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How To Be a Part-time Landlord

June 22, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

You’d think that the phrase “part-time landlord” would be an impossibility. Any real estate investment has to be a full-time job, right? But it can be done. How? Let’s look at some of the work involved — it’s important to know what you’re signing up for:

Finding a property is of critical importance. Make sure any work on it aligns with your ability to fix it yourself or pay to have someone else do it.
Preparing the unit and every time a tenant departs, these items need to be visited and revisited: carpet, paint, window screens, deck stain and lawn maintenance.
Advertising for new tenants and then showing the home to prospective tenants.
Completing legal agreements.
Collecting deposits.
Taking care of utilities.
Hassles, which can include broken pipes, clogged drains, broken garage doors, pets and roommate issues.
Vetting renters to avoid deadbeats and vandals. To do this, use credit and background checks.
Setting and enforcing rules.
Managing equal housing rules.
Dealing with insurance and liability issues, including those of swimming pools, icy paths and keeping the place up to code. You’ll need landlord insurance — your regular homeowner’s policy won’t be sufficient.
Understanding and observing local landlord-tenant laws.
Keeping proper records for tax and legal purposes.

With the rise of Airbnb allowing you to rent out a room in your home, many are considering becoming a landlord in a bid to earn extra income. If you have the space or a second home, and local laws allow it, it seems like an advantageous situation.

There are benefits and risks to becoming a part-time landlord. Maintenance and upkeep have to be taken into account, but becoming a landlord can be a great choice for generating wealth. However, in order for this to happen, you’ll need some support. Here are a few ways to get support for your new venture:

Turn to property management companies to do a lot of legwork for you — from locating a property to refurbishing it — for a fee, of course. The management company can handle the day-to-day tasks.
Find a real estate attorney to help you navigate potential issues that you may encounter. You have to be up on such issues as discrimination, safety deposits, late rent, lease agreements and repairs.
Consider the legal issues. You can make the business into a limited liability company, so your name doesn’t appear on leases. Twenty-one states have adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act as the basis for their local laws. Restrictions on security deposits are mostly derived from state law.

Time invested in picking good tenants can be the difference between becoming a landlord who’s successful and one who’s constantly stressed. You may be tempted to take shortcuts in screening tenants, but there’s plenty that can go wrong.

To avoid such headaches, be clear about acceptable payment methods for rent: check, money order, cash, credit card or whatever. Consider including penalties for late payments in your leases — they’ll provide you with leverage if a renter gives you continuing problems.

The result of a bad tenant has a huge ripple effect on your time and money. You have to go through the removal process, fill the space again and make sure your property’s ready for the next tenant.

Even interest rates can affect your business. When they fall, it’s often cheaper to buy than rent, so demand for your unit(s) may drop. Lowering the rent to remain competitive can put a cramp in your ability to make a buck. Researching locations and tenants are essential.

How to Choose the Right Type of Barbecue Grill

June 19, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Lots of people enjoy the flavors of grilling over other types of cooking. It’s a tried and true method of getting juicy and deliciously cooked food. If you’re thinking of purchasing a grill but unsure about the best option for you, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn about the different types of grills on the market right now and which one will deliver you the performance you’re after. Although many think of grilling as a summertime activity, you can grill 12 months a year in much of the country.

Gas Grills

One of the best outdoor barbecue grill setups you can use to improve your home is a quality backyard gas grill. Widely popular and designed to run on propane, this type of grill can also be converted quite easily to work on natural gas. If you want to fire up your grill on short notice and not worry too much about food preparation or clean up, this is the perfect solution for your home.

Electric Grills

An electric grill is especially convenient since a lot of units can be run both outside and indoors. Safe to use in areas with strict fire regulation codes, electric grills can be a great idea when you don’t want city laws to prevent you from having a great time in the summer.

Charcoal Grills

If you long for that genuine, smoky and delightfully flavored barbecue, consider getting a charcoal grill.

These barbecue grills run on charcoal briquettes and are considered to be healthier than regular gas grills. You do need a bit more skill to use it, and the price and maintenance costs may be higher than gas or electric outdoor grills, but it’s well worth it, especially if you add a firebox to cook delicious meat at lower temperatures.

All these options are great depending on your budget and lifestyle. If space is an issue, a portable grill running on propane or charcoal will help you minimize the space needed for a fun outdoor barbecue.

Should You Go for Built-in Grills?

A built-in model can be very costly, but totally worth it for those planning to grill all year round. What’s more, it can increase your home’s value considerably. Portable units are a lot more affordable, but they don’t provide the same level of convenience and elegance. An in-between option for those who don’t have the budget for a built-in is to go for a freestanding island, which is cost effective and still comes with a lot of features.

All in all, there’s really no one best grill—it all depends on your specific situation and needs, so do a little research and find the grill that is perfect for you.

