People who flip houses sometimes have a bad reputation because the work that they do necessitates that they be rather ruthless. To buy a house and quickly try to renovate it so that it can be sold for a profit is not an easy job at all, not least because so many factors in the success or failure of the enterprise are out of the person’s control. For instance, if someone was to buy a house and start pouring money into it to get it to the point that it is marketable and then the economy started to suffer, that person could potentially lose lots of money. It is not just shifts in the country’s economic well-being that can be a factor though. There is so much paperwork and legal fees that have to be processed to buy and then sell a house. Also, sourcing all of the materials and redesigning an entire house is something that some people spend years doing (although with the intention of creating a home rather than a profit). If you flip houses, you have to do it all much quicker. However difficult it may be, here are a few reasons why it is a great way to make money and something that you may want to consider doing:

It is not always the case that shifts in the economy are necessarily going to work against you. While it may seem rather callous, property foreclosures offer a good business opportunity. If you can buy a house as cheaply as possible, that gives you a greater chance of making a profit. Another good thing about the recent financial crisis was that it has lowered mortgage interest rates. This means that more people will want to take out mortgages, which means that there will be more potential buyers. Besides, the market is good right now. There are lots of people who are thinking ‘I want to sell my house fast’, a fact demonstrated by 5.71 million existing homes being sold last month, up from 5.47 million in February of this year. You always have to be aware of the rate of inflation, but right now is the best time to buy, renovate and sell houses in several decades.

Do not let anyone tell you that it is easy though. The sweat equity of flipping houses plays a big part in your final profits. If you do lots of the work on the property yourself, you can cut down on costs, but if you do not have the time or the skills and choose instead to hire outside labor, you can quickly see your future profits disappear. If you are not as handy with a tool belt as you’d like to be, you should consider trying to find contractors with whom you can negotiate a deal. If they work for a lesser rate, you could perhaps guarantee them work for several years.

Finally, to make money flipping houses, you have to be patient. Do not buy a house unless you are confident that it is the perfect one. Do not accept the first quotes that you receive from contractors and do not try to sell the place as soon as it is finished. Timing is everything.

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There comes a time in every single person’s life where the penny drops and they realise that it could be time to invest in real estate. However, most people have a warped sense of what that actually means and so they start thinking about how they can afford to, the complexities around doing so, the trials and tribulations, the effort and the work involved.

But investing in real estate doesn’t have to mean buying a structure. It doesn’t have to mean investing in an apartment, flat, house, condo, commercial property or residential space, and it doesn’t have to mean fixing up somewhere. You see, real estate does include land, you know. Yeah.

So many people overlook vacant land as an investment, though, which is foolish if you ask us, and here is why:

You Buy It. That’s All.

When you invest in a structure, you have to think about renovation works and replacing stuff, which you never have to do with vacant land. You buy the land and you have the land. You don’t need to have a knowledge of construction or anything, just an idea of whether the land could be suitable for building on. Simple.

It’s So Cheap

Vacant land is so cheap compared to other types of real estate. You could buy a decent chunk of land with the cash that is in your savings right now, probably, and if not, all you have to do is compare personal loans and take the one that you like the look of. That’s it, then. There are no other outlays. No structure to pay for, no mortgage to battle, taxes are teeny-tiny, and so is insurance, if you want to have insurance.

No Hassle Whatsoever

The thing with investing in vacant land is, well, it’s vacant. That means there are no tenants you have to chase up because their rent is late. You don’t need to pay an agent any maintenance fees or get a gardener or a plumber or anything. No. Vacant land is the least demanding real estate investment you can possibly make. Period.

Prices Can Only Increase

Your options with vacant land are endless. Either you can hang on to it and live safe in the knowledge that no one is making any more land, which means your little piece of the earth is only going to become more in demand and demand is good. You could start using it for business purposes, in which there are only a few things to consider. You could even seek out some planning permission and watch as the value skyrockets, and we mean skyrockets, and that’s without even having to put a nail in anything. Whatever you fancy, you can do.

Earn An Income

The thing with vacant land is, you always have options on how to generate money. Think about it. You could turn it into a campsite, you could rent out some of it to a telephone company to erect a mast or a farmer who wants some grazing grounds. Maybe there is an energy company sniffing around. If it’s wind power, then you can go online and see exactly how much wind your land gets. If it’s solar, then you’re an option so long as you aren’t covered by a giant canopy. Money, money, money.

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Buying your first house can seem like an unattainable dream at times, but every once in a while you hear a story of a couple who were able to save enough money for a down payment. It gives makes you think that, someday, that could be you. However, there is more to buying a house than saving up for a down payment. Read the guidelines below to determine whether you really can afford to buy a house at this time.

Do you earn enough?

If you’re struggling to set aside some money while paying the bills and the rent, chances are you will have a difficult time keeping up with mortgage repayments. You also have to consider the property tax in the area, home insurance, and the fact that you will be responsible for home repairs. This is the step that traps most prospective home buyers.

But don’t give up because you can’t afford a house just yet. Use the time you have to get on top of your financial situation; pay off as much debt as you can and boost your credit wherever possible. This will help your chances of getting a good mortgage.

What kind of financial help can you get?

Once you’ve managed to save some money, you need to find out how much a lender will be willing to give you to buy your first home. A mortgage lender will look at your income, how much debt you have, and how long you’ve been at your current job. All your debt payments plus your new housing expenses – mortgage, homeowners association fees, property tax, homeowner’s insurance, etc. – shouldn’t equal more than 43% of your monthly gross income, according to the federal housing administration (FHA). Based on your calculations, you may have to adjust your expectations on what kind of house you can afford.

