Lee Morof's Real Estate Blog

If you want to diversify your investments, you might be thinking about purchasing real estate. Buying property is expensive, so where are you going to get the money from? You might be able to use your IRA to help you buy property. You probably hold stocks, mutual funds, and bonds in your IRA, but did you know that you could also hold non-traditional retirement assets in your IRA? This includes real estate. How can you use your IRA to buy real estate? 

Have The Right IRA

First, you need to have the right Ira if you want to use it to purchase real estate. If you have your IRA with a brokerage firm, you will not be able to buy investment properties through your account. You need a self-directed IRA to purchase real estate. As the name suggests, you will direct the investments held in the account. 

Your Self-Directed IRA Can Be A Traditional Or A Roth IRA

A self-directed IRA can be either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. If you are curious about which one is better for you, you should talk to a retirement professional. If you are self-employed, you can also set up a self-directed SEP-IRA, which may have higher contribution limits. This could make it easier for you to purchase property. 

The Rules For Purchasing Real Estate Through Your IRA

There are several rules you need to follow if you want to use your IRA to purchase an investment property. First, the real estate in your IRA has to be owned purely for investment purposes. This means you cannot stay there on vacation when it is not occupied by a renter. Also, you cannot use the furniture you own in an IRA on a rental property, and all of the property expenses have to be paid by the IRA, not yourself. You also cannot use your self-directed IRA to purchase property from yourself or a family member.

Explore Real Estate Investment Opportunities

These are just a few of the most important points you should keep in mind regarding real estate investing through an IRA. This could be a way for you to diversify your investments, but make sure you are familiar with the rules.

There are a lot of different types of homes available, and it is important for people to understand the differences. When people are considering purchasing a house, particularly a rental property, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the different houses available. Some of the most common options include manufactured homes, mobile homes, and modular homes. What are the differences?

A Mobile Home

A mobile home is a home that has been built with axles directly underneath the house. The axles make it easier to transport the home from place to place. The axles stay on the home even if people live in it. A mobile home might have a skirt placed on it to shield the axles from view, but mobile homes often have to be registered with the DMV because they qualify as a vehicle. 

A Manufactured Home

A manufactured home has been built in another location. Then, it is trucked to the final location where it is deployed. Manufactured homes do not have axles, but they can sit on the bed of a truck. They may or may not be installed on a long-term foundation once they arrive at the permanent site. Typically, these homes are built using metal frames to make them easier to transport. 

A Modular Home

A modular home is very similar to a manufactured home. It is built in another location, but it usually has a wooden frame instead of a metal one. It may also be deployed on another foundation once it arrives at its final location. 

Financing A Manufactured, Mobile, Or Modular Home

One of the big issues with purchasing one of the houses above is that financiers may hesitate to hand out a loan. Because mobile homes technically qualify as a vehicle, it can be difficult to find a lender who is willing to finance them. It might be possible to finance a manufactured or mobile home, but it needs to meet FHA requirements. The house must have been built according to HUD guidelines, it must have been moved to the current location when it was new, and it has to be attached to a permanent foundation. Then, it might be possible to find a lender to finance the cost of the house.

Build Wealth More Quickly

One of the first benefits of owning a second home is that you can build wealth more quickly. One of the major benefits of investing in real estate is that you can leverage the bank’s money to help you build wealth. Even though you may have only put down 20 percent, 100 percent of the property’s appreciation benefits you, as you own the home. If you own a second home, you can build wealth more quickly because you are doing this with two separate properties.

Enjoy Switching Up The Scenery

Many people like to own a second house because it allows them to switch up the scenery. If you live in the northeast, you may want to own a second home in the Southeast. If you live on the coast, you may want to purchase a second property in the mountains. That way, when you are ready for a change of weather or scenery, you can simply go to your second home. 

Generate Another Income Stream

Owning a second home allows you to generate another income stream. When you are not using the house, you can rent it out to other people. Or, you might be interested in the stability of a long-term rental. This is something that you can discuss with a real estate professional. 

Consider Owning A Second Home

In the end, there are numerous benefits that come with owning a second house. If you are looking for a way to diversify your investments, or if you are simply looking for a bit more flexibility, you should consider owning a second home as well. A professional can help you plan your finances accordingly, so you can put yourself in the best position possible to be successful. 

People look at pets as members of their families. They love and cherish them. At the same time, pets do not necessarily go well with rental properties. Even though their owners love them, the property owners generally do not. Pets can damage the property, stain the floors, and scratch up the furniture.

Did you know that 72% of all renters own pets?  Therefore, property owners who want to maximize their income need to create pet-friendly rentals to drive up demand. What are the biggest benefits, and what are a few ways to do exactly that? 

The Benefits Of A Pet-Friendly Rental

There are several reasons why property owners should create a pet-friendly rental. The biggest reason is that this leads to a more diversified tenant pool. Many people are looking for a property that welcomes pets. If property owners have a rental property that is pet-friendly, they will have more interest, increasing the rent they might charge.

