A well researched story from the NY Times about how several people have used their IRA’s to invest in real estate. It is not a move for the faint-hearted, however. You should be an experienced real esate investor, and understand … Continue reading
Category: Real Estate
May
2
2
Self Directed IRA’s in Real Estate
by Lauren M. SigmanMay
2
2
Why U.S. House Prices Won’t Recover
by Lauren M. SigmanSo housing prices may never recover from their highs, but that still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider buying a new home: you just need a very sharp pencil, and watch your math! The author of this Smart Money article makes … Continue reading
Mar
14
14
The Case For Downsizing Your Home
by Lauren M. SigmanSomething to consider if you are in your fifties and the kids are leaving for college or a job. Talk to me to crunch the numbers and see if it makes sense for your individual situation.
Mar
10
10
Paying Off Your Mortgage Early: Pro’s & Con’s
by Lauren M. SigmanBorrowers who retire their mortgages early reduce their liquidity and forgo tax deductions, but for some, the psychological benefits make it worth doing. It’s a tradeoff between using cash that is not really earning anything, vs. your mortgage rate, which … Continue reading
Feb
29
29
NO Benefit to a Bi Weekly Mortgage Plan
by Lauren M. SigmanWith interest rates so low, you may be assaulted by some unusual offers from your lender. These offers ask that you PAY them a small fee to participate in a bi-weekly withdrawal of your monthly mortgage payment. DON”T DO IT! … Continue reading
Feb
12
12
Is Your Home A Castle Or A Retirement Nightmare?
by Lauren M. SigmanI published this article in 2005, when the real estate market was going strong and no one really wanted to hear that real estate is not something you bet your retirement on. At our “Finance On The Rocks” event last … Continue reading
Nov
9
9
Estimating Expenses Before Buying Your First Home
by Lauren M. SigmanThis excellent short article from Ron Lieber of the NY Times lists a bunch of critical home maintenance items that can cost upwards of $900/month IN ADDITION to your mortgage payment and property taxes and insurance. Make sure any home … Continue reading
Sep
7
7
Debt Hobbles Older Americans
by Lauren M. SigmanAnd this means: people in their fifties and sixties- who feel like retirement is slipping away from them. According to this article in the Wall Street Journal, most of the trouble is due to homes that have sunk in value, … Continue reading
Jun
20
20
How to Tell if Your Housing Market Has Hit Bottom
by Lauren M. SigmanThree essential clues may signal if better times are ahead. These were worthy of consideration during the boom times, but are currently a pretty good barometer for any future investment in housing. The clues? Jobs, Rents, and Foreclosures. Read on…. … Continue reading
Jun
8
8
Don’t Believe Those Online Real Estate Listings!
by Lauren M. SigmanWhile shopping online for a home may not be a bad way to get familiar with a particular neighborhood or real estate market, it doesn’t really compete with having an experienced realtor at your side. See this article from Smart … Continue reading