Is This Your Situation: Looking for the Best Home in Your Budget?

June 17, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

You’re neither rich nor poor, and you’re ready to buy your first home. You look around—all those homes on the market, but they all seem priced out of reach.
Cheer up. You’re not alone. With some solid real estate counseling and some help from your lender and/or sellers and others, you can not only get your foot in the door, you can own the house too. It just takes some creativity, a few inside tips and a bit of homework.

Examine Your Goals

How ironclad are your dreams? Can your dream of a formal dining room or a hot tub on a redwood deck be postponed? Must you have a two car garage? Lowering your expectations and starting out modestly (in decent housing that meets your needs) can lead to owning those dreams in time.

Start Saving

Get your priorities straight. Without taking all the fun out of life, what’s more important to you, weekends on the road and dinners out or stashing away at least part of your down payment? (Most lenders want to see that some of the money you invest is your own.)

Keep Your Credit Record Clean

When you go mortgage shopping, lenders will be looking over your payment records. Don’t let a late-payment habit rise up to haunt you. (Reformed late-payers can request creditors to erase the blots on their records—for a small fee).

Look for Financial Assistance

Your parents and other relatives may be able and willing to give you gifts that will get you over the down payment hurdle. (Loans from relatives will be counted as debts and will lower a number of mortgage payments your lender will allow you to carry).

Get Some Co-Signers

Parents, relatives (and unrelated investors) can either co-sign a loan or share the ownership of your home. With shared ownership, you’ll be the resident but your co-investor may share specified expenses (plus tax advantages and equity accrual) and will share in your profit on the sale.

Shop for Mortgage Loans

Qualifying for a mortgage can be managed in several ways to fit your down payment and monthly payment abilities. FHA and VA loans come with low down payment requirements, and lenders offer ARMs (adjustable-rate mortgages) at initially low-interest rates. (Look for an ARM that can be converted to a fixed rate should rates drop).

Consider Creative Financing

Also, new-home builders and other sellers may offer buy-downs that lower your interest rate in the first few years of a mortgage, thereby making a home more affordable. Balloon loans (if they have at least a 7-year term) can often bridge gaps and give you time to accumulate equity and/or cash to pay them off. Home sellers can sometimes help you financially—with a lease-purchase arrangement or a take-back loan. Lenders and sellers are constantly creating new ways to help buyers buy homes. We can help you check them out.

Look at Starter Homes

Once freed of the vision of “instant dream home,” you can look for housing that will start you on the equity-building path to realizing your dream. Condominiums and townhouses are often much less expensive than detached houses and buying one now can serve well as a stepping stone.

Search for Bargains

If you’re handy with tools, a fixer-upper home gives you the opportunity to buy inexpensively. Fix it up and in a few years, trade up. If you’re adventurous, auctioned properties in suitable neighborhoods can also be good values. If you don’t mind a longer commute to work, outlying areas frequently offer homes at lower prices than those found close to town.

Whatever route you choose toward buying your first home, keep cool. It may take time to find the right combination of elements, but there is a home out there for you and a way to obtain it. We’ll be happy to help you create your path to its door.

Call or email us today to help you discover the best home that your budget can buy.

A Horse Lovers Dream Ranch!!

June 15, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Fixer Upper vs. Move-In Ready: Which One Is Right For You?

June 12, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

When it comes to buying real estate, you want to make sure the property you purchase is the right fit for your needs. For some buyers, purchasing a home that needs some work is the ideal situation. For others, getting a turnkey home that’s move-in ready is the only option they’ll consider. And for still others, both seem like reasonable options.

The question is: which is for you? There are pros and cons to both fixer uppers and move-in ready homes. The important thing is to recognize which is the best fit for you, your budget, and what you want out of a home.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of fixer uppers and move-in ready homes to help you determine which is the better fit for you:

Fixer uppers

Fixer uppers are, as the name implies, homes that need a bit of TLC – or fixing up – upon move in.

Pros

Discounted price

The major draw of fixer uppers is the price. Since they need work, you can typically get a fixer upper at a fraction of the cost of a move-in ready home of a similar size or in a similar location. So if you’re on the hunt for a bargain or you have a tight budget, a fixer upper is definitely going to be the least expensive home-buying option.

You can make the house your own

Since a fixer upper will need work and renovations, it does offer the opportunity to put your own stamp on the design and layout and really make the house your own. With a move-in ready home, the work has already been done and the home already designed. With a fixer upper, you get the opportunity to build your home from the ground up with everything from flooring and cabinetry to landscaping and windows.

It’s a project

For people who are interested in home renovation, there’s nothing better than a fixer upper. Taking on the challenge of completely transforming a home is a really exciting prospect for a lot of people, and if you’re in that camp, a fixer upper is a great opportunity to take on a worthwhile project.

