Real Estate Guide

Creative Ways to Raise Money, Make Money + Save Money on Real Estate

Real estate plays a big part in all of our lives. Whether we own it, rent it, or invest in it -our basic need for shelter mandates that we must make important decisions regarding real estate.

It used to be that owning real estate was a “sure thing.” Property values almost ALWAYS went up. Owning your own home was  considered a much better long-term financial plan than renting.

For now, at least, those basic tenants of owning real estate haven’t proven to be true.

It is hard to turn on the news without being reminded of this. Foreclosures continue to go through the roof while the government and banks scramble to stem the tide. Progress is slow and millions of additional homeowners are now facing  the possibility of losing their homes.  Even those not personally at risk are feeling the effects of the sub-prime mortgage fiasco on the economy and are wondering “when will it end?”

I won’t try to predict “when,” but I am 100% certain that it WILL end. The human need for shelter will not disappear, and eventually this crisis will resolve and life will go on. We’ll be wiser and more risk-averse in our decision-making process.  (For a while, anyway!) In the meantime, we need ‘coping mechanisms’ to survive, and even thrive, during this economic crisis.

Therefore, articles in this section will focus on the financial aspects of real estate – buying, selling and financing -  relating to both owner-occupied or investment properties.

Please be sure to check back often as new articles will be added to this section on a regular basis.