International Buyers Finding Homes in US

Dr. Jerry D Parrish, a chief economist, wrote this article which chiefly outlines the purchases of property made in Florida by international buyers. Florida has been, is, and will continue to be in the future an attractive place for the real estate industry. The article stipulates that the buyers are coming from mainly Western Europe and Britain, with a sizable number also coming from South/ Latin America and Canada.

Chinese buyers are also present. Sales have been gradually increasing since 2008. International buyers are important to Florida's economy, and a forecast of around 60,000 purchases of property in Florida made by international buyers is made by Parrish. Parrish conjectures that the strong property rights in Florida are spurring more and more international buyers, as well as the strong tourism industry.

Invest in Dade City, Florida.

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Only $29,900!!! 39421 Zenith Avenue, Dade City! Such a beautiful city that boasts so many hills and valleys with lush grasslands. Rural, yes indeed. Great place to live if you want to get away from the big city. About 40 miles from Tampa, this property is still located in close proximity to a major city. A medium rehab project, this property boasts two bedrooms and one bath. It also includes a separate laundry/utility room. The backyard is nice sized for family activities. The roof was replaced in 2003. Call 813-419-7009 or email info@gloriawalters.com today to get more information and make an offer.

House Flipping Opportunities are Back!

After the market declined, many investors found it very difficult to find flipping opportunities. Since home values had reduced by over 50% in many markets, investors were forced to rent their properties until the right time to sell returned.

ATTENTION Investors, release the property managers and hire me as your Realtor. Resale property inventory is extremely low and eager homes buyers are jumping at the chance to snatch turn-key homes within the first few days of being listed. Not only can you sell your rental inventory, there is still an opportunity to purchase distressed, fixer uppers at low price points, and remodel to sell at higher price points. Yes, that scenario I just explained is called Flipping.

Flipping is back. Only for a limited time, so take advantage while it lasts.

Renters say Homeownership a Top Priority

WASHINGTON – July 26, 2013 – Americans overwhelmingly believe homeownership is a good financial decision, and a majority of renters say homeownership is one of their highest priorities for the future, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR)’s 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey.

The survey found that renters are thinking more about purchasing a home now than they have in past years, and the number of people who say they prefer renting has declined.
“Due to high housing affordability and today’s interest rates it makes sense for people to consider homeownership over renting,” says NAR President Gary Thomas. “In fact, in many parts of the country it’s cheaper to own a home than to rent one.”

The survey, which measures consumers’ attitudes and concerns about housing opportunities, found eight in 10 Americans believe buying a home is a good financial decision and more than two-thirds (68 percent) said now is a good time to buy a home.
Since the last survey in 2011, more renters are now thinking about purchasing a home, up from 25 percent to 36 percent, while those who say they prefer to rent dropped from 31 percent to 25 percent. Half of renters say that eventually owning a home is one of their highest personal priorities, up from 42 percent to 51 percent.

Attitudes toward the housing market have also improved over the years. Nearly four in 10 Americans (38 percent) identified an increase in activity within their local housing market in the past year, compared to just 22 percent who reported a slowdown in activity. In 2011, some 51 percent reported a slowdown in activity. There was also less concern than in the past about the drop in home values; a majority said housing prices in their area are more expensive than a year ago.

In addition to improved attitudes about the housing market, respondents also showed an improved outlook about the national economy. Just under half (48 percent) said job layoffs and unemployment are a big problem, down from 61 percent in 2011. The concern over foreclosures showed a steep decline from 2011 when 47 percent characterized distressed properties as “very” or a “fairly big problem”; today only 29 percent say it’s a problem.

For many Americans, the perceived obstacles to homeownership have remained unchanged over the years: low wages, student loan debt, and little savings for a down payment and closing costs. Respondents across the board – young and old, college graduates and non-graduates – consider student loan debt to be a large obstacle.

“Buyers with student loan debt may find it difficult to access mortgage credit, as well as save for a down payment,” says Thomas. “Pending mortgage finance regulations requiring higher down payments could also contribute to the already tight lending environment. Realtors are working with regulators to address this issue.”

When asked why homeownership is important, respondents’ top reasons underscored basic American values and freedoms: building equity, a stable and safe environment, and the freedom to choose where to live.

