It’s common to have questions about your property taxes, but one is more important than all the others combined: Why did my property taxes increase? There’s no individual answer to this question, as it can depend on a variety of factors. Here are 19 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you understand property taxes as a whole, and with that, determine why your taxes have increased. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1304
Working for a company is the most common way people in the United States earn their living. As an employee, your earnings are reported on IRS Form W-2, and federal, state, Medicare, and Social Security taxes are withheld every time you are paid. Although there are benefits to being an employee—like simplified tax preparation—you may pay more in taxes than self-employed individuals or business owners because you can’t claim certain deductions. That doesn’t mean you don’t have options, however. Yo...
May 09, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1303
Setting up an emergency fund is one of the fundamental pillars of financial well-being. And yes, saving can be hard, especially in 2024. According to a recent poll by Bankrate, many of us are saving less, with the majority (63%) saying that recent high inflation means they’re able to save less than before. As of 2024, only 44% of Americans could pay for an emergency expense of $1,000 or more from their savings. The majority would rely on credit cards, payment plans, or cutting spending elsewhere...
May 08, 2024•11 min•Ep. 1302
Denver’s housing market is on fire—at least according to a U.S. News analysis of December 2023 data from the U.S. News Housing Market Index, which includes multiple indicators of housing supply and demand, along with financial health measures. A healthy job market, low rental vacancy rates, and a low housing supply that keeps rents from falling may make Denver an attractive market to investors as well, U.S. News reports, despite its high home prices relative to the national median. Several more ...
May 07, 2024•15 min•Ep. 1301
When buying rental real estate, where you buy now matters just as much as getting a great deal. Matt Myre, managing editor of the BiggerPockets Blog , shares today’s Headlines about states that are becoming unapproachable for investors due to their politics and what you should look for when trying to avoid bad policies. There are really two main points that contribute to the issue with these states.high taxes and stringent regulations. Meanwhile, other markets are looking to improve zoning, maki...
May 06, 2024•21 min•Ep. 1300
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett’s much-anticipated annual letter to investors is out. As is customary for the maverick investor, it’s peppered with headline-grabbing statements about Buffett’s disdain for investment advisors and unearned wealth. But setting the flashy statements aside, Buffett’s latest letter contains some very valuable information. It’s worth paying attention to, even if you are at the very beginning of your investment journey because it concerns the future of one of the ...
May 05, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1299
Purchasing a home is an extraordinarily expensive process, especially once you add up the down payment, closing costs, and potential relocation expenses. And once you’ve acquired the home, you still need to consider the ongoing taxes, mortgage payments, and associated costs like HOA fees, insurance, and home maintenance costs. Many people understandably wonder what costs and expenses could be tax-deductible and what additional taxes they may need to pay as part of the homebuying and ownership pr...
May 04, 2024•13 min•Ep. 1298
I love telling people that I have been a Brandon Turner copycat when it comes to my real estate investing career. While our backgrounds in finding real estate are a bit different, our stories are quite similar because I followed what Brandon coined the “stack method.” The stack method is self-explanatory: First, you buy one property, then two, four, six, and eight more, but you start small and scale up gradually over time. In the hopes that you can avoid (or at least laugh at) some of the mistak...
May 03, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1297
There’s a lot that goes into house flipping. You need to choose the right market, negotiate a competitive price, work with the best contractors, and get an agent to help you sell for a profit. On top of that, a defined accounting strategy for house flipping is critical to your long-term success. Here’s how to create one. On top of that, a defined accounting strategy for house flipping is critical to your long-term success. Here’s how to create one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
May 02, 2024•14 min•Ep. 1296
Subleasing was frowned upon for a long time, but in today’s era of Airbnb popularity, it’s making a solid comeback and can be a great real estate investment strategy. Airbnb arbitrage allows you to rent properties to tenants that you rent from a landlord. You act as the middleman between the owner and tenants and take a piece of the pie without the need to own physical real estate yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 01, 2024•15 min•Ep. 1295
A home inspection doesn’t take long, and understanding the process means it won’t take longer than necessary. But why is a professional home inspection so vital in real estate investment? Here, we’ll explain the home inspection process and answers the essential question: How long should a home inspection take? As the adage goes, you cannot judge a book by its cover. Successful real estate investors know why it’s wise to avoid judging a property by its paint job. Below the seemingly pristine surf...
