Why You Should Invest in Real Estate

If you’re looking to diversify your traditional stock portfolio, you should think about adding real estate. Today I’ll tell you why that’s a good idea.

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Today I want to talk to you about how real estate is a good addition to your traditional stock and bond portfolio. Real estate is a good investment because it offers diversification to your portfolio. It is considered its own asset class and can offer generous yields during periods of depressed economic activity and appreciation when economic activity is strong, like it is currently.

Financial advisors consider real estate an alternative investment on the level of commodities. Both are less correlated to bonds and stocks, and can help a well-diversified portfolio smooth out the rough patches. The home is most people’s largest asset, so finding exposure to real estate is typically not a priority.

However, over the long term, as long as household formation continues, real estate will continue to be a viable asset class.

However, over the long term, as long as household formation continues, real estate will continue to be a viable asset class. Additionally, some stock portfolios include allocations to mortgage insurers or real estate investment trusts, which tend to pay healthy dividends.

Furthermore, real estate market health is determined by demographic trends and economic growth. These trends continue to remain favorable, making real estate an attractive option for investors.

If you have any other questions or would like to learn about some great investment opportunities, please give me a call. I would love to help you.

Should You Put Your Home in a Trust?

Estate planning is something for all homeowners to consider. The same goes for the decision to put your home in a living trust.

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You may think this topic is only relevant for the elderly, but estate planning is a topic that all homeowners should seriously consider. Putting your home in a trust has advantages and disadvantages. The most important advantage to putting your home in a trust is that it allows you to avoid probate by transferring the title of your home to a designated family member. Another advantage is that it gives you future incapacity protection. If you become ill or unfit to manage your finances, another trustee can be selected to manage your trust and protect your home. Putting your home in a trust also gives you the opportunity to save on estate taxes.

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The most important advantage is that it helps you avoid probate.

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One of the major disadvantages of putting your home in a trust is that the process is more complex and more costly than setting up a simplified will. With a living trust, your other assets will also be subject to probate whether or not you have a will. Even modest bank investment accounts made in the trust must undergo the probate process. After you die, the trust must file tax returns and value assets, which means more expenses for your estate that might negate the cost savings of avoiding probate. Consider each of these factors carefully before making a decision. If you have any questions about living trusts or anything else related to real estate, give me a call or send me an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Is Now the Time to Get Off of the Fence?

When is the right time to sell your home? Should you wait? Actually, now is a great time to put your home on the market and there are a couple of reasons why.

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

When is the right time to get off of the fence? Should you sell your home now or should you wait?

If you want to sell your home, then this winter offers an incredible opportunity to do so. Current housing inventory is the lowest it has been in years, which means you don’t have a lot of competition on the market. Prices are strong, too.

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Housing inventory is the lowest it’s
been in years.

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We’re also in a period of low but rising mortgage rates. Buyers want to be able to get into a new home before rates go up again.

If you would like to know what your home is worth in today’s market, then give me a call. I know the local area very well and I talk to homebuyers every day, so I have a great feel for our current real estate market. Once we discuss the unique characteristics of your home, I will give you my best estimate of how you can get your home sold for top dollar.

Now is a great time to sell, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. I would be happy to help you!