Furthermore, pets are not the most common source of property damage. Adults and children tend to cost far more property damage on a per-month basis than pets. Therefore, property owners should not worry as much about dogs, cats, and other animals damaging their properties. 

How To Create A Pet-Friendly Rental

There are a few ways property owners can make their rental properties pet-friendly. First, it is important to think about the floors. Some floors, such as carpet, are not friendly to pets because they stain. Instead, linoleum, vinyl, and laminate floors are friendlier to pets, and they are far easier to clean. 

It might also be helpful to invest in pet doors and gates. This makes it easier to divide the property and makes it easier for pets to come in and out.

Consider Asking For A Pet Deposit

Property owners should also consider asking for a pet deposit. It is not unusual to ask for a security deposit, but owners might want to ask for an additional deposit for pets. That way, owners already have the money on-hand if they need to do some extra cleaning or make some repairs after having a pet at the property. Creating a pet-friendly rental can lead to extra income.

Many people are looking for a way to diversify their investments, and real estate investing is a popular option. Some people might be interested in short-term rental properties. What is a short-term rental property, and what are the responsibilities of property owners? Learn more about short-term rental properties to figure out if this is a solid option. 

An Overview Of A Short-Term Rental Property

A short-term rental property is a rental property that typically has residents and renters for fewer than 12 months at a time. Many people believe that short-term rental properties are vacation homes and Airbnb-type properties; however, just about any property can be a short-term rental. This includes a condo, a townhome, or a single-family home. Typically, the owner of a short-term rental property doesn’t live in it but rents it out to people for a few days, weeks, or months at a time. 

The Responsibilities Of A Short-Term Rental Property Owner

There are many responsibilities that come with owning a short-term rental property. Many of them are similar to the responsibilities of owning a long-term rental property; however, because there is more turnover, these responsibilities tend to arise with greater frequency.

For example, short-term rental property owners need to screen everyone who applies to stay at the property. The property owner is typically responsible for utility bills as well, as the renters do not stay there long enough to develop a relationship with a utility company. Short-term property owners also need to keep a close eye on their records to make sure they keep track of their income and overhead expenses. 

Maximizing Income In A Short-Term Rental Property: Take Care Of It

There are several ways short-term rental property owners can maximize their income. They need to select a property that is in a favorable location with a lot of interest. Then, they need to take care of the property to make guests feel welcome. Purchasing some nice furniture, handling maintenance on time, and advertising the property on social media can drive up demand and interest. These are the best ways to maximize income on a short-term rental property. 

Many people rely on Airbnb to go on vacation because this website often makes booking easier, affords more flexibility, and is frequently cheaper when compared to a hotel. Therefore, some real estate investors rely on Airbnb as an investment strategy. At the same time, this is not necessarily the best option for everyone. What do people need to know about using Airbnb as a real estate investment strategy? 

The Pros Of Using Airbnb

If the property is in a great location, it is possible to make more money using an Airbnb rental strategy. On a per-night basis, Airbnb usually leads to more income when compared to a long-term renter. For example, a property in an attractive location could earn hundreds of dollars on a single weekend, while a long-term renter might only pay a thousand dollars for the whole month. Therefore, if an Airbnb property is booked solid for a whole month, the income would be higher.

Furthermore, Airbnb leads to a more diversified portfolio of tenants. Airbnb properties collect money from a variety of renters on a regular basis, so having one cancellation will not necessarily lead to a serious financial situation.

The Cons Of Using Airbnb 

There are a few drawbacks to using Airbnb as well. Income can vary significantly depending on the season, as people may want to vacation more during the summer than in the winter (or vice versa). In addition, overhead expenses might be higher. To make the property more attractive, owners might have to purchase nice furniture, pay the utility bills on the property, and give a portion of the rental income to Airbnb. 

Think Carefully About Using Airbnb As An Investment Strategy

These are just a few of the most important points people need to keep in mind regarding Airbnb as a real estate investment strategy. Even though there is the potential to generate more income, it also leads to greater variability on a month-to-month basis. Furthermore, the potential to use Airbnb as a real estate investment strategy will depend on the location of the property. It is important for everyone to think carefully about the benefits and drawbacks of Airbnb before deciding if this is right for them. 

Anyone looking to diversify their investments should consider investing in real estate. Because the value of property generally increases over time, this is a great way to use money to make money. Even though purchasing a house may provide a greater return than leaving that money in a savings account, purchasing property is still a major decision. Everyone has to take their time to evaluate each option carefully before purchasing an investment property.

The Time Required

Owning an investment property is not easy, and it requires a significant amount of time. Potential real estate investors need to evaluate the local market carefully, comparing any potential mortgage payment to the rental income afforded by that property. Landlords also have to identify long-term residents to generate a passive stream of income that will cover expenses related to the property. 