Apr 30, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1294
If you’re looking to elevate your real estate investing knowledge, expand your contact list, and gain powerful insight into 2024 real estate trends, then you need to be at the places that can make it happen. Real estate conferences are the top resource for meeting like-minded people who share your goals. You’ll walk away feeling empowered to make your dreams a reality. While we know there are tons of amazing real estate investing conferences going on in 2024, these are the ones we think you’ll w...
Apr 29, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1293
Real estate investments are available in many shapes and sizes, including industrial real estate investing. This is not the most common form of real estate investing, but it has a lot of potential when done right, and can be a great opportunity to diversify your investments. Understanding Industrial Real Estate Investing in industrial real estate involves purchasing, managing, and eventually selling properties. Like residential real estate investing, the goal is a great ROI, but you’ll cater to ...
Apr 28, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1292
HBO’s seminal series The Wire put Baltimore’s plight on the map, with crime and urban blight running amok. Now, 16 years after that show ended, it seems little has changed from the city it depicted. The situation has become so desperate that the city is selling off dilapidated buildings for f $1. However, before you dig out the loose change in your pocket to snag a townhouse, remember there are caveats. There were almost 15,000 abandoned homes in Baltimore as of 2022, blighting the landscape, an...
Apr 27, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1291
Why rent when you can buy? Luxury retailers are booming and using their extra cash to buy up highly coveted retail spaces across the U.S. and Europe. Prada bought the building where its Fifth Avenue store is located for $425 million, while LVMH is said to be in talks to purchase the building where Bergdorf Goodman, a men’s store, is located. Meanwhile, Gucci and Balenciaga’s parent company, Kering, bought a property on Fifth Avenue for $963 million, expanding its real estate portfolio, which alr...
Apr 26, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1290
Home foreclosures are on the rise. Is this the start of a housing collapse and the buying bonanza for real estate investors touted for the last two years, or a mere blip? Foreclosure rates have steadily risen since interest rates increased in conjunction with the home affordability crisis. According to Redfin, only 15.5% of U.S. home listings were accessible financially to U.S. households in 2023. This has led to an 8% increase in foreclosure filings, according to a new report by data company AT...
Apr 25, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1289
On any given day, depending on who you ask, we are either years away from the faintest possibility of a recession or about to enter one. Economists have made several dizzying U-turns in their predictions over the past couple of years, with the latest narrative claiming a recession is highly unlikely in 2024 and subsequent years. That’s a stark change in tone from only a year ago. A poll of 70 economists by The Wall Street Journal in January 2023 put the odds of a recession at 61%. Yet at least o...
Apr 24, 2024•14 min•Ep. 1288
The location (city) where you invest is your most important investment decision, not the properties themselves. Why? The goal of real estate investing is financial independence. But financial independence isn’t just replacing your current income. It’s about having the necessary funds to maintain your present lifestyle throughout your lifetime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1286
After multiple lawsuits, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has agreed to a settlement with home sellers amounting to a payment of $418 million and a few monumental rule changes for multiple listing services (MLS) and how real estate agents conduct business. The changes will go into effect in July. This has led to an array of responses within the real estate industry, from panic and complete reworking of real estate practices to others claiming it’s no big deal and business as usual. Lea...
Apr 22, 2024•14 min•Ep. 1286
After multiple lawsuits, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has agreed to a settlement with home sellers amounting to a payment of $418 million and a few monumental rule changes for multiple listing services (MLS) and how real estate agents conduct business. The changes will go into effect in July. This has led to an array of responses within the real estate industry, from panic and complete reworking of real estate practices to others claiming it’s no big deal and business as usual. Lea...
