Questions tagged [real-estate]
A tag for questions on real estate or property.
-3
votes
1answer
96 views
What is the optimal amount in savings at which to buy an apartment complex?
I'm 23 and want to buy an apartment complex. I don't have alot of savings (~20k) as I've been paying for tuition, family expenses, etc this year. However, I have an okay income from working two jobs. ...
23
votes
5answers
6k views
Invest $50,000 in cash or borrow $100,000 and get a mortgage?
I have $50,000 saved and I'm paying $760 on rent right now. All my relatives are telling me to get a mortgage so I don't "throw money away on rent", but I just don't like the idea of getting in debt ...
2
votes
1answer
143 views
What are the tax implications of renting out my condo if it's worth less than the mortgage?
I own a condo, and its market value is less than what I owe on the mortgage. On the upside, several interesting developments are going in nearby in the next couple of years.
Because of some lifestyle ...
0
votes
3answers
210 views
Is it reasonable to charge extra for additional tenants in a single room?
I’m considering subleasing rooms within a single family home. I expect that one of my potential tenants will have their significant other boarding with them. It was originally expected that only one ...
2
votes
2answers
172 views
how to divide ownership of a house with family member who stopped contributing 8 years ago?
My brother and I bought a house together back in 2006 for $270k. We both contributed 50% to the mortgage between 2006 and 2011.
My brother moved out in 2011 and stopped contributing to the mortgage, ...
6
votes
4answers
262 views
Products for withdrawing from a home's equity?
I am a current homeowner with a property that has no mortgage (everything has been paid off). A family member is in need of some cash to consolidate some credit card debt and I would like to help them ...
2
votes
1answer
128 views
What happens if I don't pay utility bill even after repeated customer service interaction to stop the service?
It's a slightly long story. I live in an apartment building in MN (US). There was a mistake when I moved in and eventually the gas utility for the building remained in my name. Usually it is supposed ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
How can I find historical real estate sales data by ZIP code? [closed]
I am looking to invest in small multi-unit housing properties, but would like to know more about long-term sales price trends in the region of interest. I am new to real estate investing.
Are there ...
2
votes
0answers
53 views
Would there be tax due on an inheritance received from a U.S. citizen that lived in the U.K.?
My mother passed away in August. She was a US citizen living in UK for 40+ years. Do my brother and I have to pay tax to bring the cash into the US? No tax had to be paid in UK. Not a big ...
15
votes
5answers
5k views
What does “Home Equity” do for me?
My wife and I are considering buying a home soon - some of the major reasons are personal, such as being able to perform repairs and updates to the property, and having the security and peace of mind ...
33
votes
7answers
11k views
Selling a property - multiple offers of same value?
In the U.S., when selling a residential property, is there a rule or law regarding how to handle multiple offers of the exact same monetary amount? Is this the kind of thing that would vary state-by-...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Increase bid on home in exchange for down payment/credits
This webpage discusses the idea of bidding higher on a home in exchange for the seller paying closing costs of the same amount. Is it also permissible to bid higher and request the seller pay for (...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Real Estate Agent Exclusive Agreement - Geographic Restriction
I am searching for homes in two different geographic locations in NJ.
I was refereed to an agent who is local to one area I am looking at buying.
I told him I may want to look further south and ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
What is the name of this ROI ratio?
I purchased a house with a detached garage. I remodeled the garage and now live in it. I rent out the house. My mortgage is $537 and I charge $650 to rent the house.
Doing the math, I'm only keeping $...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
What is the point of buying real estate when a GIC yields more?
Despite the fact that interest rates have risen over the past year and the housing market flatlining in Toronto and other Canadian cities, for whatever reason， people are still selling houses at ...
2
votes
4answers
122 views
How to know if negative cash flow rental property is a good investment?
I am completely new to the concept of investments and investment property. I've done research on rental properties and negative cash flow but am unclear how to actually measure if something is a good ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
PMI threshold when paying off part of the principal [duplicate]
I am in the process of getting rid of private mortgage insurance (PMI). I was planning on paying off my loan down to 80% loan to value and then get rid of the PMI.
