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HYDE PARK LLC - Austin
HYDE PARK LLC - Austin
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| HOMES FOR SALE |
| HOMES FOR LEASE |
| INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE & INVESTOR SERVICES |
| HELGA CURTIS |
| AUSTIN REALTOR |
| Austin Real Estate Insights Why Real Estate is Still A Great Investment By Helga Curtis Feb 08 First let me summarize all the doom and gloom currently hitting the front pages. Brace yourselves because this makes painful reading. The stock market is volatile, consumer confidence is low, the economy is in a downturn, inflation is taking hold, there is a credit squeeze, foreclosures are increasing and home prices in much of the country have tanked. With such a daily barrage of bad news from the growing number of media experts it would seem so easy to throw up your hands, slip passively into panic mode and do nothing …. but don’t. Most of us are not Wall Street high rollers, financial statisticians or economists but common sense tells us that as Active Investors we must always find ways to benefit within the constraints of the prevalent economic conditions. Like most I have little confidence that the Stock Market will recover in the immediate future and I’m expecting to see higher consumer prices, higher interest rates and also a higher demand for rental properties. All things considered I continue to see real estate as a great investment especially in selected areas of Central Texas. Austin remains particularly attractive due to its market stability, affordability, economic growth, culture and lifestyle. .Admittedly those foolhardy days of 100% LTV loans are over but the 20- 30% down-payment required today is a small investment to make for the benefits of 70-80% leverage and regular cash-flow from an appreciating rental property. Currently fixed rate investor loans remain low (around 7.25%) but act soon because indications are that the models for loans will change so we’ll probably be watching rates and fees move upwards from now on. Call me to discuss your real estate needs in Austin – You’ll profit from the call. The "Credit Squeeze" Simply Explained By Helga Curtis Nov. 07 (Updated Feb 08) Mortgage lenders are currently hurting because the secondary market for many of the more risky (sub-prime) loans that they made over the last few years has dried up. The impact of this on current buyers and investors is that stated income - no doc, low doc and low money down loans are now more difficult to secure because, to protect their new risk position, lenders have tightened their underwriting standards considerably. The good news is that even though the loan market is in transition favorable financing can still be easily secured by borrowers who have some equity and a reasonable credit rating. Fixed rate mortgage interest rates are still exceptionally low but don't expect that window of opportunity to remain open for too much longer. My more recent personal and customer transactions confirm the availability of favorable loans for proactive buyers and investors and that opportunities in Austin Real Estate continue to be plentiful. However be ready for those stiffer underwriting standards and be prepared to see progressively higher rates and fees over the months to come. Leveraging Your IRA or 401K to buy Investment Property By Helga Curtis Oct. 07. For those who are just not comfortable with entrusting all of their retirement savings to the equity markets there is a popular alternative... it's the little publicized but well established Self Directed IRA. To use this vehicle you first transfer all or some of your IRA/401K funds to an IRA account with a reputable Trust Company. Once your account is funded you can then direct the Trust Company holding your account to make investments from your untaxed funds in accordance with your specific instructions. Your SDIRA can buy Investment real estate, make private loans and even take out loans to leverage your investments just as you would with a conventional real estate purchase. Of course the IRS rules are voluminous and there are restrictions so do your research and do take professional advice. Call me to discuss using your IRA/401K to buy investment real estate. I'll be happy to tell you how it works for me and refer you to dependable Trust and Loan Companies that have provided my customers and I with commendable service. Using a 1031 Exchange to Minimize your Investment RE Tax Burden. By Helga Curtis Sept. 07. A 1031 exchange is an IRS ruling that provides for investors to "roll over" tax free the monies they have realized from a real estate transaction into their next real estate investment thereby avoiding the need to pay capital gains tax.. In summary, the IRS 1031 exchange rules are that , investors have 45 days after a sales closing to identify the property(ies) in which they intend to re-invest. Following that they have 60 days to close a reinvestment deal. Call me. I'll tell you how I have benefited by using the 1031 exchange. I can also refer you to dependable specialist companies that facilitate 1031 exchanges and who have provided my customers and me with commendable service. |
