| |
| |
|
Real Estate Information |
|
|
|
Home Equity - Don't Spend It on Risky Investments
The housing market has exploded in the last five years, and homeowners are finding that the equity in their homes is greater than it has ever been. The equity in a home is the difference between the market value of the home and the amount still owed on it. As home prices increase, so does the equity for those who own their homes. In parts of California, home values have tripled during the last five years, and homeowners are doing increasingly risky things with their newfound "wealth." Anyone considering borrowing against their home's equity should carefully consider the possible pitfalls of doing so. Traditionally, most home equity lending was done for purposes of home additions or remodels. These have been considered low-risk loans, as the house is collateral for a loan that improves the house itself. As a bonus, the improvement usually increases the value of the home, making the loan even safer for the lending company. Occasionally, homeowners default on such loans, but the foreclosed property can easily be sold to recoup the loss. Times have changed, and many, if not most, home equity borrowers are now using the money for different, and riskier purposes. Thousands of people who have suddenly found themselves with hundreds of thousands of dollars of equity in their homes are treating that value as a windfall of cash. Instead of traditional uses, such as home improvements, borrowers are using their equity to buy more real estate to use as rental property. There are cases of individuals with homes valued at several hundred thousand dollars who have borrowed against their equity, bought more property, borrowed against that equity, and repeated this process six, seven, ten or more times, attempting to build up an empire of rental property. It's hard enough for most people to manage one mortgage, but some people who are caught up in the "equity frenzy" are now managing ten or more of them! On the surface, it may appear that these intrepid individuals are simply taking advantage of an opportunity, turning several hundred thousand dollars worth of equity into millions of dollars worth of rental property. On the other hand, these "investors" may be inviting disaster. As more and more people buy real estate on speculation, the equilibrium of the real estate market is affected. The additional competition among buyers, fueled by the real estate speculators, is causing prices to go up even more. Eventually, the market is going to peak. Buyers who need a home to actually live there can only pay so much for them before the homes simply become unaffordable. And not every speculator can own ten rental properties, as the market can only support so many rental properties before the market becomes saturated. Once that happens, prices will fall. And when they do, all of these buyers who purchased their homes using their own home's equity will find themselves under a mountain of debt. It's nice to have some equity in your home. It's also nice to be able to borrow against that equity for home improvements or debt consolidation. Using your equity as though it was cash you can freely spend is dangerous, as many speculators will soon learn. ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on mortgages and home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Secret to Maximum Real Estate Profits: Lighting Lighting is the most important detail of interior Design Psychology for selling houses. Lighting influences a prospective buyer's feelings within a space more than any other interior design element. The Pros and Cons Of Hiring A Real Estate Lawyer You're travelling in a foreign country and you get arrested for something that you didn't even know was against the law. The potential fine is huge, more than you earn in 10 years. Preparing for a Showing As soon as you decide to put your home on the market, all sorts of sprucing-up are in order. But let's assume you've already scrubbed to a fare-thee-well, touched up a bit of paint, cleared most of the stuff off your kitchen counters and straightened out your closets. Good Tenants - Learn Twelve Ways Landlords Keep Them Happy, Long-term Good Tenants Paying On TimeHow to Create a Win-Win Relationship for the Both of You!After you've found your tenants, how do you keep them? Establish a friendly, pleasant, business-like relationship with your tenants, so they'll want to renew again each year. By using one or a few ideas below, you will learn how to keep good tenants. Real Estate: Reasons and Priorities for Purchasing Property Real Estate: Reasons and Priorities for Purchasing Property. It's not just about Real Estate as an Investment. What Is a CMA "CMA" is an abbreviation real estate agents use for a Comparative Market Analysis. A CMA gives an estimated sale price for a property given current market conditions. Housing Froth Creating Imbalance for Consumers and Investors Home buyers and sellers should think twice before jumping into over-heated real estate markets. Fed chief Alan Greenspan feels the housing boom is economically imbalanced or uneven. A Simple Step by Step Aproach to Fail Your Way to a Million Dollars If You want to be Financially Successful you need to Learn to FailAt a Robert Allen Seminar he said the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people (Financially Successful) is that Successful know how to fail. He went own to say that in order to be successful you need to learn to fail, Unsuccessful people fail to get that 9-5 Job that pays $25,000 to maybe $90,000 a year and when they finally succeed what do they have a 9-5 Job. Real Estate Investing: Beware of Subject To Promises Another real estate writer's mini course, full of promises and fluff, ended with a "lesson" on why you need to buy his book so you can finance multiple properties "subject to." The reason, he said, "because banks won't let you finance more than ten mortgages. Branded Email in the Real Estate Industry Branded Email in the Real Estate IndustryYou're in the real estate industry, and that means you've got a brand. Chances are, you've spent quite a bit of money to build that brand, whether it's through franchising fees, marketing, websites, business cards, other print materials, advertising, yard signs, and/or through other means. Fixing Houses: Using Psychology for Profits Real estate investors who specialize in fixing houses for profit gain new insights from Interior Design Psychology ideas. Increase your profit potential in the new buyer's market with these new transformation strategies. Real Estate Investments Real estate investments come through a variety of different options. However, whether it is a vacation property, a first home, an early retirement house, or a rental property that you find appealing, real estate investments are all the rage, and are quickly becoming one of the safest investments available, especially in our less-than-perfect economy. Commercial Income Property Financing: Part 1 of 3 Welcome to this first portion of a three-part series about income property. In this first segment we will be discussing financing options for commercial income properties as well as the upside (and downside) of owning this type of property. Real Estate Problem Solver IntroductionThere are many areas one can invest in. Since I was 15 years old I have looked for the fastest, most effective way to accumulate a lot of wealth, with the least amount of risk. Market Reaching its Peak I do not profess to "Know" what the real estate market will do in the next year or two, but I would like to share some information with you that might help you in making decisions regarding buying or selling property in today's market. The following information relates to the types of mortgages that are currently being taken out by those who are currently purchasing or refinancing homes. 8 Essential Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector Congratulations! You've decided to purchase a home. We all know that when purchasing a home, every detail is an important one. Attention To Details Helps Homeowners Sell Fast In A Buyers Market Your boss has just given you the career opportunity of a lifetime, but the job is in another state.Soon you discover that moving your family to another city may be one of life's hardest tasks. Seven Tips in Choosing Maui Income Properties Aloha! If you are interested in choosing a Maui incomeproperty, then there are some details that you should know.You might be a bit intimidated by the whole process ofbuying a home. Building A Home? Want To Ask A Builder The Right Questions - Not The Dumb Ones! These are real builder questions that I got from readers of my e-book, "Residential Development Made Easy" with answers from a major USA Master Builder operating in 48 States.Question 1. Think You Can't Afford Your Own Home, Think Again! Do you have bad credit, no credit, filed a bankruptcy, have a ton of late pays, medical bills, or been through a divorce? Well, we have the perfect solution for you - Lease Purchasing your own home!What is Lease Purchasing?A Lease Purchase is a process that combines a basic rental lease with an agreement to purchase, or with an option to purchase the property. The Buyer (or Lease-Purchaser) pays to the seller a monthly payment that usually approximates a rental amount or a typical mortgage payment on the home.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