Apr 21, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1284
According to ATTOM Data’s latest Q1 2024 Single-Family Rental Market report, average gross rental yields on three-bedroom single-family homes are projected to rise by 7.55% this year. As ever, though, the devil is in the regional details. While some markets are offering landlords great rental margins—over 10% in some areas—others offer lackluster and/or declining returns. Let’s dive a little deeper into which markets the report identifies as hot—and which ones should give investors pause, based ...
Apr 20, 2024•11 min•Ep. 1284
This week’s headlines cover the recent Federal Reserve meeting that ended with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell announcing that rates would be higher for longer. Bond yields rose in response, sending mortgage rates back into the 7-8% rage. Meanwhile, Matt assesses whether the pandemic ever recovered from the pandemic by looking at prices, rates, and inventory. https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/why-the-housing-market-still-has-not-recovered-from-the-pandemic https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/202...
Apr 19, 2024•22 min•Ep. 1283
If you’ve ever dipped your toes into the world of personal finance, chances are you’ve heard of Dave Ramsey. He’s a household name in the realm of financial advice, known for his no-nonsense approach to getting out of debt and building wealth. One of the cornerstones of Ramsey’s philosophy is cutting expenses to the bone, often focusing on small, everyday luxuries like coffee and dining out. While slashing these expenses can certainly free up some cash in the short term, I’m here to tell you tha...
Apr 18, 2024•17 min•Ep. 1282
Real estate and franchising are two popular investment options offering significant financial returns. Both allow you to earn passive income, enjoy tax benefits, and benefit from regular cash flow. However, a real estate franchise and real estate investing each have pros and cons to consider. If you are considering investing in the housing market, which business model is best for you? Long-term wealth through property appreciation and regular rental income that real estate offers? Or the opportu...
Apr 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 1281
Real estate investors accounted for 26.1% of low-priced home purchases in the U.S. during the fourth quarter of 2023, a record-high share, according to a new report from Redfin. Investors bought only 13.6% of mid-priced homes and 15.9% of high-priced homes sold during the same period. Redfin defined low-priced homes as falling into the bottom third of local sales prices. The median price investors paid for homes in the fourth quarter was $453,271, above the national median, according to Redfin d...
Apr 16, 2024•17 min•Ep. 1280
2024 will be a crucial year for the U.S. economy, particularly around what the Fed will do with interest rates. But for the Fed to lower rates, they have to see signs of slowing growth. What reliable signs are there that the economy is moving in either the recessionary or the growth direction? There has to be a better way to tell than using the Super Bowl Indicator (it doesn’t work, folks). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2024•13 min•Ep. 1279
Disability benefits provide important lifelines to those who are unable to work due to various medical conditions. Although your ability to work while on disability will be limited, you may still be able to earn income from certain passive investments. Whether flipping houses while on disability will affect your benefits depends on your degree of involvement in your properties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2024•11 min•Ep. 1278
Investing in forest land can be a great way to diversify your portfolio. Because tree growth doesn’t rely on economic factors, consistent biological growth can create more stable returns than other financial investments. When you invest in forestry, you invest in a lower-risk asset that provides environmental benefits. This is often opposite what’s true for residential and commercial land, which is more prone to market disruptions and other market risks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Apr 13, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1277
Yes, many pundits are still warning about a recession in 2024. Here’s one example. Richard Duncan did a Macro Watch fourth-quarter update. He pointed out that between 1952 and 2009, all nine times total credit (adjusted for inflation) grew by less than 2%, and the economy went into a recession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1276
Last week, Realtor.com published another version of its ‘‘magic number’’ forecast. The number in question is the mortgage rate number low enough to ‘‘unfreeze’’ the real estate market. We know that the market has been in something of a gridlock for over a year now: Home prices are very high and keep rising. Mortgage rates are high and aren’t showing much of a downward trend. There aren’t enough homes to go around, especially those that are remotely affordable. Something has to give. Learn more a...
Apr 11, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1275
