What to Know Before Buying a Home for Someone Else
Have you ever considered buying a home for someone else? Maybe you’d like to give a head start to an adult child, take care of an elderly parent, or help out someone with bad credit or who is simply having a hard time financially. It’s a noble idea and it can be done. But there are things you need to know so your generosity doesn’t end up costing you more than you expected.
Selling a Home vs. Renting it Out: The Case for Both
Moving to a new home doesn’t always mean selling the old one. Homeowners could choose to keep it as a rental property. How to decide between selling a home vs. renting it out will be different for everyone. It boils down to three main topics: the homeowner’s goals, their financial situation, and whether or not they are “cut out” to be a landlord.
Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Foreclosed Home
People in search of real estate bargains may find themselves considering foreclosures. Foreclosed homes have been seized by a lending bank after a homeowner has defaulted on their mortgage. Although not as common as during the real estate crisis of 2008, foreclosures still happen all over the country.
Is Buying a Home Worth It? What You Need to Consider
It’s not news that buying a house is a big financial investment. But many first-time buyers wonder if buying a home is worth it. They wonder how long it will take before breaking even compared to renting. The St. Louis region actually has one of the shortest break-even times in the country.
How the Fed’s Interest Rate Decisions Affect Mortgage Rates
(TNS)—The Fed lowered rates by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday, for the third time this year, in an 8-2 vote. Citing “global developments for the economic outlook as well as muted inflation pressures” in a statement released by the Federal Reserve, policymakers dropped the target range for the federal funds rate to 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent.
How Buying a Home Affects Your Credit
Taking on a mortgage, especially as a first-time homebuyer, can be intimidating. Finding out that it can lower your credit score can be downright stressful. It’s a bit of a “Catch 22”: You need good credit to buy a house, but buying a house lowers your credit.
What to Look For in a Realtor: A Guide for St. Louis Buyers and Sellers
Whether buying or selling a home in St. Louis, finding the best realtor will involve some work. You’ll want to ask people you know for referrals, do some research, and finally, interview the best candidates. (Read Follow These 3 Steps to Find a Real Estate Agent.) Sales statistics and experience are important, but you need to feel confident in your decision on a more personal level, too.
Capital Gains From a Home Sale—Is it Taxable?
Congrats! Your house is selling for substantially more than you paid for it! That’s a good thing… or is it? The IRS may want a chunk of the profits in the form of capital gains tax. There are some scenarios when selling a home will generate a tax liability. But there are ways that homeowners can avoid taxes of home sales.
Buying a Foreclosed Home: Good Deal or Risky Business?
After the real estate bubble burst in 2008, it seemed like foreclosed houses could be found in almost every neighborhood across the country. The number of foreclosed homes reached an all-time high in 2010 but has steadily decreased each year since. Nevertheless, as long as there have been mortgages, there have been people unable to pay them. Buyers can get a bargain buying a foreclosed home. But if they’re not cautious, they can get more than they bargained for.
The Homeowner’s Guide to HOAs
Whether you're a new homeowner or just a homeowner new to an HOA, it can be difficult to understand exactly what your responsibilities are and how these new rules will be enforced.
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