Those reasons have remained virtually unchanged since 2011, though they vary slightly according to demographics. The top scoring reason for African-Americans and Hispanics was that homeownership provides stability and a safe environment; women also placed more emphasis on environmental factors than men. Non-college graduates placed stronger emphasis on public schools, owning a home before retirement, and living in a safe and stable environment.

American Strategies and Myers Research & Strategic Services for NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program conduct the 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey. The telephone survey polled 2,000 adults nationwide and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.

More info about Housing Pulse Survey can be found on NAR’s website.
© 2013 Florida Realtors®

Buying a Duplex Within Sulphur Springs

The City of Tampa is requiring duplexes located within Sulphur Springs and have been vacant for more than six months to be converted into Single Family Homes. I discovered this information as one of my investors were hoping to add a few duplexes to his rental portfolio. Unfortunately, the duplexes he was hoping to purchase would need to be converted to single family homes. This would defeat the purpose of purchasing these properties and cut into his potential ROI.

If you are looking to purchase a duplex within the City of Tampa, I would advise that you check with the Tampa’s Code enforcement department to ensure that the property could be used as a duplex. So far, Sulphur Springs has the six month vacancy stipulation and I have not come across any other areas that enforces this stipulation.

 

 

4 Down Payment Assistance Ideas

 

 

Are you wasting thousands of dollars on rent and dreaming of becoming a homeowner? You can already make a monthly house payment (you’re already paying rent), but the problem is coming up with money for a down payment.  It’s not as difficult as you might think. Here are ways to get a down payment with little out of your own pocket.

1. Look Into Local or Federal Government Programs.  You may qualify for special government programs, such as those for first-time homebuyers and members of the military.  You also may have access to aid from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government-sponsored mortgage programs).  Additional resources are non-profit and community groups and state agencies.  There are too many programs to list here and they expire or change frequently. 

2. Have the Seller Finance You. Some sellers may be willing to help you buy their homes. In a “seller take-back,” the seller holds a second mortgage for you and becomes your lender.  You would make your monthly mortgage payments to the seller.

3. Use A Tax Refund. There are options for you to borrow money for certain investments to a specific level and use those investments to generate a significant tax refund.  Obviously, the timing has to be right to so you can use it as a down payment on a home.

4. Ask A Relative or Friend. Tax law allows gifts of up to $13,000 a year to be given without tax consequences to the giver or recipient. This gift-exclusion amount is adjusted annually to reflect inflation (see IRS publication 950 for the current amount).  You can even get a gift from each of your parents or two friends without them having to pay a gift-tax, which bring it up to $26,000.   

This is a great way to get a down payment for a home. In fact, one out of four first-time homebuyers use a gift to make the down payment.  Even if this isn’t your first home purchase you can still use a gift so you don’t drain your savings.  Usually lenders require you to have some money still left in your bank account after closing so they know you’ll make the mortgage payment each month.

Also, using a gift for a down payment allows you to buy the home you want even if it’s not Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved.  Some buyers are able to get FHA mortgages that have down payments as low as 3.5% of the purchase price, but others will have to put more down.  With a gift, you can put the typical 10% to 20% down that most lenders require. For example, if you had to put down 10% on a $150,000 home, that’s $15,000. Or, 20% would be $30,000. A gift from relatives and friends can get you there but some of the rules differ depending on the lender you choose. Contact me at 813-419-7009 for a buyer consultation. Together, we can make your goal of owning your first home a reality.

Cheaper to Own Than Rent Regardless of Mortgage Rate

 

 

Trulia’s Winter 2013 Rent vs. Buy Report looked at homes for sale and for rent on Trulia between Dec. 1, 2012, and Feb. 28, 2013, and compared the costs, factoring in transaction costs, taxes and opportunity costs. For homeownership costs, study authors assumed a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, 20 percent down, itemizing tax deductions at the 25% bracket and a stay of seven years in the home.

Overall, buying a home is 44 percent cheaper than renting nationwide – down just slightly from 46 percent in 2012. In each of the 100 largest metros, buying is more affordable than renting, though it ranges significantly – from 70 percent cheaper to buy than rent in Detroit to only 19 percent cheaper in San Francisco.

