance and well-being in life. If you have a complaint now, this is essential. If not, get ready now. Procrastination prevents us from being prepared for any calamity that befalls us. Design your life construction plan and prioritize its practice. Make it simple enough to manage on your schedule and comprehensive enough to reap a hefty profit. You will start to feel better about life and about yourself. Confidence, growth and knowledge increase with practice. You will begin to see adversity as an opportunity for change, not just a problem to be solved.

By Judy Strong

Today, March 31, in case you missed it, is Transgender Awareness Day. I’ll be honest, although I’ve known about this day for a few years, it started in 2009 in Michigan, and I’ve had some trouble with the idea. However, given the rise in anti-trans campaigns in recent years, I’m seeing more and more that this is really important and thought I’d post some of my thoughts on the subject today.

Most trans people want to be invisible.

This is my main concern about having a Transgender Awareness Day. I have been out and visible for almost 20 years, yet I spent over 40 years being as invisible as possible. Having worked as a trans educator for the better part of the last 15 years, I feel pretty confident in saying that today, most trans people still want their transgender to be invisible. They want to walk down the street and mingle as the man or woman they wish they were born with. And even though I’m very proud, I don’t want to walk down the street calling attention to myself because I look trans.

The reason for this is FEAR

Our greatest fear as human beings is the fear of embarrassment or humiliation. It is probably the main underlying reason for suicide attempts. As a society, we seem to despise difference, and often the reaction to difference is to humiliate or harass. Some go further and inflict physical violence on people they consider different. So there is a very real case for being invisible.

I first realized I was trans when I was around 7 or 8 years old. I was very uncomfortable with the fact that I wanted to wear girl’s clothes, and most boys know from a very young age that if they wear girl’s clothes or act feminine. way, they will laugh at them.

In the town where I grew up there was a family with about 11 children. They didn’t have much money, so the younger children wore clothes inherited from their older siblings. A boy my age came to school one day wearing a pair of his sister’s panties. Unfortunately, it was PE day and when he changed into his shorts, someone noticed his panties and started making fun of him.

The other boys quickly joined in like a pack of howling hyenas and I saw him standing there, terrified and humiliated. I didn’t dare jump to defend him or help him because I was afraid that they would bother me too. Instead, I stood and watched, feeling sick. From that day on I knew that my secret had to remain just that, a secret.

But things are changing in an unexpected way.

More and more trans people now identify not as male and female, but as “neither male nor female.” They use labels like non-binary or androgynous, or gender queer, or any of 50+ different labels, with more being added daily – I know – really confusing – even for trans people

This is what is going to change things. It is very difficult to celebrate the day of transgender visibility when I want to be invisible or go unnoticed or just go unnoticed. But that’s only a problem when everyone else conforms to a gender stereotype of male or female. If a large proportion of people don’t conform to those stereotypes, it’s much easier and safer to be visible.

Are all people who do not conform to gender stereotypes transgender?

No problem. In fact, most people who don’t conform are probably not trans. They may be lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or simply gender non-conforming. The problem here is that people are often afraid of being visibly non-conforming because they fear being perceived as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans.

But this also highlights the big problem trans people have faced for years: death. This is a term that means to be invisible, to be seen and accepted by everyone as the other gender. And this is really hard to pull off for a 6 foot overweight bald man who dresses as a woman, or a petite woman with large breasts who dresses as a man. Passing means that everyone sees us as our preferred genre and achieving it is a great challenge.

Most of the time people see me as a woman, until I speak. I made the decision that I would not even try to create a female sounding voice, I am a speaker, but that means I have to be visible as a trans woman. It would actually make it much easier for me to identify as neither male nor female – identify as non-binary and it looks like it’s likely to be a legal option in the not too distant future.

A Growing Trend Towards Non-Binaries

However, while the growth in the number of people who identify as non-binary is facilitating the idea of ​​transgender visibility day, it is not without its problems. Most people assume that transgender people are people who want to undergo surgical and hormonal treatment to physically change their bodies. The reality is that most trans people do not get surgery. Most don’t even permanently change their gender because they are too afraid to come out and be visible.

Those trans people who undergo gender reassignment surgery are very happy with the gender binary. In fact, they often fit the extremes of gender stereotypes. When I was in college, the debate about offering people an alternative in the form of “Male or Female” raged over and over again, with no solution. There have been countless attempts to introduce third gender pronouns without success. Some countries have now introduced an X marker for passports; not everyone likes this and it is not clear what will happen in the UK and EU.