The Budget

It is also critical to think about all the expenses that come with owning an investment property. Property owners need to make sure they have enough income to cover not only the mortgage payment but also real estate taxes and homeowners’ insurance. Keep in mind that real estate taxes may be higher for an investment property when compared to a primary residence. Real estate investors should also make sure they have cash aside to cover any emergency repairs. 

The Location

The location will play a significant role in driving any potential return on that investment. Ideally, the property should be located near attractive employment opportunities, major roads, and other amenities such as shopping and restaurants. The most important factor in the value of a property is its location, and this is just as true with investment properties as it is with anything else. A property in a good location will likely appreciate more quickly.

Choose The Right Property For Real Estate Investing

There are numerous factors that everyone should evaluate carefully before deciding to purchase property. While real estate investing can provide a significant return, it also comes with a lot of expenses and responsibilities. Everyone has to make sure they have the time and money to properly manage an investment property. If so, investing in real estate could be a great way to diversify assets and build wealth. 

Investing in real estate remains one of the best ways to accumulate wealth in America. There are six ways to get started in real estate investing. One way does not require any investment capital, just an investment of your time. Ways to get started include investing in a REIT, buying an incoming-producing property, using a buy-and-hold strategy, flipping houses, crowdfunding, and wholesale deals.

Investing In A REIT

A real estate investment trust (REIT) is an investment instrument that offers a proportional ownership interest in a real estate portfolio that follows a particular investment strategy. A private REIT has a minimum investment that could be $1,000 to $25,000. A publicly-traded REIT sells in shares, just like stocks on the stock exchange. The investment minimum is just one share and some REITs have share prices under $100.

Income-Producing Property

Buy a home and rent it out. For this strategy to work, you do have to deal with the tenant headaches, unless you can afford to outsource the landlord’s work to a property management company.

Buy-And-Hold Strategy

Buy raw land for cheap on the outskirts of a growing town and wait the time necessary for the town to overtake your land for the opportunity to subdivide and develop it for a high price.

Flipping Houses

For those who like doing contracting work, or who partner up with a contractor, there may be profit in buying some fixer-upper homes to renovate and sell for more than the acquisition price plus the renovation costs.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a way to participate as a small investor in real estate deals and also to fund your own deals.

Wholesale Deals

Wholesale deals can be accomplished with no money down. You work for other investors and secure properties at lower than market prices by controlling them with an offer that is accepted and then assigning the deal to the investors for a fee.

Summary

If you have been thinking about becoming a real estate investor, now is the time to do something about it. Even if you start with only $100 by buying shares in a REIT, at least you got started. Once you get your real estate investment strategy going, you will find it to be a very rewarding experience, if you are careful and make wise decisions.

Be sure to associate with an expert REALTOR® in your marketplace area to get sound advice and information.

A 1031 tax exchange is a legal way to defer paying capital gains when selling a property and then buying a “like-kind” property within the allowed period. The time limits allowed are 45 calendar days after the close of the sale of the first property to identify the like-kind property for acquisition and then close the purchase transaction to complete the 1031 exchange within 180 calendar days.

Like-Kind Property

The property’s broad characteristics determine if it is a like-kind property, not the quality of the asset. In real estate investing, there is a wide variety of things that qualify for like-kind exchanges. For example, vacant land is exchangeable for a commercial building, an industrial site, or a portfolio of residential rental properties.

Since all these properties are types of real estate investments made in commerce, they are like-kind properties. It is not permitted to make like-kind exchanges of property for personal use. The properties that qualify for 1031 exchanges are for investment purposes only. Investors need to hold them for at least two years for them to qualify. A 1031 exchange cannot be used to “flip” a property purchased and then resold more quickly.

Equal Or Greater Value

The property for the acquisition side of a 1031 deal must have a value that is equal to or greater than the property sold. There are three ways to identify the property with the sufficient combined value needed for the acquisition, which are:

1. Identify up to three properties for the acquisition regardless of their individual values.
2. Identify an unlimited amount of properties that have a combined value of up to 200% of the value of the property sold.
3. Identify an unlimited amount of properties that exceed 200% of the value of the property sold as long as the acquisition equals 95% of the total value of the identified properties.

Reverse 1031 Exchange

In a reverse 1031 exchange, the property acquisition occurs first and then within 45 calendar days identify the property to sell as part of the 1031 exchange and complete the entire transaction in 180 calendar days.

1031 Exchange Intermediary

A qualified intermediary is necessary to complete a 1031 exchange. The intermediary holds the funds in a segregated escrow account from the sale of the first property and then uses those funds in the acquisition transaction of the identified property.

It is extremely important that the owner of the first property never has direct control over the proceeds from the sale. If the owner takes direct control of those funds, for even just a moment, this triggers a tax event and the capital gains taxes will be due.

Conclusion

A 1031 tax exchange is a very convenient way to defer paying capital gains tax. Use competent legal counsel for the transaction and an intermediary to hold the funds that has a perfect reputation for successfully working with this process.

If you are interested in buying a new property for personal or investment purposes, be sure to contact your trusted real estate professional.