In the 10 Florida markets checked by Trulia, savings ranged from 40 percent to 60 percent. They include:

Miami: 43% cheaper to buy
Fort Lauderdale: 53% cheaper to buy
West Palm Beach: 56% cheaper to buy
Cape Coral-Fort Myers: 45% cheaper to buy
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota: 51% cheaper to buy
Lakeland-Winter Haven: 55% cheaper to buy
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville: 50% cheaper to buy
Orlando: 51% cheaper to buy
Tampa-St. Petersburg: 55% cheaper to buy
Jacksonville: 54% cheaper to buy

Individual own-versus-rent savings will vary depending on details, but Trulia posed an adjustable map on its website.

Visitors can change the map to suit their circumstance by choosing the mortgage rate they expect to pay (3.5%, 4.5% or 5.5%), their IRS tax bracket (none, 15%, 25%, 35%) and the length of time they expect to be in the house. The map then changes its buy-versus-rent estimates based on input.

For example, changing a Miami buy-versus-rent decision to a three-year stay, 15 percent tax bracket and 5.5 percent mortgage interest rate makes it wiser to rent for a 1 percent savings.

“People who didn’t buy a home last year may have missed the bottom of the market, but they haven’t completely missed the boat,” says Jed Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist. “Buying remains cheaper than renting in all 100 large metros. Even buyers who can’t get today’s lowest mortgage rates will still find that buying makes more financial sense than renting in nearly all local markets – so long as they can get a mortgage in the first place.”

Investor Corner ~ Monthly Distressed Market Summary (January 2013)

 

This report will compare the distressed single family home sales of January 2013 to that of January 2012 in Hillsborough County. Over the past year, distressed property sales have increased and price points have decreased. The chart shows a slight increase in traditional and foreclosures sales. Although there was a minuet decrease in short sales in comparison to January 2012 sales, the median sale price rose by $13,000. Subscribe to receive the latest news on Tampa’s Real Estate climate, trends, and more.

Single Family Homes (Hillsborough County)

 

 

 

Tips for Owning a Long Term Real Estate Investment

 

Understand What It Means to Be a Landlord

Investing in real estate provides three different ways to obtain a return on an investment. A return could be realized from the sale of a property, through rent collection, and through tax savings on items such as the mortgage interest. When looking to purchase a rental property, the ultimate goal is to ensure that the rental income covers the monthly mortgage, maintenance expenses, HOA fees, insurance, etc.

Secure a Rental Property in an Area with Strong Rental Demand

Communities near universities, hospitals, or schools typically generate a strong rental demand. Condominiums and townhome communities where the Home Owner Association (HOA) maintains much of the exterior are also popular. Please be sure to determine the rental restrictions of the HOA.

Consider Using a Property Management Firm

Determine if you want to manage the property on your own or hire a property management company to handle all of the tenant’s requests. Should you choose to manage the rental property on your own, you will be responsible for handling the tenant’s requests directly. You may have to complete the repairs on your own or hire a professional. If you choose to hire a property management company, the property manager will act as the primary point of contact for all of the tenant’s requests and coordinate repairs with the landlord’s approval. Property management fees may vary but typically includes one month rent for tenant placement and 10% of the monthly rent for property management.

The Numbers Must Make Sense

A good rental property is one that generates enough rental income to cover all of the property expenses and costs. It’s important to review your numbers and determine the gross rent multiplier or cap rate that works for you. Some landlords rent their units between 15% - 25% above the monthly mortgage and maintenance costs. Furthermore, it’s a good business practice to set aside 3% reserves for unexpected maintenance expenses and raise rent each year by 3% - 5%.

Screen Potential Tenants Thoroughly

If you hire a property manager or Realtor, they will handle the screening of the tenant which includes obtaining landlord references, running a credit check and looking at the criminal record. Should you pursue this endeavor on your own, there are a number of online resources to assist you with obtaining the information. Security deposits collected should be equivalent to one month’s rent and deposits should also be collected for any pet the tenant may own. The pre-occupancy walk-thru with the tenant is also important to minimize security deposit discrepancies at move out.

Understand the LandLord Laws

Two resources for rental rules are the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Web site, and The Landlord Protection Agency. These sources include state-specific rental guidelines and standardized forms for rental agreements. An attorney or the Landlord Protection Agency also can help draft a lease and assist with evictions. A property manager will also have access to all of these resources.

Tampa’s real estate market has been very favorable when it comes to rental property opportunities. In 2012, many of my investors were able to secure at least five rental properties. Their rental portfolio continues to grow in 2013. If you are looking to buy investment properties in the Tampa Bay area, I can assist you with your investment goals. Start your investment property search today at www.gloriawalters.com.