Fortunately, there are a lot of other options available for first-time buyers who don’t have a 20% down payment. Your state may have its own programs for first-time home buyers. Your mortgage interest rate will also have a major impact on the total price you pay for your home, so shopping around will pay off.

The buying process

Buying a house isn’t limited to looking for homes for sale on real estate websites. Put out some feelers with friends and family, or look at rental ads and see if the owners are open to selling. This may not be an accepted method, but it will save you from going up against experienced buyers.

Squeeze them for information

Don’t be taken in by what may appear to be a dream house. One of the best kept secrets about buying a home is that your real estate agent has to be honest with you, but only if you ask questions directly. No question is too silly; how many viewings have they had? Why do the homeowners want to sell? Who lives upstairs/next door? You’re hoping to live here, so avoid any unpleasant surprises by finding out everything you can.

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A 25-year old is done with college and is probably into his first job. At the threshold of adulthood, he wants to fulfill several dreams in a short period of time. Most people believe that having a credit card is an important factor of becoming an adult. However, there are many individuals who think such cards are unnecessary. Just like investing is not necessary, having a card is also not a necessity. So then why would a 25-year old need one?

Here are five reasons why having a credit card at the age of 25 is beneficial.

1. Deposits are Not Necessary

Some merchants who accept debit card payments require the customers to also pay a higher deposit at the time of booking. In case a person is unable to execute the plans, the merchants are still able to earn some of their cash deposit amounts (because there fund is done after deducting a certain sum). These are similar to security deposits and may become inconvenient. A credit card eliminates all such difficulties for the users because merchants do not require deposits for such transactions.

2. Deferred Payment

When an individual uses a debit card to purchase any product or service, the money is immediately deducted from his bank account. On the other hand, a credit card purchase does not have to be paid until the next payment due date. For example, if a cardholder purchases something using his card on the 1st of a month and billing due date is 31st of the month; he enjoys an interest-free period of 30 days. Although this may not seem like much, being able to make purchases without the need to pay upfront cash may help users save a lot of money over a longer period of time.

3. Affordable Home Loan Interest Rates

Many people think that they may receive better discounts and close a home purchase faster if they pay in cash. However, if a person has used his credit card responsibly and made timely payments, this is reflected in his credit score given by a credit rating agency like Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL). A higher credit score is beneficial in reducing the interest cost on home loans and other types of borrowings. This makes it less expensive for people to buy their dream home. Furthermore, paying the mortgage installment with a card reduces the actual cash outflows and helps prevent financial difficulties.

4. Reward Points

Most card companies provide excellent reward-based credit cards for their customers. These issuers allow the cardholders to accumulate reward points on their spending. These are redeemable against several offers, such as travel deals, air miles, or purchasing some products and services. In addition to the reward points, users may enjoy cashback offers and benefit from signup bonuses that make credit cards more beneficial.

5. Develop Credit Score

A 25-year old may not have any credit history. However, he may need to avail of a loan in a couple of years to purchase a home or any other asset. This period may be used to develop a good credit score using a credit card. When an individual utilizes his card responsibly and has no delays in payments, it has a positive impact on his credit score. Having a strong credit score has several direct and indirect benefits, such as increased possibility of receiving approval on loans and lower interest rates.

People often find lots of information on how using a credit card may have severe outcomes, such as financial distress and debt traps. However, using a card wisely also has many benefits. However, before applying for a credit card, it is important to check credit card eligibility and understand the terms and conditions related to credit cards.

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Buying a home involves a lot of fun and games and by fun and games, we mean trials and tribulations. Once you find the home that you want to buy and that you can afford, you might think your troubles are over. Not so, because you still need to put an offer in on the home and get it accepted. Then, you’ve got to find a mortgage lender to get the rest of the money to pay for the property. When you have that finalized, you still need an inspection, solicitation and a moving team. Do you see what we mean by fun and games? But, if you know how the market works most of the problems can be avoided, so let’s get started.

Likeability Is Important

Did you know that whether or not the homeowners like you can be very important when buying a home? Estate agents aren’t usually swayed by different personalities. But the property sale might be represented by the owner. In these cases, it’s important to try and make a personal connection. Find similarities in your situation and try to relate with issues you’ve both experienced selling. If you do this, there are two things that might happen. First, they might give you first refusal on the home, no matter what other offers come in. Second, if there are two or more similar offers at the same time, they might choose you over other buyers.

Brokers Have Additional Access

Getting a mortgage can be like getting a book deal. If you want to get a book deal, you need a literary agent. Otherwise, publishers aren’t going to look at you at all. If you want to get a mortgage, you need a broker you to get through the gates lenders have. The best mortgage deals are behind these metaphorical gates, and you’ll only gain access if you find a mortgage broker. These deals are not even advertised or spoken of if you ring up the lender yourself. This is just one of the advantages of having a professional on your team when you’re buying a home.

Gazumping Is Common

Gazumping is still common and legal in most places. When you put an offer down on your house, and it is accepted, the house might stay on the market. At that point, buyers can still put in offers and outbid the price you’ve agreed with the seller. It’s a nasty practice, and it happens more often than estate agents would care to admit. There are a couple of ways to avoid it. Ask the estate agent to take the home off the market after the offer is accepted or refuse to make an offer. Make sure the buyer likes you enough that they wouldn’t want you to go through being gazumped. Finally, get your paperwork and solicitation sorted out as quickly as possible. Do all of these things and you should avoid being outbid after an offer is accepted.

Estate Agents Have, To be Honest

If you want to find out if there are any issues with a house, an estate agent must tell you. However, they are only legally required to tell you if you ask the question. An extreme example would be a house where someone has been murdered. Unless you ask if there have been any crimes on the property, they don’t have to say. That’s why you must make sure any questions for estate agents are direct and specific.

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