So for me, the importance of Transgender Awareness Day is not just that trans people are visible, but that as many people as possible challenge gender stereotypes. The more people there are who don’t conform to the gender binary of male or female, the easier it is for all LGBT+ people to blend in and become “visibly invisible.”

Storage is not a new concept. People have been storing little treasures and precious trinkets ever since early man decided to hide his collection of saber-toothed tiger necklaces under his mammoth-skin rug so his wife wouldn’t force him to throw them away. Our storage methods have become more sophisticated over the years, but for many the principle remains the same. People want to protect what they love unless someone mistakes it for something worthless and throws it away carelessly. The use of self-storage facilities has grown dramatically in recent years, as space becomes more of an issue and consumers increase their shopping habits.

Convenience is an important factor when deciding whether or not to use self storage facilities. In the US and UK, facilities are located within 3 minutes of the urban population so you can travel to your unit, take care of what you need to do, and be back before anyone knows you’re gone.

The terms governing self-storage are flexible and generally only apply from month to month. You are free to cancel the service as soon as you no longer need it. There are no long-term binding contracts. Self-storage is also flexible with regard to the belongings that can be stored. It can be used for personal storage, business storage, and record storage, etc.

Self-storage is a relatively inexpensive way to meet your growing storage needs. Units come in different sizes and the average monthly cost will depend on the size of the unit you rent.

Privacy is assured as you use your own lock and keys to keep your unit secure. You are also the only one who controls access to your drive.

The coordination and integration of services has increased as more and more facilities have begun to offer truck rentals, moving supplies, mailboxes, and a variety of other products and services to help you move your goods into storage. They will also help you coordinate all of your needs from one place.

The units are temperature controlled, which means they’re perfect for storing all your personal belongings, even delicate items prone to wear and tear in changing conditions, like books. Temperatures stay between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Some facilities even have humidity control features for extra protection of your belongings.

Other reasons to make use of self-storage facilities include: storing seasonal utilities, for example furniture or garden tools; store seasonal clothes, i.e. winter clothes in summer and summer clothes in winter; for bulky sports equipment such as windsurfing or surfboards; as a temporary storage space while you decorate or remodel your home; storage of recreational vehicles such as jet skis, boats, caravans, motorcycles, etc.; and to make your house look neater and less cluttered when you try to sell it.

Self-storage is one of those staples you can live without until you get it, and then you have no idea how you survived this long without it. The reasons you use self storage may change over time. You may even find that your needs increase so that you have to start renting a larger unit. Whatever your reasons, self-storage is endlessly useful, and as lack of living space continues to become a human problem, additional storage space will only become more popular.

Recommended sites:

http://storage.selfstoragedeals.com/articles/self_storage_article6.php

http://www.vanlines.com/storage_guide/self_storage.html

http://www.self-storage-facilities.com/personal-self-storage.htm

“How much does a log house cost?” is the most frequently asked question in the industry and also the most difficult to answer. Customers aren’t the only ones who are frustrated; dealers and manufacturers are fully aware that not giving an easy answer could lose a sale. In reality, however, the answer is “That depends,” and the sooner homeowners accept this statement, the sooner they can start looking in the right place.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THE RIGHT PLACE? Like everyone else, my husband and I began our search with exclamation gasps at the majestic, multi-faceted houses with numerous roof peaks, giant trusses, huge windows, and large logs. What we didn’t realize right away is that each of our favorite log houses was handmade and so far out of our price range, we might as well have been buying a castle.

The first thing you need to do is distinguish between a handmade log house and a milled log house. Hand-built log homes will cost 2-4 times more per square foot than a sawn log home, considering the size of the logs and the labor intensive work required from the first day they are selected. If the logs are not the same size, you will know immediately that you are looking at a handmade house.

MILL LOG HOUSES: If you are selecting a handmade log house, you don’t need to be reading this article! For the rest of us, there are other basic factors to consider if you’re looking at price: log diameter, log species, and log corners. The first two factors speak for themselves. However, the corner system can make a big difference. For example, think about how records are stacked. If you remember your Lincoln Log toy, you had to find the half log to start the first course. This is how a Saddle-Notched corner system is built. The rows are staggered and the logs are notched to fit snugly together, and when you look around the corner you’ll see that each end of the logs sits on top of the one below, creating a continuous, unbroken run from top to bottom. Notches require another pass through the mill and will add to the final cost.