Cons

It can get expensive

Even though the purchase price of a fixer upper is typically low, if there is a significant amount of problems with the property or changes that need to be made, it can definitely get expensive. Things like repairing electric, adding a new roof, tearing up and installing new flooring, and redoing a kitchen can get pricey, and if you’re not careful, you can find yourself way over budget, swimming in contractor bills with no end to your renovations in sight.

It takes time

Even if you’re a person who loves renovating homes, there’s no escaping the fact that it takes time. If you need to move into your home quickly, a fixer upper isn’t going to be the right fit.

Move-in ready

Move-in ready homes are recently built, updated, or remodeled homes that need next to nothing in terms of renovations or improvements. You can comfortably move in without making a single change.

Pros

It’s convenient

In terms of convenience, you can’t beat a move-in ready home. Moving can be a stressful process, and for many new homeowners, the last thing they want to do upon moving into their new home is start managing a bunch of renovations. With a move-in ready home, once you move in, you’re done. While you may want to make some cosmetic changes down the road (like painting the walls or changing the flooring), there’s nothing that needs to get done after you move.

Better energy efficiency

Newer, move-in ready homes tend to be more energy efficient, which is not only better for the environment, but also better for your utility costs. Energy efficient homes require less energy to heat the home during the winter and cool the home during the summer, which can end up saving you a significant amount of money in the long run.

Cons

Home prices are higher

When you buy a move-in ready home, you’re paying for the convenience. Move-in ready homes will always be significantly more expensive than fixer uppers in the same neighborhood and of the same size. If you have a tight budget, you might have to make some sacrifices to purchases a move-in ready home, like buying a smaller house or buying in a less popular neighborhood.

The “cookie cutter” effect

When you buy a move-in ready home, everything has already been done for you. Which is certainly convenient, but it can lack originality, charm, and the architectural and decor details you might want in a home. Newer homes sometimes feel more generic and “cookie cutter” than their older counterparts, so if charm and individuality are important for you, a move-in ready home might not feel like the best fit.

Fixer uppers and move-in ready homes both have unique benefits and challenges. Ultimately, you have to go with the choice that best aligns with your budget, your needs, and your long-term goals for your home.

The Right 20 Questions for Land Buyers

May 20, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

What are the right questions for a buyer to ask when considering purchasing a piece of rural land for sale? It all depends on the objectives the buyer has in mind when making their purchase.

A recent article on LANDTHINK entitled, “Top 20 Questions for Land Buyers” garnered a lot of attention and created quite a bit of controversy among LANDTHINK readers. I read many of the comments, and started thinking about what my list of questions would look like as I perform due diligence for myself or my clients when considering a property. That list would need to be tweaked a little depending on the objective for the purchase. For example, a person considering developing a tract into a subdivision on a river would have some significantly different questions to answer than a person merely buying a rural retreat for their family. So the following list would be my jumping off point for most buyers of rural tracts:

How is the property accessed? (Road frontage, deeded easement, etc..)
Are there any water features on the property? (rivers, creek, lake, springs)
Are utilities available to the property?
What is the timber like? (stand types, age, planted or natural)
Has the property been surveyed? (Are boundaries marked?)
Who are the neighbors surrounding the tract?
Can I get a clear title to the property with title insurance?
Do the timber, mineral and water rights convey with the sale?
Are there any easements on the property? (adjoining owners, conservation, utility)
Are there any known environmental concerns or latent defects with the property?
How is this property zoned? (agricultural, residential, commercial?)
What are the annual property taxes?
Have the owners received notice from any governmental agency about possible assessments or actions in the near future that would affect this property?
Will the property be conveyed subject to covenant and restrictions? (If so, what are they?)
How does the land lay? (slopes, bottomland, elevation change, etc…)
Are there internal roads and trails?
Do all of the improvements to the property convey with the sale? (gates and fences, shooting houses, out buildings, etc…)
Does the land drain well or does it stay wet for much of the year?
If I had to sell this property again in a year, is it desirable to other potential buyers?
Can I pee off my porch in privacy?

Buyers that are considering purchasing land for growing crops would also be concerned about things such as:

What is the corn grain yield per acre?
Is it possible to irrigate with a center pivot?
Is an irrigation permit available from the Army Corps of Engineers?
What is the soil profile of the property?
Where are the nearest grain processors?

An investor purchasing timberland for their portfolio would ask questions like:

What is the site index of the land?
Is any of the timber merchantable now?
Is more than 70% of the property sloped suitably for growing and harvesting timber?
Where are the nearest wood outlets and mills?

The list could go on indefinitely for developers, hunters, farmers, investors, and survivalists. The point I am trying to make is that you need to know what your objectives for owning a rural property are before you can even know the right set of questions to ask. This is one reason a buyer should engage the help of a competent agent when purchasing a rural property. Having someone working for you that knows the right questions to ask can save you thousands of dollars and make your transaction much safer and pain-free.

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