By Dixie Somers Andrew Carnegie—founder of U.S. Steel and one of history’s richest men—once observed, “More millionaires have been made through owning real estate than through all other industrial investments combined.” Owning real estate investments remains one of the most effective means of growing one’s wealth. But to fully take advantage of the opportunities...
Identity theft is defined as the fraudulent possession and use of an individual's private, identifying information for financial gain. Unless the proper precautions are taken, anyone can be at risk—including you. As a real estate professional, it's important that you're aware of how identity theft occurs and how you can protect yourself and your clients against...
By Kara Masterson
House hunting is an exciting process, especially when it’s your first home. While it may feel stressful and overwhelming at times, there are ways to make the search easier.
Here are five steps to take before looking for your dream home:
1. Set Your Budget First
The first thing you need to do before looking at any homes is set your budget....
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act marks the first major tax overhaul in 30 years, and, although it'll be some time before we know the real effect it will have on individuals, the bill seems to be having an impact on companies throughout the U.S. At just one month old, the tax bill has already made numerous headlines. The most public stories are of the major companies that...
By Victoria Lim In the past, home sellers were told to tidy up, mow the lawn and perhaps do a few modifications; however, the current dog-eat-dog real estate market now demands a more hardball approach, and that's where home staging comes in. Staging a home is a crucial selling point when marketing a house. Studies show that investment for staging takes 1 - 3 percent...
Editor's Note: This post was originally published on January 25, 2018. Housecall continues to share this piece due to ongoing requests and reader interest. When it comes to connecting with potential clients, social media is not to be slighted. Whether your favorite platform is Instagram or Twitter, simply posting great content is not enough—you also need to lead...
Be it an email hack, a phishing scam, a Nigerian money order or a product that sounds just too good to be true, there are dozens of ways you can get scammed online. At best, you lose $20 on a product that doesn't exist. At worst? All your financial data gets hacked and your electronic device becomes infected with malware. To avoid any situation similar to these,...
Are you on the hunt for a rental? Ad boards, listing portals and vacation sites have made it easier than ever to find one—and easier than ever, regrettably, for scammers to strike. Common cons include: False Identity Cyber criminals are altering the contact information on existing online rental posts, changing the email and/or phone number and disseminating the...
Oporto Ribeira reflections on Douro River, Portugal. By Lief Simon and the Editors of Live and Invest Overseas In today’s complicated world, international property stands out among investment options because it is both a hard asset and one of the best current opportunities for generating cash flow while building real, long-term wealth. Whether you’re contemplating...
By Rana Waxman Rent-to-own is an alternative to the traditional agreement between homebuyers and sellers. Typically, a buyer presents an offer. Once accepted, the payment, settlement and new ownership takes place. Lease-to-own or rent-to-own does not follow this process. Instead, it allows a renter to become the buyer. This is done through another type of contract...