When you look at a Butt-and-Pass log house, you will see a gap between each log beyond the corner. This is because all the logs are placed on the same plane; the first course starts with a full log and hits the other wall log that passes next to it. The following course reverses the process. There is no notch to hold them together, therefore less time in the mill. If you compare a cap and go house to a saddle notched house, dollar for dollar, the cap and go house should be less expensive. This is where aesthetics come into play.

A house with logs that are flat inside and out will likely be joined with a dovetail system, where the logs are notched at an angle and fit together perfectly. Think of the corner of your kitchen drawer. These also require higher precision equipment and are slightly more expensive to build.

There are other corner systems, but these three are the most common. Just keep in mind that the corner creates one of the big differences between one manufacturer’s milled product and another.

PACKAGE REGISTRATION. Once you’ve settled on the corner system, you’ll find that each company prices their records differently. To get a real apples-to-apples comparison, you should request a quote ONLY at registration. And remember that logs make up 1/4 to 1/5 of the cost of the eventual home. I think you’ll find that within the same size, species, and corner system, the basic costs won’t vary much from manufacturer to manufacturer…not including shipping, of course.

Many companies cite a weather-tight casing, which means all the components for a weather-tight house: logs, windows, roof sheathing, doors. It’s tempting to get this type of quote, but remember that you may be paying thousands of dollars extra to ship generic lumber across the country. And when the extra stuff is delivered, it’s up to you to store it safely and dry on site. If your contractor buys the lumber locally, you can get it when you need it, instead of months in advance.

IT IS A CUSTOM HOUSE. Once you get past building log walls, you’ll find that your log home isn’t much different from any other custom home. The roof materials are the same, the heating systems are the same, the windows are basically the same. Most of your decisions are inside the house: standard kitchen vs. custom cabinets, granite vs. Formica, hardwood floors vs. carpeted, tongue and groove vs. plaster, antler chandelier vs. wagon wheel…this is where the big price differences can add up. It’s a custom home, remember, and the choices are up to you. In the Mid-Atlantic states, the price per square foot of a custom frame home and a custom log home will be fairly equivalent. When you look at it from that point of view, the whole pricing equation starts to make more sense.

BOTTOM LINE: This is where we all get into trouble. There is no agreement on a budget price, because local costs vary widely. Four years ago, when I started designing my house, the magazines said to budget $150 per square foot. I thought this was outrageous, but in the end, we spent about $157 per square foot on a saddle notched house with 8″ pine logs and a few upgrades, so I’m glad I paid attention. If you start there, you will see at least being in the ballpark.

Investing in real estate in Manhattan has become a must for wealthy and up-and-coming real estate investors alike. Manhattan real estate is holding its value thanks to 2012 which brought increased foreign investment, favorable interest rates and inventory declines. A recent industry analysis found that residential property investments in Manhattan are outpacing those in comparable large cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although foreign investment in real estate in Manhattan increased this year, accounting for almost 9% of all sales, Americans are also investing in Manhattan. This year, 7 out of 12 real estate investment purchases will be made by Americans.

In light of this real estate market, who would turn down the opportunity to invest in real estate that is not only safe but also a part of Manhattan history? Such thinking certainly motivated unit buyers at the Lombardy Hotel, located at 11 East 56th Street in New York City. The Lombardy Hotel’s excellent midtown location puts it just blocks from famous Manhattan attractions like Central Park, the Theater District, and the designer boutiques of Fifth Avenue. Most of the hotel’s suites are privately owned and rented out to tourists. With just 162 rooms and suites spread over 22 floors, Lombardy Hotel feels spacious and decadent. Investors or people looking for a pied-a-terre in Manhattan welcome the Lombardy Hotel. Twice-daily turndown service epitomizes carefree living.