However, I was told by my lender ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Home appraisal ROI: changing floors
I know that homes in the US usually are appraised at a higher value if they have hardwood or laminate floors instead of carpet, so I recently removed all the carpet I hac downstairs and replaced it ...
2
votes
2answers
99 views
Can a state assess a capital gains tax on a sale of property owned by a non-resident?
If I own property in Massachusetts, but am not a resident of Massachusetts, and I sell that property at a profit, does the Massachusetts capital gains tax apply to my sale?
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Is my approach to evaluating real estate investment vs. ETF investment correct?
Someone asked me how well a property investment performs relative to ETFs over the course of 10+ years. My financial literacy is extremely low, and I just became aware of the concept of ETF last week....
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Minimizing tax liability from real estate sale
I bought an investment property in the United States for $20k in 2005, got a $100k refi loan on it in 2007 and sold the property for $100k in 2018. When I sold the property in 2018, I owed about $80k ...
7
votes
1answer
390 views
Was I a victim of illegal bait and switch mortgage fraud?
My wife and I recently purchased a home and I think we were victims of bait and switch mortgage fraud and I wanted to find out of what happened to us was illegal, or just very strange. We were first ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Looking to calculate expected profit from sale of house
I'm trying to calculate the money I will see as profit from the sale of my house.
I'm tallying the various expenses associated with selling and would like input on any costs I'm missing. I'm in ...
5
votes
1answer
310 views
How to establish--many years later--the fair market value of real estate on the day someone died?
The home passed to an heir in 2012. The heir did not have the home appraised at that time.
The heir died in 2017 and the home was sold in 2018.
How do you establish the FMV in 2012?
Notes
If the ...
0
votes
2answers
136 views
Is it a good idea to invest in buy-to-let if rent does not cover mortgage payment?
Background:
To benefit from current favourable interest rates in my region (France: ca. 1.5%pa fixed over 20 years), I am considering investing in a buy-to-let property.
I consider that interest ...
0
votes
3answers
255 views
Running the numbers on buying a house for 3 years instead of renting
My SO and I moved out to a new city while she's in med school. We're currently in an apartment paying ~$1,300/mo (after utilities, etc...). However, the other day I realized 2-3 bed houses here cost ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Can I purchase and sell a property through my c-corp if I have a personal tax lien with my state?
I would like to execute a simple contract assignment (double closing) on a real estate deal. The initial title work came back an there is a lien against me personally for taxes owed to my state. I ...
2
votes
0answers
42 views
Canadian citizen step parent signing over US owned property to us citizen adult children
My mother who is a US Citizen recently passed, and my step father who is a Canadian citizen with permanent US resident who is living in Canada now with no plans of returning to the US. He doesn't want ...
0
votes
3answers
88 views
What are fair methods to buy out an equal share holder in a mortgaged property?
TLDR:
What are fair methods to buy out an equal share holder in a mortgaged property?
Curent situation:
My partner and I, and her parents have entered in to a mortgage on a piece of land. It is ...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
Optimizing property insurance payments for tax purposes
I own a residential rental property in the United States. I recently received the bill to pay the property insurance on it. The bill can be paid in full this month, or I can pay it in monthly ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
How to estimate the profitability and risk of investing in rental properties?
There was a recent question, Is it a good idea, to buy a flat with a loan, whilst using the rent to pay it off?, which was closed due to asking opinion-based advice. However, the question can be ...
12
votes
7answers
5k views
Is it possible to offset a mortgage with only the appreciation of that property's value?
As in, is there a possible scenario where the appreciation of the value of a property could be greater than the mortgage payments on that property?
56
votes
10answers
25k views
When is it better to move - before or after a housing bubble bursts?
My husband and I currently own our home and are looking at upgrading to a bigger house in the next year or two. The housing market right now in our area (US East Coast city) is doing really well, and ...
37
votes
9answers
11k views
'For Sale by Owner' - who pays the Buyer's realtor?
If I list my home and hang a sign out 'for sale by owner', and a realtor brings a buyer in, who wants to buy it, who's going to pay the realtor?
I did not hire him, so I don't want to pay for him. ...
1
vote
0answers
52 views
Qualifying as a realtor to save on commission [duplicate]
My wife and I are thinking about selling our home and are very upset about the prospect of losing 6%+ of our home value on commission. We live in Texas.
We both have careers that are unrelated to ...
31
votes
9answers
10k views
Is it a good idea, to buy a flat with a loan, whilst using the rent to pay it off? [closed]
I have been thinking about taking a loan to buy a flat which I would rent out. My reasoning is that the loan would be paid off over time by the renters. After perhaps 30 years, I'd be left with a ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
NYC estate tax for foreigners [duplicate]
We are a married male couple (with kids) and we bought an apartment in NYC for investment (the apartment is not ready yet). Note that we do not have US citizenship and we don't live in the US. We were ...
-2
votes
1answer
112 views
Should I become a landlord (effort required for positive cash flow) or keep the money in ETFs until I settle down? [closed]
Serious answers only. I'm 22 years old, I started working full-time 5 months ago, and I'm trying to decide if it's better to spend the time, effort and money to invest in a townhouse and become a ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
Do HUD settlement statements get sent to the federal government?
One of the forms I see prepared for a real estate transaction I am doing is a "HUD Settlement Statement". I am paying cash, but the form refers to me as a "borrower". The top of the form looks like ...
1
vote
2answers
107 views
Comparing Real Estate returns to Mutual Fund returns
I was recently looking at a syndicated Real Estate investment that did some math to show what future returns might look like. The bottom line was that a $1,000 would turn into $2,360 after 10 years. ...
0
votes
3answers
154 views
Buying a flat abroad through British LTD company
I'm an IT contractor in the UK, I'm considering buying a flat in Poland, rent it on Airbnb or work remotely from there.
I'm thinking if it's worth buying it through LTD company in my case.
Would it ...
1
vote
2answers
362 views
Does it make sense to buy a house to live in for a few years then rent it out?
I'm currently looking to buy a house to live in for 2-3 years, and then rent it out. Most recommendations I see are to buy a house if owning for 5+ years, but I'm not sure how that advice applies if I'...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Is it advised to sell current self occupied home and buy the other new one to book the profit?
I have a first (and only) and self occupied home. Mortgage is fully paid. Home is with four rooms.
Considering expenses I done on home so far including my share in mortgage, taxes so far, total ...
4
votes
3answers
633 views
Dad (mid 50s) wants me to help him invest ~500k?
My dad is in his mid 50s right now, and he has ~500,000 in his savings account. He has approximately 1 million in his 401k. He feels bad that he missed out on the rally of the past 9 years and wants ...
4
votes
1answer
233 views
No debt. Any advice where to invest saved money and what to invest in after maxing out 401k? [duplicate]
My situation:
I'm 24, single, and I live with my parents in the United States
I have no debt and I have 100k in a savings account
I have a 90k job
I am currently maxing out my 401k
I have no ...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Can previously low wages hurt my chances of an approved home loan?
Some quick stats about me.
Received a pre-approval for $280,000
Credit Score: 808
Current Salary: $63,500
Job: Junior Software Engineer
My main concern here is regarding the eventual income ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Why isn't auto insurance included in DTI
The debt-to-income ratio includes monthly payments such as your mortgage, car payments, student loan repayments, and child support.
However, it doesn't include payments such as auto insurance. I ...
1
vote
1answer
97 views
Trying to compare two investment scenarios
I have an apartment that I have been renting, but due to some recent events, I'm considering selling. I'm trying to make a numbers based decision, so I'm going to try to compare two distinct scenarios:...
2
votes
0answers
67 views
I am Canadian and own a cottage in the US. I want to gift it to my 2 Canadian children. What are the tax implications
I own a cottage in Point Roberts Wash. I am a resident of Canada and want to gift it to my son who is also Canadian, What taxes apply to this transaction?
1
vote
1answer
170 views
Building a new house to replace an existing mortgaged house
I know that others have posted similar questions but I don't think any I've seen so far relate to our exact situation. We bought a cottage in Nashville, TN about 15 years ago that was right for our ...