The Lombardy Hotel embodies classic old world charm and luxury. This should be expected considering his legacy. A building built in 1926 by the great newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, the Lombardy Hotel was a gift to Brandon Davies. Davies was a famous silent film actress and lover of Hearst. The beautiful stone facade of the Hotel Lombardy’s exterior symbolized her reverence for her. Today, the classic Lombardy limestone design stands just as proudly against a steel background. It is still a statement building. Inside, the ugly marble lobby greets visitors with its sweeping mahogany staircase. Classic art pieces and antique mirrors line the walls of the lobby. Packed with features, the Lombardy Hotel offers services such as a fitness center, business center, and spa. Those wishing to live or invest in hotel apartments should contact their exclusive broker, Wald Real Estate at the Lombardy Hotel.

Rooms that are owned but not currently occupied can be rented out to tourists and short-term guests. A review of the myriad of online hotel and travel sites shows guests rating The Lombardy between four and five stars. Visitors are overwhelmed by the size of the rooms and the astute service of the staff. The suites with kitchenettes have especially appealed to hotel guests, who can rent these spacious suites for up to 30% less (depending on the season) than the standard Manhattan hotel rate.

The returns earned by investors, combined with the subsidized cost of running a hotel in this way, made The Lombardy Hotel a successful experiment in real estate investing. Other hotels in Manhattan have followed suit. Homestay and owner options are also currently available at hotels like Gansevoort, W, Carlyle and Ritz-Carlton.

Buying real estate, repairing it and selling it quickly is usually a profitable recipe. However, a key component of this recipe for success is access to capital. If you don’t have enough funds but are interested in rehabbing a property, a hard money lender that offers fix-and-trade loans could be an excellent financing option. These loans are structured in such a way that they allow a buyer to quickly acquire the property and have access to a reserve of funds for construction and renovation costs.

Buying real estate, repairing it and selling it quickly is usually a profitable recipe.

Advantages of Fix and Flip loans

There are many advantages to fix and switch loans and the demand for this source of finance is constantly increasing in the real estate investment industry.

Four key benefits include:

• Fast approval: Getting approved for a fixed and reversible loan is a much faster process compared to the traditional banking system. If the borrower has submitted the requested documents, a private lender can approve the loan in a couple of days, while a traditional financial institution can take at least a month. In addition to the significantly longer wait time for bank loan approvals, the borrower will need to submit numerous documents and meet multiple conditions as part of the process.
• Any property: Properties in different states of condition may qualify for a fix-up loan. Whether the property is bank-owned, short-sale, foreclosed, or dilapidated, a borrower is likely to find a hard-earned lender willing to finance the deal. Again, a borrower may not have the option to finance these types of real estate opportunities with a bank. Banks are very risk averse and have strict rules about what type of property they can accept as part of their loan portfolio.
• Zero prepayment penalties: If you take out a loan from an established bank, you may be subject to penalties if you have the opportunity to pay off the loan before the due date. This is called a prepayment penalty. Most fix and flip lenders will not subject you to this fee.
• Covered Repairs – When you buy a property with the intention of remodeling it, a significant portion of your budget will be spent on construction and renovation costs. A fix-and-switch lender will generally set up a loan reserve that will cover the costs of repairing the property in addition to interest. This can take a lot of stress and pressure off builders and developers as they don’t have to worry about spending money out of pocket on repairs or payments.

Teaming up with a solid lender who understands your property, the local real estate market, and is willing to help you through the buying, building, and selling process is vital. When choosing a hard money lender, keep the following in mind:

• The lender must have enough experience in the industry. A private lender with deep roots in the real estate investment market will not only be able to offer you a better deal, but will also have numerous contacts to come in handy along the way, from recommended settlement companies to permit issuers and other preferred providers. . This can turn out to be a great asset as speed, quality and efficiency are the name of the game in the fix and flip world. The less time you need to research companies and contractors, the more money you have in your pocket.
• Check the history of lenders to make sure they are genuine and have a good track record. It may be worth taking a closer look at lenders who lure borrowers with “trial rates” or a “documentless” underwriting process. As with most things in life, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
• Lastly, you should check what previous or current customers have to say. Is the lender responsive and knowledgeable? How many loans do they have on the street? Do they have good ratings on Google or BBB? Just as the lender performs due diligence on its borrowers, borrowers must, in turn, perform due diligence on the hard money lender. It is a partnership and both parties must be strong and committed to the process to ensure success.

Whether you call them trailers, mobile homes, or more accurately, manufactured homes, they’re worth incorporating into your real estate investment plan.

Manufactured homes are the most affordable type of housing available and there is a high demand for affordable housing in the United States today. Consider that in December 2004, the median price of a site-built home was $187,000 and the median price of a new manufactured home was $50,000. With stricter building codes and new technologies, the quality of homes prefabs continues to improve.

For the investor, manufactured homes generate the most cash flow of almost any investment. The reason is logical: market rents for manufactured homes are only slightly lower than comparable site-built homes, but manufactured homes cost substantially less to purchase.

Let’s clarify the terms of this business. Although mobile home and manufactured home are often used interchangeably and both refer to factory-built housing units, mobile homes are mobile housing units built before June 15, 1976, and manufactured homes are mobile homes built after June 15, 1976. of that date. Although most mobile and manufactured homes are technically mobile because they have wheels and can be moved, most of them are set up on one site and never relocated.

Mobile homes can be located in parks or on private land. In parks, owners often lease their lots to the park owner, who sets the rules and regulations for the park, maintains common areas, and may offer various amenities. In most cases, when a mobile home is located on private land, the owner of the home also owns the land.

If you are unfamiliar with the mobile home market and have some negative preconceived notions about it, let’s talk about it now. Yes, there are mobile home parks that fit the negative stereotypes you may have heard with problem occupants and deteriorating facilities. But there are substantially more middle-income and retired families choosing to live in manufactured homes, and these are people who take pride in and care for their homes and neighborhoods. Manufactured homes have never been more respectable and desirable than they are today, and that trend is likely to continue as on-site construction costs continue to rise.

Finding and investing in manufactured homes

Opportunities to invest in mobile/manufactured homes are greatest in younger, smaller cities, suburbs, and rural areas. While you’re not likely to find mobile homes in New York City or downtown Boston, chances are you won’t have to look far to find a market for this type of affordable housing.

Study your market and test the waters by buying a few units. Look for used houses that may need a little repair; they can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a comparable new unit. Once you are familiar with this aspect of real estate investing, consider becoming a park owner.

If you are interested in multi-unit residential housing, manufactured home parks are a great alternative to small and even mid-size apartment buildings. Not all parks are the same. They vary greatly in size and amenities. The three basic types of parks are family, retirement, and RV parks.

Family parks welcome renters of any age and are the easiest to find renters. However, they tend to have higher tenant turnover and require more management. 55+ retirement communities have lower tenant turnover and are easier to manage, but are more difficult to find tenants due to age restrictions. RV parks have the highest turnover with large seasonal variations and high management intensity. Unless your location is superior, this type of park is the hardest to find tenants.

One strategy for investing in mobile home parks is to buy a park with a high vacancy rate, high income potential, and poor management. Fix the management, fix the park and fill the vacant units. Then put the park on the market at its new value and make a quick profit. Or keep the park and enjoy your increased income.

Essentially, any proven real estate investment strategy (wholesale, foreclosure, lease option, etc.) will work just as well with manufactured homes as site-built homes and will typically generate a higher cash flow. cash. Because manufactured homes cost less to buy, they’re great opportunities for a beginner without a lot of cash, even as they’re tremendously attractive to seasoned investors who want solid returns. Chances are they are perfect for your own wealth building plan.

Chances are, our biggest fear as we approach or retire can be expressed in 8 simple words: “Will I run out of money when I retire?” I can see the wrinkled nose and sweaty palms starting to show as stress levels rise after someone asks that question. Also, it’s not an easy quantifiable answer. It’s best approached as “it depends” as it depends on various moving parts such as interest rates, inflation, withdrawals, etc. that muddies the waters of income and savings.

As a Retirement Counselor, I have to sit down, take a deep breath, and then start outlining the events and circumstances that “could” result in a shortfall in money during your retirement. In this article, I’ll explain some of these, along with some ‘pitfalls’ and ‘bumps’ to watch out for on the road to (and into) retirement.

First, “running out of money in retirement” needs a proper definition. Do you mean bring your investments and savings plans to zero? Or does it mean running out of REVENUE that those investments can produce? Or is the better question still, “will my current lifestyle be reduced for years to come by my investment choices today,” or “how can my current plan for living in retirement be reworked to increase my chances of not staying no money” You need to be specific with your question to allow your advisor to give you a more specific answer based on the rules and historical results.

Once your question is precisely framed, you need to consider what you feel comfortable doing. What is your experience, temperament and level of willing risk? follow me here If you’re a saver and you like bonds and CDs, and you think stocks are risky, then say so. If your retirement plan owned mutual funds and they worked, then you can take some risk from owning stock-based investments. Where I find most investors get sidetracked is when they do things that really go against their nature or experience, and allow emotions to color their thinking. Also, they don’t think about things in terms of money or they think too much and change their strategy too often for any company to have a chance of success. Let’s look at some numbers and options that might help you with your retirement planning.

Consider a retirement portfolio (IRA, brokerage account, etc.) that contains $50,000 in bonds and $50,000 in stocks. The shares are of high quality and pay dividends equivalent to 2% per year. The bond portion pays 5% in interest income. That’s $1,000 in stock dividends plus $2,500 in bond dividends, for an income of $3,500 per year. Nothing bad; that’s close to $300/month in revenue. If bonds and stocks continue to pay, then it’s fairly certain that your income will stay level, or even increase over time as corporations increase their dividends if business goes well.

appreciation vs. Earnings: I think investors are wrong when they confuse ‘appreciation’ with ‘earnings’. Appreciation is the increase in the value of a stock, bond, or mutual fund. Income is the earning of dividends or interest from a stock, bond, or mutual fund. From my example, what could happen that could derail your efforts and lead you to run out of money prematurely? Answer: Spend more than you earn.

Suppose your stock value goes up 25%, to $62,500, and the bonuses stay at $50,000. Now you have $112,500 total, right? You may think: OK, now I will take $1,000 more from my account every year since I made some money on my stocks, now take $4,500 or $375 per month. Whoa there big spender! Where do you get the extra $1,000? You have to sell some stocks or bonds to get it. You are now spending your principal, since your dividends and interest are still $3,500 per year. Spending more than your portfolio earns is spending your capital. For every $1,000 of stock you sell, you are reducing your future income by $20/year (2% of $1,000 and $50/year for every $1,000 of bonds sold). It’s emotionally warm to think that way in a bull market, but what about when the 25% bear
market hits (we just had one) and your account is now down to $87,500 ($50,000 in bonds + $37,500 in stocks). Derail your #1 retirement rut: You’ll never run out of equity if you don’t spend at all. Rule 1a: If you decide to spend capital in good times, be prepared to stop spending capital in bad times. Remember: dividend and interest income are fairly stable. Stock and bond appreciation is not stable and cannot be relied upon year after year. Better idea: When stocks go up, move some of that appreciation (gain) into bonds; now you will get more income: 5% of the bonuses vs. 2% for shares.

Taxes and Inflation: The second really important area ignored by most investors and mutual funds is the effects of inflation and taxes on your retirement money. It’s what you keep that counts. We all hate taxes and the damn tax code is changed so often by Congress that hardly anyone can keep up. Inflation is a bit easier to understand. To simplify the example, let’s say you’re earning 5% on your combined portfolio of stocks and bonds. Removing 15% in taxes, you now earn 4.25%. Now subtract 3% for inflation and you get 1.25%; It’s not a big win now, is it? Fill your retirement pothole #2: Consider inflation and tax impacts when designing your retirement income plan.

Maximum withdrawal rates. Multiple studies have been written on this topic over the last 25 years, and the consensus is that a 4% to 4.5% withdrawal rate would prevent you from running out of money over a 30-year withdrawal period using 50% stock/50% equity. bonds. This plan does not consider primary vs. input as above. Take the initial value of your account and withdraw 4 -4.50% year after year. Another plan I’ve seen put forward is to withdraw the total return on your portfolio (appreciation + income) after subtracting the rate of inflation. For example, your portfolio earns 10% for the year (8% appreciation + 2% income); you can withdraw 7% that year. Why? Because if you make 10% and inflation is 3%, then you’re leaving that 3% gain in the portfolio to offset the inflation in the portfolio that you’ll need next year. That would require some mental math on your part, because you would adjust your income each year based on the value of your portfolio and the cost of living (inflation) from the previous year. Where this plan could fail is when your portfolio loses money, like last year, so no withdrawals would be taken. Can you put your retirement income on hold and wait for better times? Probably not. Fill your retirement pothole #3: Be flexible; make more than one plan for your retirement income, using more than one portfolio or investment.

Finally, remember: today I used an example of a 50%-50% portfolio mix. You may own other investments that secure your income, such as a pension, social security, or an income annuity. The more secure the collateral, the more options you generally have with your remaining investments.